Thursday

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

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

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

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

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

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

Well, enough.
Have a great day.
ben

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In-General

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

Didn't start on pond 2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday

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

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

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

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

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

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

ben

More: Pond

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

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

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

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

Quite encouraging, actually, but a little too fast.

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

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

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

ben

Tuesday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

G'day.

ben

Today's Doings

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

I wanted to get the tree transplanted - done.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Done for the day.

Good evening.

ben

Pre-Formed Pond

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

G'day.

ben

Sunday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ben

Iran, It's Threats And Obama

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHERE are this man's priorities?

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

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

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

A Cat With Holes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

C'ya later.
ben

Urgent Announcement

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

Problems With Direct TV Billing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fun fun.

Saturday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

G'day.

Ben

Friday

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

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

Lol.

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

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

No Advance Notice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Umm, ending this one, time for bed.

G'nite.

ben

More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

G'day.
ben

That Deserves A Drink

Oh, yes, it does.
I went to the doctor for my annual physical today.
Thank God it's only once a year, because I have serious doubts that I would be able to handle anymore of it than once.
Now ladies, I am WELL aware of what gynecologists put you through. I was married 16 years, I DO have a clue in this department.

However. I still don't think that having a doc sitting there, telling you to bend over, him putting on rubber glove and KY jelly and sticking it up your @$$ is somehow "better" than the clamp ordeal you have to go through. I don't care as much that he has to look at my nuts and determine whether I have a hernia or not - it isn't intrusive, not NEAR-SO as the finger test.

Well, that unpleasantry is over, the "results" were good. There were 2 things the doc was concerned about. First, my cholesterol. BUT, when he started looking at the results, he said it wasn't as bad as he had first thought. My GOOD cholesterol is WAY higher than the average person. My bad is like 30 points higher.

Then he said my kidney "levels" -whatever that means - were slightly higher than the last time they did bloodwork - which was about a year and a half ago. So, I have to start taking this cholesterol medication and I have to go back in 6 or see weeks and give more blood. They will check for any continued rise in whatever level they are looking at for the kidneys. My heart is still pumping, my blood pressure is good, my liver is good, I don't have diabetes - a whole list of things they apparently start looking at as you hit certain age levels.

Well - it's OVER. I am not dying, yet (we all have to do that one day, I just hope my appointment isn't terribly soon and that I stay in good or at least reasonably good health until then), the trauma of the finger test is wearing off - neither he nor I are gay so there is nothing sexual to be derived out of such a thing - but to make it wear off faster, I have given myself permission to have a drink - or two. Grin and bear it, that's what I tell myself cause' I am always trying to talk myself out of going to these physicals which are totally voluntary and self-imposed.

But, I always think, I am getting older - if there is something wrong, I want to know about it early because medicine has improved so much over the last 2 or 3 decades that early detection of many things can mean the difference between life and death.

Doc did tell me - in a nice way - that I should cut back on red meats. Well, I eat a LOT of chicken, I like chicken but I absolutely LOVE steak! I don't eat it often, though. I admitted all my junk - I smoke a cigar here and there and I drink beers here and there.

It's over, I keep telling myself, but I have to say that this kind of thing I find to be very unsettling. Call me a wimp, but any guy that has had a finger up his @$$ knows what I am talking about. They don't even start doing that until you're 40, so you are given a LONG pass on that. Then, every year, you have to endure such. I think after age 50 they then want to start sticking some camera device WAY up in there and looking at 'things'. LOL.

Onto other things, thank you. I take a quick look at my ponds this afternoon when I got home from work - which I left work early because there wasn't anything else to do in deliveries, I wanted to take a short nap before going to the doc's office and I am over hours for this week. Or last, who knows, the thing shows all the hours from the start of the pay period which started last week. I just keep track of total hours, make sure I am getting all of what I can get, but also making sure I don't go over.

So, pretty quick here, I am headed out there to try to start to form a plan in my mind - how I want this whole setup to look after I am done with it. This is really going to take some pre-planning. I will try to come up with where I want these ponds to be before this weekend so I can start working on it. The digging will be a pain in the rear, no doubt, but - it's great exercise and I know the end result will definitely be worth the effort put into it. Still, I have alot to learn about these ponds and I am reading crazily all kinds of sites that have all kinds of info.

In fact, that sounds like a great idea. Take my drink out there, sit down in a chair, look at the pre-formed pond liners and attempt to figure out how I want to do all of this.

Later.

ben