Saturday

Just got up - and yes I intend on taking those dogs for that walk in 15 minutes or so, currently pumping large quantities of caffeine into my blood stream via the legal, caffeine containing drink called coffee (with cream, no sugar, please).

For whatever reason, on one of my Craigslist ads, someone got hold of someone who told someone about this dinner thing - and then contacted me asking if I had anything for a certain person with 2 kids that she knows who is broke, has no transportation, the whole 9 yards of a story.

Although it may be wrong, I normally want to speak to the person myself, not go through 20,000 people - I am about as expert as it comes to figuring out whether people are telling the truth about their situation - or if - after speaking to them long enough - you find holes in their story. I've been doing the "food giveaway" stuff for 25 years now. Your gut tells you things sometimes if you listen to that particular part of your instincts.

For the naysayers - my bills are paid up excepting the mortgage, and $30 worth of food isn't going to do anything about that. I would rather listen to the word of the Bible that say "give" in what must be a thousand different scriptures. I really don't do this as often as I used to - when the "opportunity" comes, I will do it to whatever capacity I have.

Anyway, I did speak with this woman at great length and found nothing that would suggest that my instincts are wrong, therefore, after the dog walk, I am going up to Fry's, buying around $30 worth of stuff that is on sale - to obtain greater amount of food, yes, but also simply because that's how I shop for myself anyway - and take it over there. There being not too terribly far away, another condition of mine is that helping someone doesn't entail having to drive 50 miles unless it's someone I know personally which, of course, would change all of that.

When someone is truly hungry, you pick up the clues. If I say, what kind of food do you want, they should say something like: "I don't care WHAT you bring over, we're hungry!". A list of specific foods doesn't usually bode well with me - at least not if it's expensive junk. This tells me that the person may not be as hard off as they would like to come across. Unless they have an allergy to a certain type of food or PERHAPS a doc says you can't eat this and that, I'm not going to buy that story.

Anyway, today's list of things to do besides walking dogs and a short trip to Fry's and such also includes a trip to both Home Depot and Lowe's to determine who has the cheapest doggy door that I want to install. Not a cheap door, mind you, just wanting the best price. I found some doors online that were over $300 - for a doggy door! Lol. I figure I just get the $100 plus model and if it breaks, keep the receipt and take it back, exchange for a new one, try it again. If it breaks a second time, I hope the hole is compatible with another brand of doggy door, cause' I will be wanting my money back for the "old" one.

I also have tons MORE weeds to pull on the side of the house. It's getting very irritating having to deal with my neighbor's piggish lifestyle that is directly affecting me. I totally forgot to file a complaint with the city about their weeds - benb reminds himself to file complaint online this weekend.

Oh, and I want to find time to wash and wax the car this weekend. Plus one tire has a slow leak - again. Umm, I can think of more, but I will start getting a little grouchy if I start coming up with TOO big a list of things to do.

Anyway, now that I think of it, I have a lot I want to get done today and I want to get moving.
Have a grrrrrrrreat Saturday!
ben

Friday

Today was another ****buster.
Actually, I got a call from the boss this morning while I was getting ready to go to work.
My alarm didn't go off and I didn't get out of bed until 5 minutes before I am supposed to be at work and logged onto the computer system. I find out my co-worker isn't coming in so there's no-one there. A big deal? Only if someone happens to show up for supplies. Which happens, even that early.

I raced there and found - no-one waiting for supplies, which doesn't mean someone didn't come, saw the place closed and left. Oh well, stuff happens.

Anyway, it was a draining, extremely physical day. I had to do a return - an entire semi's worth. I did 75% of the physical labor - which was not light at all. Everything out on that job site was heavy stuff they were returning. Took almost 2 hours for that. I got that stuff back and then ended up cranking out to Queen Creek. Another load of heavy stuff, I had to hand unload it, no machinery there to offload. Get that done and get back to the yard and had to unload the semi that I loaded at the job site this morning.

I have no need for any further physical exercise today, I got PLENTY at work. I have no energy to go hiking up into the mountains, even though I was definitely going to do so after work today. I will get up early tomorrow morning and take the dogs for a LONG hike back in there - it will be cool and the dogs won't get winded so quickly. I will also do my chest and other muscle grouping workout tomorrow - this time a much more strenuous session by using heavier weights.

Mary paid me just a bit ago. I always have to include that event whenever it occurs. That is going to pay for the doggy door and installation.

Well, actually I already have that paid for. That, actually, is going to go into my savings account. The rest is paying bills, buying food, gas, you know the routine.

I'm totally exhausted and at least for this entry, I'm done.
ben

Thursday

Started at 5:45 am this morning and didn't stop until the work day was over - at 2:30. Doesn't sound like much? Most of the work I was doing, when I wasn't driving all over creation, was very physical. Strike that: ALL of the work I was doing was very, very physical and very draining. I did not get a break and had time to run into a store, get a small hotdog, wolf that down and move on. Hot dogs may not be so great on a "diet", but having one small one and having only had that - not a big deal.

Famished when I came home, I got out the pork chops and also a package of chicken breasts - both packages say it's past the use-by date but the chicken didn't smell - which is the only test I do or need for chicken - and the pork chops only one day. Pork chops were wonderful - with peas and gravy, chicken is still cooking. I won't be eating the chicken today, just cooking it. Might take some to work with me tomorrow - definitely have some for dinner tomorrow afternoon.

I'm totally wiped out and I'm debating on the hike today. Go take a nap after that chicken is done cooking and then see if I can handle it. If not - again - I worked hard today. I don't know if it takes the place of a sustained workout - probably not so much, but - it was definitely enough to physically drain me.

One more day.......tomorrow is not going to be easier. A huge return with all kinds of product - I saw the printout. At least one delivery and that can always change by morning.

Anyway, I have no news of anything in particular. I could go on about the usual things, but I won't. I'm going to take that nap and probably - not do the hike thing today. Won't beat myself up about it, either. I intend on doing it tomorrow afternoon and then early Saturday and maybe early Sunday. My goal is 5 days a week worth, not every single day. Mary's friend is here and I want to see if he will install that doggy door this weekend. I would like to get that behind me and move onto something else.

The chicken looks delicious - too bad I'm quite full and I don't need to be eating anything else right now.

C'ya later!
ben

Wednesday

Work is picking up. Not just because the other driver left, there's just more work coming in, and bigger, higher priced orders.
I'm totally exhausted right now. I went all day at work going from one place to another to another. I had no time to even take a break. Came home, took a 30 minute nap, got on my hiking shoes and headed to the mountains with the dogs. 50 minutes of intense, non-stop hiking up and down mountainsides. Sweating profusely, dogs in tow - I wore them out again. It was warm out there and I now have a headache. Nothing serious, it will go away after I ease down a little and relax.

Slept like a log through the night, only woke up once. I'm totally changing lifestyle habits. No meals after 6:00 pm, a light snack maybe, but nothing heavy. Walks as much as I can force myself to get out there and do it. 3 days a week weights. Plus working around the house. Plus whatever workout I get at work lifting heavy stuff.

The goal is simply to lost at least 15 pounds. Okay, take that back. I don't really care how much I weigh, as long as it is not fat weight. I could weigh as much as I do now with muscle and it would be great. The problem people get into when they start a serious regimen, besides lack of motivation, is if they're doing weight training, they don't see the results as fast. You're losing fat but you're gaining muscle, so stepping on the scale actually is lying to you. It's not telling you that you are gaining all that muscle, which is helping boost your metabolism, which is burning off fat. If those people stay at it LONG ENOUGH, they will SEE the results in the mirror. ;

The temp tenant has won the bid on the house she wanted. She figures the 16th of next month she'll have the thing and be moving out. So, this one is less than a month tenancy. I'll be reposting for temp tenants the day she leaves. Actually, I'll be posting earlier than that if there is actual confirmation that it's going to close and the house is good.

I posted the date of the next party, the end of next month. I've had 50 replies. Numerous disbelieving. Some have read the posts and replied after reading all of them: I thought you were a fruitcake at first, but after reading all of this stuff - etc etc etc. There ARE some STRANGE people on Craigslist, no doubting that. Many of the replies I've had, however, are - godly people actually. Never-the-less, there are a bunch of them that have lost their jobs, in fear of losing their homes. etc etc etc.

Anyway, I'm going to be working on that for a while. Judging from the replies, I won't be buying much of anything. Live entertainment; a full-fledged masseuse; people wanting to bake, cook, and fry all kinds of food; people bringing tables and chairs; people offering money. This will be fun - and I've given enough advance notice that should allow for a lot of people to show up. Lock away valuables in my locking closet and let the party begin!

I've had enough. This day is toasted. There is a huge delivery in the system tomorrow. I pulled the order this morning, but the pipe and all kinds of stuff have to be shifted and rearranged. The semi is loaded, yes, but that is from all kinds of pickups today. Almost all of it will have to be unloaded, more loaded and then rearrange the entire thing. I'm loving working again, it's totally nice/cool/awesome.

Hope you all have a great evening!
ben

Exercise

I flat wore those dogs out today. I went much further back into that mountain range than I have been with those dogs, then started some serious climbing. About an hour of non-stop, rigorous climbing and hiking. Got back from that and started throwing the weights around. Got done with that and did my normal outdoor chores in cleaning up dog poop and pulling even MORE weeds.

Now? I flat wore MYSELF out, too! I just ate a light meal and will not eat again until tomorrow, making it a 2-meal day at around 1,200 calories. At the rate I move around at work and hiking, I'm burning at least 3,000 calories a day. Plus I'm lifting weights now, meaning I'm going to start consuming more protein for muscle mass building. The biggest goal is to build muscle mass, increase metabolism and burn fat. I'm not an obese person, but - I've just been on a downslide to the over-weight market since my house burned down. I can explain why I started gaining weight back then, I have no such excuses now and I'm getting pretty serious about this workout regimen.

The newest tenant has already put in a bid on a condo somewhere. She went to the place she thought she wanted to live - after viewing one of them she said the place was so small, it was no bigger than the room we are in (my utility room, which is pretty small!). She's a neat lady - nice to find good tenants without all the drama queen crap. She has money which means she isn't mooching anything and actually gave me a huge bottle of joint stuff for the dogs and offered to buy a bag of Kirkland dog food from Costco. I said sure, please get me the dog food, but I won't be taking freebies - I'll pay you back.

So, she and Mary went walking out - to go eat dinner somewhere and then to Costco. If only ALL tenants could be THAT easy to live with! Apparently Mary and this lady have made instant friends. They were out here gabbing for what seemed like hours last night - I can keep up with them, but I most certainly did not feel like it. Mary seems to be pretty good at keeping friends even after the living arrangements are over.

Surprisingly, I am STILL getting calls from people out of state that want to move here and need a temporary place to stay. Apparently not too many renters are intereted in that. I wouldn't be, either, but this is "discretionary" income. It isn't, really, but it's a third tenant and the money I get from that can go to getting things done around here. The money she gave me a few days ago is going to buy a doggy door. $125 for the door and I'm going to have it installed by a professional - on the side - for $50.00. This is a "rough weather" door that has two flaps in it and is MUCH larger than the one I have in my kitchen - the Danes will fit through it easier. The biggest bonus is it's an in-the-wall style and I can put it in the utility room. It seems like a lot of money just for dogs - but it isn't really that bad. I figure I'll save at least that much money in cooling costs this summer by having that installed in a room that doesn't have cooling anyway. The AC won't have to work near as hard to keep it cool in here - that's the goal of course.

The only mistake I made with this tenant is I offered $100 off the first month's rent. I won't be doing that in the future with the 3rd room. I'm doing them a favor by giving them temporary shelter at MUCH less cost than if you were staying at a hotel. I'm also doing them a favor in taking the risk of letting them come in here, sight unseen - though I did talk to this woman at-length on the phone before committing to letting her stay, and I did get the $200 security deposit IN ADVANCE.

Well, I'm learning this stuff, is all I can say. Not a master yet, but I'm going to get there eventually. I can just about guarantee that some day in the future, I will be renting out homes. This isn't get-rich quick, but it is a second income. It's a way out of working until I'm 75. People need a place to live, many people can't get their own home. It will be a couple of years, I'm guessing, before I get my credit score up high enough to warrant a bank allowing for a second mortgage. Plus probably need a good down payment.

Anyway, don't want to get too looking too far in the future - but it IS good to set goals for oneself and get on track to doing whatever it takes to realize those goals, even if the fruition of it is years down the road. I'm pretty much a goal-driven person - I fade and whither away without them. This property is still a goal in prgress - the goal to get everything done that I want done. Landscaping, ceramic tile, the rest of the ceiling fans, some better "window treatments" they call them - appearance stuff.

Do you set goals? Do you follow through with them until you realize and experience the fulfillment of them? What drives you?
ben

Tuesday

It's starting to get warmer. 85 right now. Come home to a house that's about 95 inside. Yup, had to break down and turn on the AC. But only for a few hours until the sun goes down and then it will cool off again. It's far too early to start warming up this much. We're not even out of February. I remember years in recent history where it was cold all the way up to April, then it started warming up, May starts getting warmer until the peak of June - when literally all hell breaks loose.

I'm kinda waiting til' it cools down at least a little to take the dogs for a walk. I noticed that even with what I've been doing, I'm still putting on fat - slowly, but - I want to reverse that totally. It's obvious that I'm going to have to step it up. I'm all for it - I just wanted to ease back into heavy workouts instead of jumping right back into it. I mostly only drink water and some coffee, with a little milk here and there. I'm eating twice a day - I eat well on those two times, yes, but the first meal is a large salad with all kinds of veggies and some ham. The second meal is whatever I want, but quantities are not large as I'm not that hungry after that first meal.

Admittedly, my workouts have been fairly light. The mountain climbing is good, but the duration isn't long enough for the intended result - only because I am concerned the Danes won't be able to handle it, keel over and croak, otherwise known as a heart attack. I figure, though, that I can start going on a little longer walk at this point. I want them to be in good enough shape that by summer, they aren't going to be dying out there if I walk them. If they do, I'll be going without the dogs and they will just have to stay home. As it stands, evne if they can handle it pretty well, I'm going to have to get a dog cargo pack for one of the Danes and make him carry water for everyone.

Regardless, I will get my workouts back to where they used to be, I just don't think it a good idea to suddenly start cranking out as if you're in top condition. I've heard of people actually dying from heart attacks because they start too fast, too hard, too much, too soon. When I was younger, wouldn't think twice. Start getting a little older - will definitely think twice about it.

Now that I'm facing warm enough days to warrant the use of AC, I am going to have to install that new doggie door soon. Like this weekend soon.

Plus so many other things I would love to get done around here but for want of one thing: Money, honey.

Anyway, today at work was good. Busy enough to stay busy and not have to try and invent things to do. Tomorrow is looking pretty good as well, at least for half the day. After that, who knows. It seems that stuff comes up at the last moment quite often nowadays. Contractors wait until just at or before the time they need materials to have them delivered. Before? They'd order the whole project's worth of materials at one fell swoop, it would all be delivered out there at the beginning of the project and any subsequent visits would just be for things they didn't foresee, such as engineers or city inspectors making changes on a site's plans.

I'm a wee bit tired and want to take a short nap before I go on the walk.

C'ya later!
ben

Monday

A few things have occured since my last posting.

First, the new tenant showed up - check in hand. I already had a check from her from before, but it was for too much money so I just held it for her til' she got here. She was supposed to be moving in today - there is nothing in her room. Which didn't stop me from cashing the check. I think she's busy unloading the giant U-Haul truck that she paid someone to drive down here.

Anyway, she's here for a month or two at most, according to her. From this point forth, I intend on just getting some short-term renters in there. Off and on. If we get a little tired of 3 renters, take a month off - if I can even afford that - and then get someone else in there. Plenty of market for short-term rentals in this area.

As much as the economy is tanking, education is taking off. People are registering in droves for grant money to get through college - at least according to Mary.

Second, I got through to my mortgage company again, and only waited a few minutes! Yeehaw! Oh, well anyway, I asked about a loan modification. I am less then 30 days late, so I don't qualify for that. The lady said I will qualify on the 1st of March. The options are to have the past due balance put on the end of the loan; or, repayment of the past due amount extra on each mortgage payment (like I can afford that) - I don't remember what the other was. The only one that appealed to me was putting the past-due amount onto the end of the loan.

Anyway, I then asked about refinancing. "Midland Mortgage company is only a loan servicing center, we don't refinance loans". I started to say that I saw on your website.....OH, yes sir, we ARE refinancing mortgages in Arizona. She transferred me to that department - who never answered. I have to go through them to get to the refi department, they won't give you the direct number. Gag. Get my interest rate down 2%? Talking hundreds of dollars a month in savings. Well, it'd be $200 per month off the payment, at least. NO, it would be more than that. It's amazing how just a couple of interest points can make such a huge difference - but only on house loans, on something like a car loan - not a huge difference.

Weed battle out back is ridiculous. I lightly water them so they will more easily pull out - roots included. Seems like 3 more show up in it's place. I can't spray weed poison or my plants will die. Only recourse - file yet another complaint against my neighbors. They have 3 foot tall weeds and grass over there, and it's all coming this way. I am SO tired of the way those people live. For the purposes of keeping the yards cleaned up and at least some kind of landscaping out front, I would love to have a homeowner's association in here. For most other purposes - I would not. It would never fly. Have to have 3/4's of the neighborhood's property owners sign off on it. WAY too many people opposed to such a thing. I understand - they can become VERY abusive, reckless with power.

Anyway, I just got through doing some weightlifting, plus digging up more weeds, plus watering the plants out back. Have to ask Mary if she's been watering out front - ground looks dry, doesn't look like she has. I'm going to develop my chest, tri's, bi's, quads, lats and other muscle groups - the set up I got for Caleb for Christmas has attachments for that. I'm shooting for 3, maybe 4 days a week. Nothing too intense to start. Can't believe how much muscle mass I have lost - I can't lift half of what I used to be able to. I guess that's what happens when you stop working out for 4 years.

The house is warm - it got warm today - around 85 degrees.

Well, anyway. I'm just WISHING I had money or credit right now. There are houses less than half a mile away going for less then 50k. One is a 1,500 square foot house that has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths going for $39,000.00. 2 years ago, ALL houses in that subdivision were going for a minimum 200k. The mortgage on $39,000.00? I could rent the place for $500 and pay the mortgage and still make money off of it.

Enough. I have some other things to get done and I don't really want to sit here too long before getting it done. Just want to keep moving.

C'ya later.
ben

Painting

Geeze. I was going to just paint a couple of walls - I ended up painting the entire room, trim and all. Whatta pain. Not only that, it's low 70's here today and I was sweating my @$$ off doing that painting. WELL worth the effort - there were a lot of scuff marks all over those walls and now - just 100% better.

However, my hat's off to Bobby/Fujific - if I recall correctly he wrote a little while back about going over to his father-in-law's house and painting - well I think it was the entire interior of the house in 2 or 3 days?!!! Lol. I could have continued on with more rooms, but man - that must have wiped him out after that much work!

Anyway, I had some leftover paint in the paint holder so I went around the house covering up spots - dogs/people/things - having had scraped up against the walls. I find I have to do that once in a while. It's much easier than trying to clean that junk off of there, the color is the same so I only have to do the spots that are affected and it took very little paint to accomplish the task - plus it makes the house look so much better.

Nothing like several glasses of ice filled water to refresh and rejuvenate.
I have half a mind to go out there and start stretching the chain link and finish that project as well. Unfortunately, the other half of my mind is saying to take it easy, kick back, relax.

Yeah, right. I have laundry to do, I still have more cleaning chores to finish and I can never not do it. I find I MUST clean up my house regardless of how I feel.

I was counting the money in my pockets today and found I had a LOT more in there than I realized. Like almost $100 more. Ken paid rent on Friday - but it wasn't that much money and I honestly don't remember having had that much more in there before he paid the rent. The only thing that does for me is help me pay up yet another bill - which is okay.

You know, I never did get around to making that breakfast I had in mind to make this morning - I found that I had to go to Home Depot and get a few painting supplies and totally forgot about eating. My stomach, however, has decided to start grumbling - loudly.

Think I'll go make that meal : )
ben

Sunday

Fortunately for me, I'm feeling much more motivated today than I did yesterday - meaning I hope that lasts for another several hours while I get started on and finish painting that room. A light coat of the same paint that's already on the walls doesn't take too terribly much time to do, and the room will look very nice when done. There have been 3 tenants in that room since I moved into this house and I haven't painted it at all. There's just some scratches and marks that I would like to cover up.

Corned beef hash with fried eggs and coffee. That's what's en-queue for my Sunday morning breakfast.

I love Sunday mornings - it's nice and quiet. I threw the dogs out and am making them stay out there for a few hours anyway. It's overcast today - it's a perfect, serene atmopshere right now. Boys went to bed LATE last night, like 3:30 am - I won't be seeing anything of them probably until noon anyway.

So, I await the arrival of the newest tenant. I have her check already. I haven't and wont' cash it until she views the place, makes sure she likes it and signs the rental contract - that I still need to print out here pretty quick.

That's it - for now, I want to get to making that delicious breakfast : )
Happy Sunday!
ben

There doesn't seem to be...........

..........any lack of "things" going on around here on any given day.
Now, I've spent a good portion of today working on attempting to figure out a totally unknown realm of this thing called a "Home Wireless Network". I had NO clue that the rather expensive modem for this thing I bought some time ago actually has a built in wireless router!

I found that out earlier. The old router that that tenant left behind was a piece of garbage. I actually had to reformat the computer AGAIN because I did "something" to it that - no clue. Just lost internet and it wouldn't come back up. Some settings were changed and that was that.

Well, I'm fooling with that and decided to BBQ some fresh chicken breast I bought on sale yesterday. Got that stuff going, came back inside. Heard a loud crashing noise outside and went out the back door. There's a 70 foot tall pine tree in my neighbor's back yard. Part of it overhangs my yard. It's a nice tree, not saying anything's wrong with it, cepting' some dead branches.

Here's a neighborhood guy up that tree with one of those saws that cuts branches with at least a 20 foot extension on it, cutting off branches which are crashing into my backyard and land on .......... MY PLANTS. The old man back of me says "Uhh, you might want to get something and cover up your plants!".

I wasn't happy. It was quite obvious these branches were going to end up in my back yard - no big deal there, I could clean up THAT mess - but also that that numerous plants are RIGHT below where those branches are going to be falling. A simple visit to my house beforehand would have sufficed. I was not particularly happy. He offered and apology and said:"I guess I should have hollered at you first". Yes, indeed, you should have. I know I would definitely have if the places were reversed.

I haven't been real happy with these people for some time now, anyway. This is the family with 2 properties lining my back fences - and also where the residential landfill is located. He has more junk back there than he will ever do anything with. He continues to hoard more and more junk - appliances, evap coolers, cars, furniture. It's sitting out in the open and getting rained on every time inclement weather hits our area. It's also the source of the scorpions that have had their little stinging parties on fully 2 separate occasions now.

I try to be civil with people, but some of this stuff is too much. I was out there again, today, for a long time, pulling up yet MORE weeds that are coming from yet another neighbor's yard. I looked over their fence: HUGE weeds and also grass that has grown over 2 feet tall. I was thinking of buying weed control and spraying HIS yard with it. He has rock over there, it's not like he's TRYING to grow grass there.

Well, anyway. I'm back to trying to figure out this network stuff. I figure if I spend enough time at it - weeks maybe - lol - I'll figure it out.

I found almost a whole can of paint that I didn't know I had earlier - I was going to go out and buy another gallon to paint that room - standing down on that one. There's plenty of paint in there to paint a room and I will do it sometime tomorrow morning, hopefully.

Anyway, done for the night.
ben

Gag

I've spent literally hours trying to figure out how to get this in-home network going. The only thing I can figure out is that there is some sort of code that needs to be updated or changed to a new code. Apparently it does it by itself - but I haven't got a friggin' clue HOW to do it. And - I gave up. Ken - my roommate - has a friend at work who is coming over here after work today to try to figure it out for him/me. I cannot get a "Wizard" to pop up to install the setup, I have tried to install it manually - nothing works. I even got lost in all of it and didn't have internet access on THIS computer for a short time.

Whatever. I just received notice in my mailbox that for 2010, my property assessed value is going to TRIPLE. Well - it hasn't really been updated since my house burned down and I put this house on here - which is worth far more than their assessed value, so I ain't gonna dispute it. It might to UP if I do that. They're saying the property is worth $98,000.00, Zillow has it at $160,000.00, a year ago it was appraised at $178,000.00. Property values have gone way done, so Zillow's estimate is probably close.

Walgreens has a coupon online that you print out and get ink cartridges for $5 - whether color or ink. Couldn't pass that up as yellow was gone and though I don't use it often, I still want the option available. That and cleaning house have been my big projects for the day. I realized I am almost out of paint - will have to buy another gallon of paint to do that room. I'm feeling TOTALLY unmotivated today. I think this work week sorta knocked me out coupled with a 2-day fast.

Anyway, the City of Phoenix is "banging on the door" for me to pay my water bill - I didn't realize I had let it go. They give you lots of time and notices to pay up before they come out and shut it off. It AIN'T gonna go that far. I was going to pay it online today, but I realized that the shutoff date is well into next month, and I get paid next week. Just wait until then. Sometimes I forget a bill and then I get a reminder. Almost everything else is current - excepting the mortgage of course. The car payment will be a week past due it's due date - no big deal there. Insurance paid up until next month, all credit card bills paid up and of course child support payment is ALWAYS paid up regardless. Sheriff Joe had a program on last week where they were luring deadbeat dads into a freebie of a makeover or whatever it was. A person puts this junk on the person's face and cucumbers over the eyes, the deputies move in and arrest him/her. Sheriff Joe was actually there for this one. He walks up to one particular guy and reads him the riot act. You have warrants, you haven't been paying your child support, a list of things.

I was thinking of chucking $50 per paycheck into my ING account and see if I can just find a way to live without it. My head says no, but - who knows. The money would go for the August slim and trim vacation. I'll have to really think that one out - I have things to get done around here that really need to be done. I definitely intend on getting that doggy door with this rent money from the 3rd tenant. I hope this person works out well enough to be around here a couple of months - but - you never know. Deal with it, as always. Security deposit up front - in fact, the check is a month's rent and the deposit. Good enough.

Oh, well, maybe Obama's newest deal to order companies to decrease the amount of taxes being withheld will pay for that? A "savings" of something like $60 per month, I think? He certainly is going to town in attempting to do something about the economy - I have to wonder, though, HOW all of this money is going to get paid back? Doesn't take much thinking.......

I'm gonna laze today - much as I hate to admit it, I'm not into doing projects and therefore, I'm simply not going to do them. Tomorrow, I'll have no choice but to go buy the paint and do that room. Oh well......
ben

Saturday

Success! Reformatted the harddrive, downloaded the drivers correctly - and I have sound again.
Of course, now I have to call Microsoft again and have them validate this edition of Microsoft Windows.
My roommate bought a new computer last night - I was trying to figure out how to set up the router so that it would work. I have no clue. I mean, I hooked it up the way it was set up before - but I cannot get a signal to start emitting for the other computer to pick up. This is out of my area of "expertise", as I have not set up the routers that were being used before. I'm fairly sure there must be a disc that comes with them - this one doesn't have one.

Going to the website of the manufacturer - I just gave up last night as I was tired and wanted to get to bed. I have spent no little amount of time this morning getting the computer set back up the way I want it. Surveillance software; Avast! spyware; installing IE7 with tabs - I love Internet Explorer with tabs!; and other software. I mean, I could hire myself out to going around and reformatting harddrives on Windows XP and reinstalling windows for people that haven't figured out how to do it for themselves at this point.

Trust me, it took me a LONG time to understand how to do all of this stuff. I'm simply not a computer genius and doubt I ever will be. I learn what I must learn in order to not have to call some computer geek out here at $75, $100 and more per hour to have them fix it. I think the HARDEST thing that I have had to figure out is how to get sound to work. I do not have the original discs that came with this computer - all of the drivers are on those discs which were stolen out of my former house.

Now what was it I was going to do today? Oh yes, painting and fencing. Stay tuned for that junk. Lol.

So, Fin and Bobby have planted this seed in my head to try and figure out a way to get to North Carolina in early August so I can join the festivities of a giant family reunion with people I haven't seen since I was a little kid. I suppose if I set my mind to it and accept that flying out there will be WELL out of my budget - considering I would most certainly want to take my son with me - and that even having to pitch a tent in a KOA campground or something instead of doing a hotel (I hope they at least have showers at those campgrounds!), eating sandwiches and cheap stuff the entire time - I might be able to do it. I'm NOT sure, however, if I will enjoy doing all of that and spending an entire vacation in such mode.

My son, however, would probably love it, because I would most certainly want him to drive some of the way at least. Having to cover that many miles in a short period of time basically means driving all day and night. He could drive day, I'd take the night. Night driving - I believe - is really very dangerous. I don't like it - at all - especially driving trucks at night. But - Interstate driving - although it has it's perils - not near as dangerous as driving through cities. My son doesn't have his learner's permit yet - I am waiting for him to turn 16, which is in May. If he wants to drive, he is going to have to pay for his own insurance, as I cannot afford it and wouldn't pay for it if I could. I didn't get a free ride when I was growing up, I don't believe he should get the idea that everything is handed to him on a silver platter.

One of his friends that comes over now and then is working 4 nights a week - at the age of 14. He's taking in some money, considering his age, too. About $300 per week. That's pretty good for a 14 year old. He isn't supposed to be working that job at all - he's too young legally - but apparently he knows the guy that works there that knows the owner - you know, it's always about who you know. I figure that a good model for my son to look at. This kid is really helping out his parents, one of which apparently lost their job and they are tanking, fast. The kid buys his own clothes, buys food, pays for his cellphone - taking care of himself mostly.

Onto other things. The idea has been getting thrown around about combining one of the plumbing branches with ours. Our company's plumbing division is being hit even harder than the waterworks division. They have shut down stores all over the place. There is a plumbing store a mile away from our store - the idea is to have both stores running out of one complex. It would save them a chunk of change in the rental of that facility they have now - which MUST be costing them no small amount of money. That store had a forklift, a company truck and other things "necessary" for the operation of a store - at this point? They have none of that stuff, just trying to float and keep the few employees that are working there in a job.

For me? I don't care what has to happen to keep my job. If plumbing has to open up shop along side us - so beit. There's room. It would be a little crowded with all of their product and ours in the same building and yard, but - we could make it work. Or, they could find a larger facility and still be saving a lot of money. I doubt they would do that, probably tell us to make it work, whatever it takes.

The Cavco man is here - this will be his last visit. I have just about everything fixed that I was looking to get fixed. After today, no more visits. Anything further needing to be done to this place will have to occur by my own hand or a paid contractor.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out this wireless network - totally clueless. But trying : )
Happy Saturday!
ben

Friday

Okay, okay, I give, I totally give!!!!
I made it almost 48 hours without eating.
A good start.
I'll be trying again soon - go at least 72 hours.
And again, and again, until I get used to this fasting business again and
then go on the 10 cleansing deal.

Right now? I stopped at a Mexican grocery store and bought up some carne asada chicken. It's a marinade they make and it's absolutely delicious. I'm going to - try to eat slowly but I'm famished and am ready to eat just about ANYTHING. I was thinking about grilling it - but I decided to pan-fry it instead. I don't want to lose any of the marinade and it's really made for pan-frying, anyway, cause it has veggies added into it. It should be delicious. Of course, after you have been fasting, just about ANYTHING is delicious. Spam? Tastes like steak. Lol.

So, I got an email from my dad today. They had this reunion all planned for Sierra Vista, next month.
Nixxxxxxx that one.
Now, they want to do it in North Carolina where my Aunt Gini lives - I forget which town - Hendersonville? I was looking forward to meeting my uncle Bob again - but I guess that isn't going to happen, because I can pretty much foresee the future right now: There's now WAY I'm going to be able to swing enough money for airfare, hotels, eating and whatever else they have planned. It just isn't even on the table right now, much less in the cards. I have things I need to get done around my house that take priority as well. I'm afraid that their lives are going to pass, and all I'll have of them are childhood memories.

Them being my aunts and uncles. They are mostly in their 80's now - they are still in decent health, amazingly, but - no-one lives forever. My cousins will be there as well. I hate missing it, cause I won't get to be with relatives I haven't seen - well most of them since I was less than 10 years old. My uncle Bob I saw when I was 16. I also absolutely LOVE North Carolina. I haven't been there in ages - memory a little sketchy - but I remember liking the place. Well, who knows, maybe some financial miracle will occur between now and then, for now, I'm not confirming anything or even replying to the email, no point in it.

I have an agenda for this weekend: Not too terribly much, actually. Oh, yes I do now that I remember. I have to paint that bedroom. But it's just plain white and I figure to knock that out in, what, a couple of hours? Whatever, it doesn't need a thick coating, just enough to cover up some wall scrapes and things. I also have to finish that chain link fence I started and haven't finished yet. THAT will be a chore, undoubtedly.

In fact, now that I think about it, the weekend is filled up. I don't WANT too many honey-do's without the honey, I really don't like filling up entire weekends with stuff to do without giving some time to rest, kick back, relax. Okay, I do like to keep moving - but it's okay to sit down an relax here and there.

Shrinking stomach effect: I just ate a very small amount of chicken and I'm stuffed. A nice side effect. You don't eat? Your stomach shrinks, you feel and get full quickly. I'll get my energy back by tomorrow and plan on hitting the weights in full force.

Anyway, I'm just out of it. The food converting to energy should take care of that soon enough, however, for right now, I'll be seein' ya'll later!
ben

Thursday

Work hasn't slowed down yet, since the other driver was moved to the main branch. What was going to be a slow day turned into something totally different when I arrived at work. A delivery, a pickup and another delivery, then a call after the second delivery that I had to do another pick up, to to the main branch and then do yet another delivery. A couple hundred miles worth of driving and yes, it feels good to feel like I'm working again.

I'm a bit out of it - I decided to start that fast that I've been considering doing. I've done many of them before, but it's been quite a while since I've been on one and - definitely not the easiest thing in the world. I've found that if I fast long enough, my head clears out, I start to feel MUCH better and the body clears itself of toxins. I also sleep better, amazingly enough.

However, the empty belly grumbling and making noises isn't the funnest thing in the world. I do not plan on doing a long one this time - I'm just not used to it anymore. I'm going to try 3 days and then go off of it, and then come back and do another one - longer - in a few weeks or even a month off. Although - if I make it 3 days - a strange phenomenon occurs where the hunger basically goes away. Doesn't do much for energy levels, though. I think my longest was 10 days. The benefits are always worth the sacrfice of not eating or drinking anything but water.

I will probably go to bed much earlier than normal tonight just because of the fact I have little energy.

I have heard nothing new at work - yet - about the meeting the big wigs had with our local management. That certainly doesn't mean that decisions weren't made - who knows. I'm just waiting to see what, if anything, may happen. The company is all about cutting costs right now - obviously as all companies are - I just know that the labor pool is not exempt from that cost-cutting campaign.

Anyway, sometime in the next 2 days I have to put a fresh coat of paint in that empty bedroom for the short-term tenant, who is showing up - well probably not until Monday, actually. She was going to come in on Sunday night, but it won't be until after 10:00pm, far too late for me. She'll stay at a friend's until Monday and then come over. However, I am going to have the room prepared before that - never know if a person might show up early.

The rent money from her is going to installing a doggy door in the wall in the utility room to prepare this place for summer. I want that done now. I do NOT want to just let it go and then not get it done, the amount of cooling lost through the current door is substantial. Of course, I'm not cooling the place, so it doesn't matter. I'm not heating it, either. Pretty much a foregone conclusion I ain't coming up with the money for an awning, this is the next best thing.

Anyway, gonna keep this one "short" - gotta go out and clean up dog dung before it gets dark.

C'yall - whenever - have a great evening!
ben

Wednesday

Grilling is such wonderful bliss. A nice, cool day with the breeze blowing, got home from work and cooked up the 6 remaining burger patties on the grill. I just think the taste is so much better than pan frying.

The big boys came through yesterday, toured the property and then left. I wasn't there, us "workers" arrive early and leave early. Getting up early every day is a lifestyle that has it's perks and it's drawbacks. Many people like to stay up late - which I used to, but over the years of getting up as early as 3:00am for work, I have gotten very used to going to bed early and not "missing" anything about the night life - at all.

Anyway, today was pretty good. Because I am the only driver - as I have said in a couple of posts now, I get all the driving work there is to do, it is not divided by 2 drivers and I am busy most of the day - the first 3 days of this so far, anyway. There was no news of what might be on the horizon after the big guys were here - but there was a big meeting at the main branch this morning - the big guys there holding that meeting - again, have heard nothing, yet, about the outcome. Undoubtedly, the news will hit - just have to wait and see.

I'm still trying to decide whether I want to do this party. I want to yes, but do I really want to get involved with something that is publicized over the local news media? I mean, there are people wanting to do all kinds of things - a lady that is a masseuse wants to bring her chair and do free massages. Undoubtedly a marketing ploy to try and get new business. A couple of people wanting to bring the group and do music. I dunno - I'm just considering whether a huge, publicized event is really the way I want to go with this.

The big news was the President was here - all of 6 miles away from our Chandler store at a local high school - talking about mortgage refinancing at low interest rates. I'm already in the market - but I'm STILL waiting to hear from my own mortgage company to see what they may be able to come up with.

That's it. I'm a bit tired - not sleeping well this week for whatever reason. Took too long a nap after work and - am now paying for that AND the lack of sleep.
ben

Tuesday

An interesting occurence today at work.
THere is a particular contractor that we are "forced" to deliver to - the guy that runs the show at the site is not a pleasant man. Not at all. I have been delivering to this company, that site and this man for almost the 3 years I have worked at my current company. The man has yelled at me, insulted me, hurled all kinds of nastiness my way - for no good reason and has done the same with other drivers.

He also gets into frequent arguments over the phone with the salesman whose account it belongs to.

Anyway. I'm making a rush delivery - whatever it is they're doing out there, they want this stuff today. The salesman brings the material from downtown to our branch that we don't have, the truck is already loaded, I take off.

This is at an Intel plant where they make microprocessors, so you have to go through the gated entry, turn the truck off, open the hood, give them your driver's license number, on and on. It takes 5 minutes just to get through THAT process alone. A pain, yes, but part of the job, I just smile and give the same information every single time.

I get through there and drive by their yard where they store their material. No-one there. I go by one of the jobsites they are working on out there, no-one there. I go to the third and final place that I have delivered to at that plant in the past - no-one there, either. I don't just wait around and hope something happens. I start making phone calls. The phone number for this foreman isn't on the paperwork, so I call the inside salesman. He puts me on hold and comes back on and tells me HE doesn't have this guy's phone number, either. Wonderful. He says to me: "I don't know what the (bleep) to do in a situation like this". Well, I do.

Standard operating procedure - call the company's main office to get a phone number for the foreman. I tell the salesman that's what I'm doing, he says fine and that's that. I call the company, a rather sweet-sounding lady gets on the phone, I tell her I need the foreman's phone number cause' I can't find him out there. She replies that she can get me his number, but that if I need directions, there is a man sitting right next to her that can tell you.

Great. This man gets on the phone, I introduce myself and tell him where I'm at. He says no, that's not where I'm supposed to be. Okay, where do I need to go? We finally get it straight that I am AT the place I'm supposed to be at. "Well, there's no one out here, not even any equipment. I didn't know who this man was, but he got pissed in a fast hurry, said he didn't know where the f*** those guys were at but that he would find them and send them over in a hurry.

Umm, okay, thanks. That didn't sound good, but - I do what needs to be done to get someone notified that a truck is sitting there, waiting.

Now, not 2 minutes later, this man drives up with a look on his face. He's glaring at me. I get out of the truck and say my cordialities - regardless of how sour this guy is going to be, I'm always professional in demeanor with him. He asks me if I was the one who just called the main office. Yes sir, I didn't see you guys out here and I didn't know where to take this material to. "Well, what's the problem, you don't have my number?". No sir, it's not on the ticket, and I called the inside salesman who didn't have your number, either.

I KNEW something was going on. He takes the ticket from me, tells me he'll meet me at the yard, and then immediately gets on the phone.

I have had run-ins with this guy before, the best thing to do is simply be totally respectful and keep myself out of trouble as best as possible. The problem is, this guy IS a trouble-maker, owns his own universe, and we're just a part of it for his entertainment.

Delivery made, I get back to the yard, get in the semi which is already loaded, drive downtown and deliver that pipe, back to my yard, and then I hear from my co-worker that he had heard the boss talking to the outside salesman about what had happened.

NOTHING happened, really. But sure enough, that foreman had called the outside salesman, harped on him. The outside salesman called my boss and asked him why I'm calling the main office? Fortunately for me, the boss stood up for me. The salesman said I should be reprimanded for it.

Lol. This particular salesman also owns HIS own universe and EVERYONE should do things HIS way. My boss is asking him what I was supposed to do in a situation like that? He basically told this salesman that if we can't get a hold of either salesman on the account, and the salesman didn't put a phone number on the ticket, then we ARE going to call the main office.

Now, let me tell you, the man I talked to at the main office? I was totally respectful, congenial, nice, cordial, all that stuff with him on the phone as well. Didn't have a clue what title the man held, but it was obvious from the way he was talking he was definitely higher up the ladder than this guy at the job site. And so it was - turned out the guy is the vice-president of the entire company!!

So, basically, surmising that the foreman got into trouble for not having his crew over there working. They were NOT working, but who knows what - maybe they were on lunch break. Apparently, whatever they were doing, they should not have been doing it, though, cause that vice-president got hotter than the sun's surface in a fraction of a second when he realized I was where I was supposed to be and NONE of them were over there doing anything.

Well, at least I didn't get into trouble - and rightly so, common sense. I make claims that I still have some of it, regardless of whether half the rest of this world doesn't.

I've just gone through 20 more emails from 20 more people/families who want to chip in to do this next party that I really haven't even committed to doing yet! Lol. Could have enough food to feed half of Phoenix! Okay, not really, but you get the picture. I want to do it, I'm just trying to decide what weekend, and which day on the weekend to do it. I want to pick a weekend where there is nothing going on in Phoenix in terms of big events, and definitely not on any holiday weekend. I figure Saturday is better - or is it? Yeah, probably - gives me a "recovery day" - and if this thing is going to be as big as it appears it is, I have to say that it's going to be HUGE.

I have nothing else. Oh, yes I do. The lady that wants to move in temporarily wrote me back today. She said she DID send out the check and that she definitely wants to move into my house. I'm holding the room a few more days - but not forever. I NEED the money - I want to get caught up on the mortgage - but there are so many other things around here that need to be done as well.

OH, and my mother called me today. She said she saw somewhere where Fannie Mae is going to offer refinancing to mortgage holders who have bad credit but good, stable jobs at 4.75% in April. Are you kidding? I'm ALL over that, if it's true! A few months off, but I'm going to find out more about this now. I want to be the first on that particular train - cause' a train like that will fill up quickly. The savings would be over $200 per month. THAT kind of money, for me, isn't something to snoot at. That's almost my car payment!

Anyway, the corporate people should be at our branch right now. I'm just going to wait and see what becomes of this - everyone I have spoken with have the same thoughts: something is up, this isn't just a "gee, let's have a nice little tour of the facilities and that's all it really is" type of visit. It's decision time. It could be tomorrow, next week, next month before any decisions might be announced officially, but - something is going to happen. Probably. Maybe. Who knows?!!

Take a day at a time and be happy that I am employed, cause let me tell you, the ongoing barrage of email I am receiving from people about this party is some stuff that hits your heart and soul. There are literal, financial tragedies going on ALL around us, just have to open your eyes and look for it - if you really want to see it, that is.

C'yall later.
ben

The Dynamics Have Changed

Email continues to pour in.
I just don't know what to say about all of this.
This was hardly anything started to get public attention.
REALLY, it wasn't.
The reporter I talked to wants to follow the formation and process of the next party and then finalize it by visiting with the cameras at the actual event.

NOW we're talking: THIS IS CRAZY!!!

It would be one of their "positive" stories aside from the landfill of negativity that floods in every single friggin' day.

The best part of this second event: with all the help, I wouldn't have to pay hardly anything for it! In fact, if only half the money came in that people have committed to giving, it would go FAR beyond anything I ever thought of.

This isn't something I've given a lot of thought to - there ARE certain things in my life that I have done that weren't given 6 months of analytical processes. Parties are fun - the planning is simply how much food and drinks and how is it all going to be cooked and handed out. If it's a very large group of people expected to show up, then you start soliciting help. You cannot do it by yourself. You have to have several grills going and you have to have more people preparing food. Even more to greet people, pick up trash, just getting stuff done.

I've done it a hundred times - I've just not done it since I got divorced. I'm in my element at parties - I can move from one group to another - whatever they're talking about, I can join right in. If it's slow, I always have something to throw in the mix that will get things moving. I would FAR rather just get a lot of people to help and I just walk around enjoying myself! Lol.

Well, the whole thing is certainly getting a bit surreal. I have to go through a hundred emails and reply to those that want to help with the next party and see if they're serious - serious enough to give me their phone number and bypass the email game. Email is good - but for commitment, a voice contact is much better and far preferred.

I have a bit to think about. Not in terms of analytical - gee do I really want to do this - but in term of how best to go about this. If the media is going to be involved, I want it to show only good. We have ENOUGH bad right now. I want a spark of hope to ignite in people's hearts. I want to see a giant community coming together. I'm definitely a dreamer in such things - I can see the potential outcome of something like this - people starting their own parties, strangers coming together and gutting out this mess we're all going through together.

I would love to see this isolationist era go away. Me, myself and I. I can do it alone, I don't need anyone's help. I've been there myself - but it never used to be that way. And it never used to be that the Government was our source. WE provide the government, not the other way around. Certainly there are people that need help - I'm referring to the handout, mooching era we're in now. It's sickening. Beyond that, now, are all the people that are NOT moochers - they're hard-working people from all different walks of life in all kinds of professions - WHO CAN'T FIND WORK ANYWHERE.

As I said, I have a little thinking to do.
ben

Wow!

I'm a little shell-shocked.
I was just going through a bunch more email - one guy is committing to giving $600.00 for the next party. Another will come and do all the cooking. A BUNCH will bring food and drinks.
You have to have more info on this than I've given, I guess.

I wrote a Craigslist Ad that was entitled "Free Sunday Dinner - Foreclosure Party".
In the ad, I wrote that I wasn't personally going into foreclosure, but that there are so many people out there hurting. I went on about how Phoenix used to be a very friendly town - and it was. People used to one another, open and hold doors, go out of their way to help strangers. Now? You get a finger and F U.

I don't get what everyone's so uptight and upset about? I see it in traffic all day long, hostility. I see it at stores and businesses. I hear about it on the news. So that's basically what I wrote.

Now, one of the local news media has picked up on this - from who I have no clue - and wants to actually do an interview!!! LOL!!!!
ben

Monday

So, it was official as of today, the other driver was shipped to the main branch in Phoenix and I am now the only driver - again - for the Chandler branch. Which meant, today, that the driving was not split between 2 people and I was busy most of the day, a WELCOME change and I hope it stays that way. Tomorrow there is only one delivery in the system, but that could change overnight. Even so, the big boys are coming tomorrow and whatever free time I have will be spent giving a good sweeping to the warehouses.

The party was a blast! For such an impromptu thing, there were some GREAT people that showed up and spent most of the afternoon here. One older gent had been in more wars or seen action than I can count on both hands worth of fingers. Amazing to hear those war stories. He wouldn't come and say what his rank was, only that he was "higher up" in the ranks and mostly gave out orders but had spent some time visiting troops on the field.

There was a couple of Chinese women that showed up, one of them a much older lady who could only speak a few words of English. It was really cool, too - she had the "older ways" and would bow her head and was totally in love with all of my doggies. Which I found quite amazing.

Now, for the money spent: 89 cent loaves of bread; 69 cent bags of hotdog buns and 93% lean ground beef which was on sale for $1.89 per pound. Plus a couple of things of cheap chicken and several thing of hot dogs, cheap soda and water. Regardless of what anyone thinks, I don't feel bad one iota in having a good time at least once in a while. The mortgage is what it is - it won't go any further late than it is now - meaning each month I get caught up by 3 days.

Unless, of course, I continue to have tenant problems - crossing my fingers and praying that I won't. I'm hearing this stimulus package has something in it about mortgages - waiting to see what, if anything, that includes. I'm still waiting to hear back from my current mortgage company on any loan modification that might be offered as I applied for that almost 2 weeks ago now.

I'm giving the person that said they want to move in here for a couple of months until tomorrow for that check to arrive. It will be 5 full business days since she claims to have mailed it - I don't know of any letter that takes, normally, more than 3 days to get to most anywhere in the continental U.S. Considering it's coming from Oregon - which isn't that far away in terms of the postal service, I should have received it by now. I'm going to write up a totally different ad for a 3rd tenant - short term ONLY. I don't WANT a long-term person in there. Just a couple of months worth of rent to get caught up.

There are plenty of scenarios - legitimate - that a person would need a temporary place to live. One such is a person moving in out-of-state and needing a place until they find their new home or apartment. More-so if it's a person with a dog/s and can't find any place to take them. I would, however, charge more per month for dogs. I have enough and cleaning up after even more of them would be something I wouldn't want to entertain without getting paid for it.

Now, as far as a future party? I've had 2 dozen people write me in the last 2 days telling me that it was too short a time for them - if I'm going to do another one, they'll chip in and help with food and whatever else they can. Yes, I fully intend on doing another one, this time allowing others to pay for most of it, I'll just do the hard part in putting the whole thing together. I'm telling you, it was actually rejuvenating to have some decent, adult company around to spend an afternoon with. I would definitely invite the retired folk in this area with flyers.

It was also fun using that grill for the 1st time. That thing cranks out the heat and can cook a LOT of food at one time!

Mary's friend - the guy that does odd jobs - says he can fix those windows for $30 a piece. ???? I figured out right away without asking what the compromise would be for getting it done so cheap: no gas between the panes. I have no idea how pumping gas into double paned windows does anything for reducing heat loss in the summer, but since they say it occurs, I'll take their word for it. Meanwhile, I could probably swing that next paycheck and get that eyesore taken care of. The gas doesn't last forever, anyway, so I've been told. Max 5 years and it's done. I have other ideas at this point - get some foam insulation, go buy some fabric, attach the fabric to the foam - walaah. A decent looking sun block on each window on the west side of the house, including the giant sliding glass doors.

Another thing they did today was to run a cable from her new room all the way to the box where the cables come out of the box at the back of the house. This means I don't have to run a cable to the 3rd room I want to rent out - and yes, I did acquire another satellite box for that room. My solution to the mortgage backlog is to simply get another short-term tenant to get caught up and get back on track.

Anyways, I have some things I need to do online and - this one's gone on long enough.
ben

It Is Done

I've worn myself out.
But first: Mary did pay - I shouldn't say I'm shocked, but it is a bit amazing after all we have gone through. So - tomorrow or the next day we'll be signing a new lease agreement.

Umm, so, I did something that I now - don't regret but didn't remember how much work it is.
Throwing a party, that is.
Haven't done it in a long, long time. I guess you could call that shindig at Christmas a party - but it was family only.

No, long ago - like 5 or 6 years ago anyway - I used to frequently throw parties. Masses of people would show up and it would always be a great time.
So, seeing that lean ground beef is on big-time sale, I decided to do a totally crazy thing: Have a Craigslist Foreclosure Party.

I am not being foreclosed on. My payments are late, but not foreclosure late. Every month the payment will get reigned in until it's current. I haven't really talked about it because I have it under control at this point. I'm hoping to get in on this government bailout refinance bandwagon or whatever they're going to end up doing so I can bring my payment down by at least a couple hundred per month.

Anyway, the amount of email I received from that ad was incredible. One story after another after another after another from people who have lost their jobs, are losing their homes. People writing to tell me they're college graduates, have decades worth of experience in whatever field - and can't find a job. Some of them have been unemployed for almost a year - others 6 months.

You can tell they're afraid. Unemployment benefits don't last forever - even if they did, you're only getting $1,000.00 per month. That's not enough money to even pay the mortgage, much less buy food, pay for electricity, etc etc etc. It's better than nothing, sure, but - I was pretty overwhelmed by all of it. There's at least 20 people coming tomorrow - plus more people who wrote and were shocked that anyone is doing anything like this, and can they help? Darn straight - bring food, drinks whatever. One lady is bring all kinds of condiments, beans and other stuff. Another guy is supposedly bringing some chicken, another guy a case of coke, one lady actually offered $20.

Even more people wrote and thought what a cool idea - they were thinking of doing something like it themselves. I've always loved large social gatherings and I've always been good at organizing and throwing large parties - even up to a couple thousand people. Just a matter of mobilizing enough people to help get everything done.

You think I'm crazy. Maybe I am - just the lifestyle I've lived most of my adult life. Nothing fancy, either, didn't want to spend too much on it, but - hamburgers are good and it IS lean ground beef : ), homemade coleslaw, numerous bags of $1.00 chips, some dips, lots of onions, tomatoes and jalapenos for topping. I also found a HUGE picnic roast on sale at Fry's - the were dumping it at $5.00 because it's sell by date is today. I already cooked it - 8 hours worth. All the fat just fell off of it, the meat just pulled apart with forks - hence known as fork-pulled pork, dumped a bottle and a half of my favorite BBQ sauce on it - done! Oh, and HUGE bag of frozen french fries at $3.00 something. I'm counting on others to bring the rest. If they don't, it's sufficient in itself what I already have.

I think it'll be a blast. Nice way to say goodbye to a 4-day off stint. Definitely be working all 5 days this coming week. Hopefully, anyway!

Anyway, I've been cleaning, cooking, cutting, dicing, etc etc etc for hours and hours now, I'm ready to go to bed. Party to start at noon tomorrow. See what happens.

As for now - I'm going to bed. Just about everything's done that can be done in advance. A little more cleaning. I've done this before, gotta have things ready the night before and leave as little as possible for the day of the event so you don't get inundated!

G'nite, folks.
ben