Tuesday, May 1, 2012

There is not much going on in my life that is more disconcerting as having people pointing fingers at you for situations that you (I) did not cause.  This morning is one of them.  2 orders to be pulled, loaded and had to be at the job site by no later than 7:00am.  Okay.  Pulled the orders, loaded them onto the truck and yes, was here (I am currently sitting at this job site) right at 7:00am.

When I pulled up to the unloading area, the foreman was visibly upset.  No pipe on the truck.  What pipe?  The orders showed nothing about pipe.  I read and re-read orders over and over because I do not want to be the source of a problem that - in this company - ends up going into everyone's ears.  There are some things about the company that I work for that I definitely do not like, this is one of them.  Every company has it's set of problems, obviously, but I am not a big fan of people going around talking trash about other employees behind their back.

Regardless, the pipe was not on the order.  Yet, my manager and I are being blamed for not bringing out the pipe.  Why?  Because allegedly, it was in a "memo" on the order itself.  Well, I checked the memo's this morning.  I looked at my company email account - a memo in the order will send it to whoever the intended recipient's email address is.  Nothing.  So, how does one get blamed for not delivering a product that one did not know needed to be delivered?  Yes, indeed.  But, that's what happens in our company - there are numerous individuals who will never take responsibility for their actions and always blame everyone else for mistakes.

Whatever.  Bowling tonight.  haven't been in a long time.  Our church group decided that we are going bowling this week for our meeting.  Bowling isn't cheap and when it was decided that we were going to do that, I had the distinct feeling that someone in that group was not going to come because they could not afford it.  I offered to pay for that individual - I had an inkling of who the person was, too.  Yes, well after my offer, the group leaders wrote back and told me that a mom and her kid would like to take up that offer.  Okay.  Anonymous, please, keep it anonymous.  They said they would "try their best".

My son texts my ex wife yesterday telling her that he's going in for surgery. Surgery? For what? I get the call after he texts her from her asking if I knew anything about this (as if I had I had known but intentionally was keeping the information from her).  I decided to take the "high road" and simply not engage her as she had started to engage me.  No, sorry, I know nothing about it but I would guess he's referring to that in-grown toenail that they should have dealt with the second time he went in there.  She had not been able to get him on the phone to ask him what was going on, which is why we were guessing.  Yup, that's what it turned out to be. They numbed it up and cut half of his toenail off, end of story.  They should have done that the first time he went in, but if not, definitely the second.  This was his third visit.

Meanwhile, I am hot on the search for someone or some company to tow the trailer.  I think I may have found one.  The ad says up to $350 for up to 350 miles.  Well, that sounds very promising, the guy is going to give me a quote later on today.

That's it.  Still haven't installed the carpet - procrastinating I guess, lol. Ain't gonna happen today.  When I get off of work I am going to go home, take a nap and try to refresh myself for this evening's bowling adventure.  There are a few other issues with the trailer, but I am probably not going to do anything about it.

Tuesday 5/1/2012

The people that were going to move my trailer up to the mountains?  Are leaving for Colorado on Monday and won't be back until September.  Uggggh.  I contacted the other individual that said they would do it - no reply yet and that was almost 24 hours ago.

Well isn't that wonderful.  I posted another ad on Craigslist.  To use a company to have it hauled up there will cost around $600 to $700.  Yup.  A lot of money.  I have no choice but to start the search all over again and hope that either someone responds to my Craigslist ad or I can find someone - somehow - to do it.  Hmmm.  Maybe I'll stop in at RV World and see if there might be anyone that has left a card or a service that has their service posted somewhere.

Well, that ended my time for writing, lol, as I got involved in searching the internet for any kind of service that hauls RV's.  Found a local one and submitted a quote request.

Anyway, off to work.

G'day.

ben

Sunday, April 29, 2012

I called my mother today.
God continues to astound and amaze me.
I don't know what to say.

She is going to church, today, probably leaving anytime soon now.

I could not possibly devote the amount of words and time it would take to go
into all of what that means here.  That my mother is going to any church is a
true miracle in itself.

I am elated, concerned and ecstatic - I am hopeful and believe the best outcome
here.  That she will go - and that whatever needs to happen, God will make that
come to pass and that she will go again and again.

Until.  Need I say the rest?

Until Him.  Until the Lord.  Until our Savior.

This situation will envelop me for some time to come.
It will take up my energy and thought.  My mother - oh my Lord and God, to come
and REALLY know the love of our Lord.


Sunday 4/29/2012

The thought occurs to me - just about every Sunday morning at this time - that I really don't need or want to go church.  I know the source of those thoughts and this morning I simply and utterly reject them.

As for the trailer AC, the temp inside the unit came down to around 75 degrees in there yesterday - that was cooling the entire unit with the front air outlets aimed toward the back room.  I believe it got up to 95 degrees yesterday, so, good enough.  It doesn't get hotter than that up in the mountains - or if it ever does, it certainly doesn't stay up there that long. I am going to get up on the trailer roof one more time and give the coil another good bathing in water to make sure all or as much of the dirt that I can get out of there - is out and call it good.

I don't get much peace around here on Sunday mornings any more, a thing that greatly irritates me.  I don't want to sound petty, but Mark and Lynnette walk in and out and in and out, continuously.  Well, mostly Mark with Lynnette going in and out of the bathroom repeatedly.  It's just one day of the week and just a few hous of the day, I guess that's too much to ask.  I don't get the constant in and out stuff, though.

I wrote up yet another ad for giving away some fish and plants.  I have far too many fish in the ponds - they have been multiplying and it's getting to be too much.  The filters are clogging up too fast and I want to thin out the amount of fish in there. Well there we go, a couple of replies already, hopefully one of them will pan out.

Well I'm not going to drag this one out.  Church in an hour.

G'day.

ben

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Saturday 4/28/2012

Snag.
I figured it wouldn't be cheap, but now my suspicions have been verified.  To add freon to my travel trailer's roof ac unit, they will have to install a port.  Well, installing the port means all the freon will leak out while they're doing it.  Meaning they will have to evacuate the system and then completely recharge it.  Price tag? $250.

Now, I am sitting here wondering whether I should think about dumping another $250 into that AC system or not.  It puts out cool air, but not cold air.  Not cold enough to keep the unit cool, anyway, when it's hot outside.    The problem with dumping that kind of money into it is that it is an old AC unit and I have no clue how much longer it will last.  A month, a year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years?  If I knew I could get at least a couple of years out of it, then yes, it would be worth it.

Of course that's figuring that I even have $250 to spend on it right now.  I have the money to move that thing up north stashed away.  I have another $300 in savings on top of that.  Humph.  I am going to have to make up my mind soon about this one because it's getting close to the time to get that thing hauled up there, less than a month away and I do not want to put it off.

________________________________________

I called them back, the service company that is.  The woman stated that it isn't always a freon issue, that the condenser can get clogged up over time and limit the amount of air flowing through it.  Ummmm, okay, thanks for the info, I am going to try cleaning it out before I call you folks to come over.  I'll spend 10 cents on water to flush the thing out before spending a grand total of $316 to have freon pumped into it.

And hootinnannyholler.  After I thoroughly sprayed the condenser out with water, the temperature of the air coming out of the unit is MUCH colder!!!  So, I am going to run it for a few hours and we'll see what happens.  It would be VERY nice if I didn't have to spend anymore money on that unit.  It was also very nice of that lady to give away that information for free, lol.  I did thank her quite nicely for the information.

That was the concern of the day, really.  I have other things to do, but that was the priority.  If it does, indeed, cool it down nicely in there, then I will install the new padding/carpet - to the best of my ability anyway.  It's ready to be installed.  After that?  Well, not that much.  Not anything costly, anyway.  I have my new microwave, coffee pot, nice used queen mattress, the roof is all but done, just a few touch up areas, it has a new refrigerator and the propane system is now working in it (hot water/cooking).

It's been a long, drawn-out project but will be worth the effort once I get it up there.  I'm looking at either the 12th or 19th of May - a Saturday - to have it dragged up there.  Not sure yet.  Mom has already given her stamp of approval to have it towed onto her property whether she is up there or not.  But, waiting until she goes up might be better.

Once it's up there, then the work has just begun.  Will have to install a fence around it to be able to let the dogs out without having to supervise them all the time.  Will have to work out the situation with the satellite dish and running a cable. Thanks for reminding myself: I still need to get a satellite box for it.  Totally forgot about that, going to start searching Craigslist as soon as I am done with this entry.

Anyway, Memorial Day is near the end of May and it would be cool to have that 3 day weekend to spend much of it up there if I can get it up there by then and get everything situated.  Of course, another test is whether I will be able to get on the internet up there or not - no clue yet.  Deal breaker?  No, but I know I will want to be able to get online.  The only other alternative is satellite internet which is both costly and I've heard doesn't really work that well, so probably would pass on that as well.

Whoops!  The price of satellite internet has come down substantially.  New customer offer of $39.00 per month.  But the equipment for $199 or lease it for nothing.  That is a FAR cry different than the last time I looked at the pricing - substantially higher!  But it's a monthly expense I would rather not incur and use that money in savings instead.  I don't want to have to pay for 3 different sources of internet service, I am already pay for 2.  Home service and mobile broadband.

Well whatever, before this entry drags into the everlasting one, better close it down.  Just checked the temp in there, down to 80 degrees.   I have Mark fixing the heavy cover that goes over a big window in it - close that and I am sure the temp will come down substantially considering the sun is shining right through that window, heating everything up.

Later.

ben

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Thursday 4/26/2012

When one sets out to get off the road that leads to destruction and back onto the path that leads to eternal life - through the narrow gate - one is then, I am finding out, attacked in so many different ways from the enemy that it becomes glaringly obvious that the enemy is behind all of it and that he isn't exactly happy that - God is greater, thank you Lord.

After much reflection, I realize that I had completely given up even attempting to walk with the Lord, just do my own thing and keep to myself.   The carnal nature of man is not in love with the Word of God - you know, the words written in the Bible.  It loves to do whatever it wants to - those things that are evil; worldly, anything that is not of God.  Raising my hand: guilty.  

I started reading through the book of James.  If you want to find printed words, from God, that will rile your flesh, simply start reading in that book.  Faith without works is dead.  Count it all joy when you are confronted with trials and tribulation.  It's a lot of admonishment, to be honest about it.  These are the parts of the Bible that are oft times ignored by those that just want the gooey-good feeling and not all the idea of "taking up your cross daily and following after Christ" that leads to a disciplined life in the Lord.

I have a long ways to go, that's what I can say about it.  But, continuing reading in the Word is the answer, at least for me.  It is a habit I am attempting to form to simply turn on the computer and pull up the BibleGateway site every morning and start reading.  And yes, I am in the book of James and it may take a while to work my way through it.  I don't want to just glaze over all the "hard" stuff, I want to absorb it and let it become a part of my every day life.

Well, anyway.  At some point, I will find it within myself to volunteer in the church.  Whatever that may mean, even if it's vacuuming carpets.

Rain. That was the forecast for today.  Yet, looking at the radar, it is raining - well north of Phoenix.  Whether it makes it's way here?  Who knows. God causes it to rain on the just and unjust alike, so, please Lord!!!    lol

There isn't much else going on, really.  I am going to attempt to find someone to come over that has the necessary equipment to recharge the trailer ac's freon system.  If I do find someone to do it and it still doesn't put out the necessary temp of air to keep it cool in there, it may be a losing battle to spend any more money on it.  I don't want a gawky looking window ac unit mounted on the thing, but to buy a new roof air unit for it is pretty expensive stuff.  The thing IS pumping out cool air, just not cold ENOUGH.  Which hints to me a need for increased amount of freon.

Well, whatever the case, it's time to be off to work.

G'day.

ben

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Tuesday 4/24/2012

We took a video this weekend of Duke eating a loaf of bread.  It's hilarious.  The dog doesn't chew bread, he simply swallows it whole.  Completely spaced out loading that up to YouTube, gonna have to do that today after work.

A change is coming into my life - more like a reversion to the ways and the walk with the Lord I once had and shook off.  Bad thing to do, I can tell you, leaving your walk with the Lord, that is.  Not that I consciously told the Lord one day that I want nothing more to do with Him, more like allowing the world and it's ways to creep in and become a way of living.  There is, in reality, nothing good in this World, at least those things that are void of Christ, which are most things.

I don't have anyone to blame but myself.  The divorce was a nightmare, yes.  The church shunning me was the icing on a rotten cake, definitely.  Old friends moving on to other churches and never seeing them again? I brushed that one off.  I learned long ago that if that's the way a "friend" acts towards you when the going gets rough, then they were never your friends to begin with.  I never treated them that way, I can assure you, and I was always there for them.

But I was not guiltless.  But as I start to get back into the Word much more than anything I have been doing in the last 7 years, well, it's certainly enlightening - if you believe, of course.  If you read the Word and don't believe, then it may not do any good - though God says His word shall not return unto him void.  Well, I believe.  God is good.  I can finally say I believe I am coming out of it.  Whatever I have gone through with the church is the past.  The current church I am in is a very good one, I just haven't seen it that way because I have been viewing it through tainted eyes, ie: the church that shunned me.

Whatever the case, this walk with the Lord is good.  I have missed it so much.  God is so good to us.  I am hungry for the Word again, a thing I haven't really had in a long, long time now.  I am hungry to fulfill my purpose and destiny - whatever that may be - on this earth and then, finally, move onto to be with Him.

G'day.

ben

Monday, April 23, 2012

A short one.  It got to 105 yesterday.  That's 105 degrees in APRIL.  What, are we going to have a 130 degree summer? I mean, seriously.  Running the AC in April, what fun.  I have no idea if this is a pre-cursor to things to come, but I sincerely hope it is not.

Regardless, it's Monday morning, early and I have to leave for work.  Mind swimming with things all over the board.  A little restless at this point, I am really seeking the Lord and attempting to get beyond some issues in my personal life.  Changing things in your personal life that you have lived with for - a long time - is not necessarily the easiest thing to accomplish, but certainly it's not impossible.

G'day.

ben

Sunday, April 22, 2012

I may start scaling back my entries a bit.  Not quitting, but I didn't write one yesterday. Seems like I am pretty much saying the same things over and over and that makes for some boring reading.

But, today was a bit different day for me. I went to church Friday night - and was up so late that I was pretty tired on Saturday - but definitely worth going.  Today, the same prophets were in the church.  I sat there and listened to the message and then they started calling out people.  I didn't realize that these prophets know many of the people in the church.  I have only seen one of them attending the church - once, the other couple I had never seen before.

Well, anyway, the went through all of that and then called up everyone who hadn't been prayed for on either of the 2 days, which I had not.  I had already prayed and asked the Lord for one specific thing to happen if I were to get prayed over.  Not that I am dictating terms to the Lord, but certainly, what I was asking was definitely not out of line with anything found in the Word of God.

So, when I went up there and stood in line, I contemplated the scenario.  Kind of getting into mind games, I guess, while listening to them ministering to other people near me.  When the prophet got to me, he didn't ask me anything.   Instead, he put his hand on my chest and began praying and speaking forth exactly what I had prayed and asked the Lord earlier.  I know people have a hard time with the idea of current-day prophets, but they certainly exist and there aren't just a handful of them out there, either.

I am not going to go into the details of what I had asked the Lord for and/or what the man prayed over me, really, quite personal stuff to be honest and even I am not divulging that kind of thing on the World Wide Web. But, a great fog lifted off of me this morning.  The joy of the Lord filled my inner man and I found myself laughing heartily.  I went and sat back down on my chair and felt as if I had taken some drugs.  I sat there until they were all ready to leave, the ministers that is, as I couldn't find it in myself to get up and go.  Not because I wanted to hang out with ministers, but because the presence of the Lord was so unbelievably powerful there today.

That has been, for the most part, my weekend.  Yesterday I did much of nothing, too tired.  Though I did find out that the AC unit on my trailer - is working - but not putting out cold enough air to bring the temp down that much.  The air coming out of it is cold, but not cold enough.  It needs freon, I am guessing.  They don't have ports on those older units - well I don't know if they have them on newer ones, either - to add more.  You actually have to cut into the copper tubing and install a port, I guess, to be able to add it.  If I had access to a torch and brazing rods, I could probably install my own port - but I do not have access to such.

I don't have the money right now to pay someone to come out and do that for me, so that's kind of up in the air at this point.  I dunno.  If I am determined to have it fixed, that's going to put off moving it for a while.  Push comes to shove? Might take it up there, anyway.  We'll see.

Well whatever.  I'm going to bed early tonight - which is really early for most people, lol.

Nite.

ben


Friday, April 20, 2012

Friday 4/20/2012

Just got home from church - it's 11:20 pm, hours past my bedtime.  But I am awake and need to wind down a bit.
I took Caleb with me who got a very concise word from the Lord through one of the ministers that was there.  It was a great service, haven't spent that much time in a service since I was - shunned some years ago now.

Well, at work, they didn't want me to go over 40, but ended up with almost 45 anyway.  A 2 man operation with a lot of work and very high GP?  It really shouldn't bother them that much, it is what it is.

Mark removed the carpet out of the trailer 2 days ago, which made me very happy.  I need only to buy some carpet glue and some staples and away we go.  When I get that done, it will be the home stretch, baby.

It's warming up.  Near 100 degrees today.  AC on most of the day.  Not much fun, but what are you going to do?

Nothing much here.  Just throwing things out there.  I'm tired - but I am REALLY tired of these stupid polls that keep coming out daily of the "race" between Obama and Romney.  The election isn't until when, 7 months from now? Do they keep putting these polls out to try and sway people's vote?  I don't trust polls that much, anyway.  They can word a poll in such a way to get whatever results they want out of if, from what I have seen.

I am having a person over tomorrow - if they show up that is - to take some more pond plants.  I really need to weed out some of it.  That particular pond is a bit overgrown with plants and some thinning is definitely in the plans.

Nothing more to see here.

G'nite.

ben

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Thursday 4/19/2012

I don't particularly care for checks floating around that aren't cashed.  So it is every time I send these people a check to make payment on the trailer.  They've had it for 2 weeks and finally it went through last night.  ONE more payment on that and it frees up $200 a month.  Which is good, cause' summer is almost here and that money will be needed for electricity.

I'm definitely leaning more and more towards selling it if I can get what I paid for it out of it.  It's in good condition but who knows what the market for such things is right now.  I won't take less than I paid for it, that's a fact.  So it might sit there for a while if that's the case.

You see the corruption going on with that Federal agency with the lavish parties and then you come online in the morning and find a woman that has allegedly stolen 30 million from a small town, apparently over the course of a long period of time and then you wonder: how much MORE of this is going on?

Pay taxes so thieves can live a lavish lifestyle and wave it in our faces?

Whatever the case, the work day is here, must be leaving now.

G'day.

ben

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Wednesday 4/18/2012

Tired.
Just not sleeping well.  Considering trying the newest sleep aid that supposedly helps you sleep through the night.  I hate waking up at midnight/1:am/2:am/whatever.  I don't lay there trying to go back to sleep anymore, I get up or get the laptop and sit up in bed and try to tire/bore myself back to sleep - which works far better than tossing and turning.

Onto other things.  Caleb.  He was given the green light: they are definitely having him up there at that kid's camp in the mountains again this year.  He called and told me the good news this afternoon.  He also asked if I could take him up there again.  Sure, why not?  What day?  The 12th of June.  Falls on a Tuesday.  I will simply ask for the time off I wanted anyway - which in this case would be 4 days off.

I am, of course, hoping/assuming that trailer will already be up there by then. Unfortunately, taking Caleb up to his place and taking the dogs along with us so I can just go back to the trailer instead of all the way back to the valley?  Lol.  Caleb's mountain "resort" is about - I don't know, maybe another 40 or 50 miles beyond where my mother has her property.

I don't know, really.  Driving all the way up there, back to the valley and back up again sounds quite tedious and expensive, fuel-wise.  Gonna have to think about that one.

Caleb continues to remind me of our fishing expedition date after he gets back.  I had NO idea that he loved going on the ocean that much.  He doesn't let on much about what it is going on inside of him.  He insists we are going this year and that this time, he will have money to help out with it. I do hope so, cause' right now? It ain't happening if the tab is all on me as it was last year.  Though, the one trailer will be paid off next month and the other trailer is almost finished in terms of spending money on it.  I am hoping to sell the trailer I am not using.  Who knows.  He says he is going to save most of his earnings up at the kid camp and that is going to pay for the trip.  I want to go, no doubting - San Diego in the summertime?  Wonderful : )

I dunno.  Secret service agents getting fired; the GSA continuous news about the unbelievable amounts of wasted, taxpayer money; this that and the other thing.

I do know one thing, God willing: I am going to to church on Friday night and I am dragging my son with me. They are having prophets come in and I definitely want to be there.  No current-day prophets, you say?  Well, you are certainly welcomed to believe whatever you want.

That's only 2 nights from now.

Other things on the mind.  No need to go into that here.

G'nite.

ben

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Tuesday 4/17/2012

I was AT work at 5:00 am this morning.
Contractor at Intel wanted me out  there with their stuff that early.
I don't know, I just do whatever they want.
But it's 8:00 pm and I'm exhausted and going to bed after I write this.
Which won't take long, cause' I'm SO tired I am easily irritated and there
are so many people walking through here making "comments" right now?
I'm outta here shortly.  Finish what I was doing and get gone.\

Friday night at church?  Prophets are going to be there.   I am going. I asked
my son via Facebook to go, too, I would be VERY interested in what
the Lord might have to say to him through them.

Ahhh, blahh. I would love to write out an entry like I normally do, but I am too
tired for it.

Hope you all are doing well.

ben

Monday, April 16, 2012

Monday 4/16/2012

What I would like to do is take a trip up to mother's property this weekend and check out whether the internet is going to work up there plus walk around the property.

It's how I work, folks.  I need sustained motivation in some things to keep on moving forward.  Going up to the property; getting a fresh taste of fresh air; hiking through deep woods? Yup, that will get me going.  Or keep me going.

I don't have much time here.  Since I left work, I have received numerous phone calls about tomorrow morning. The contractor at Intel wants their stuff there at 6:30 am.  Most of the material has NOT been pulled yet.  Do you know what it takes to pull and order, shrink wrap it, load it on the truck and strap it down plus get paperwork done not to mention opening up the building/gate/bay doors plus closing them again after you are done?

Yeah, thanks. I'ts almost 8:00 pm and it's time for bed already!

No time to go into things today.

G'nite.

ben

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Sunday 4/15/2012

Getting ominously close to May, unfortunately.
May means distinctive increase in temps leading up to hell in June.
Well whatever. I am attempting to mentally prepare myself for another hot summer.  It isn't exactly working out too well and I am not going to like the adjustment period.

Well anyway.  Went to the shooting range yesterday and opted to leave the shotgun at home. Once there, I wished I had brought it, though.  I like to shoot off a few rounds out of it every here and there to get and stay used to the feel of it.  But no biggies.  Ran about 100 rounds through the .40 caliber  and even more through the rifle plus even more through mom's guns.  She has a brand new .38 which is surprisingly more powerful than I thought it would be.  Nice, small gun too, easily concealable.

Not in the market for guns right now, however, I have other fish to fry.  Namely, starting on getting money built up on the M-Power/electricity reader for the hot summer to come.  It costs at least $100 per week to keep the AC on around here in the summer.

Long interlude. I wrote the rest of this entry and it disappeared as soon as I tried to post it.  I forgot that I had logged onto another Google account which automatically logs you out of the one you are currently on. I am not writing that all over again.

But, I will encapsulate it.  I was taking the 3 dogs out for a walk.  Sophie was going crazy and I was attempting to calm her down.  We go out of the gate. She jumps all over the place again, the stupid collar the lady that insisted I use when I got her came right off. No more.  I HATE those collars.  I should have ditched when I got home with her. I took Prince and Duke for a walk anyway and did not chase after that dog, it is futile. She is way too fast.  When I got their walk done, I got in my car, found her and amazingly, she jumped right into my door after I opened it. She now has Coco's old chain collar on her neck and that situation won't be happening again.

As for tonight? It's time for bed. Work week looms.

G'nite.

ben

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Saturday 4/14/2012

So, we're going to mom's this morning and hopefully get home early afternoon.  I have a lot of things I need to get done around here, kinda precludes spending the entire day over there at her place.

I bought a cleaning kit a few days ago and took the .40 Sigma apart (it's basically a Glock wannabe) - which isn't terribly difficult to do. In fact, you can have thing in 4 pieces in less than 30 seconds.  I watched a video on YouTube - well a couple of them - to make sure I wasn't going to do something wrong and maybe have a gun exploding in my face next time I attempt to fire it, which would be this morning.  I still haven't cleaned the shotgun, but it is a new gun and has had only 5 rounds shot through it, so no biggies.  I don't think I am going to shoot that thing this morning anyway.  There isn't much to shooting a shotgun: aim in the general direction of your attacker and pull the trigger.

So, cleaning out the bore and oiling everything and then wiping off the excess, I was happy enough that I had done a thorough and correct job of the cleaning and oiling and reassembling.

So, in about 15 minutes, we're taking off - gotta stop at Walmart first though, I only have one set of ear muffs and eye glasses and I need 2 if Caleb and I and mom are going to be in there shooting.  Last time, mom didn't shoot, she just waited for us, but I am hoping this time she will go in and fire off a few rounds.  I have never seen my mother shoot anything but a small caliber handgun that had snake shot in it, she was attempting to kill a rattlesnake with it and it was doing absolutely nothing to the snake.  I was laughing at her while I took a shovel and cut the snake's head off and that was the end of that problem.

There are all kinds of snakes up at her property - Garter snakes being most populous. Sounds bad, but they keep the rodent population down which is a good thing, because rats or mice like to find ways into trailers and do some damage.  I'm hoping that with all the doors locked shut and everything closed I won't have to deal with that problem, I guess I'll find out.

Yesterday, after work, I decided to stop at a "new" place to get my hair cut. This time I decided I would be having it cut well down for the summer.  I sometimes let it grow a wee bit long during the winter, but it becomes a hassle and a chore to deal with it.  Anyway, walking into this somewhat dilapidated place-  the floor was not exactly appealing in it's coloration and there was a huge crack all the way down to the other end of the structure in the concrete foundation - I was greeted to the sight of 5 ladies.  3 of them hair stylists and 2 of them customers.  Well, there was a guy in there as well getting his hair cut, but who cares about that, right? lol.

I got my hair cut down and looked into the mirror, rather shocked.  My hair is going from grey to white now. I am only 48 years old, thank you.  I thanked her for the nice cut but started grumbling about the lack of color in my hair.  Suddenly, I have 2 ladies in my face attempting to talk me into getting my hair dyed with this "great" product for only ten bucks the first time.  I hesitated.  I have given it consideration but it seems such a drastic thing to do - going from grey and white to brown hair in the matter of 20 minutes time.  However, I got over it, especially for that price and decided to give it a try.  If I didn't like it, I figured I would get a military cut and have practically no hair on my head to get rid of the new look.

It actually looks pretty good, but it isn't dark enough.  My brown hair - or what used to be brown anyway - was much darker than this color and I think it would look better with a deeper shade of brown, but I am happy enough with it.  I have certainly been getting some double takes from people and I am sure that Monday at work will be no different.

It was supposed to rain today, but the sun is shining and I don't see any clouds from where I am sitting.  So blah to the weather man who usually doesn't get it right, anyway.  Of course, I was just looking at the radar: it's all out east, nothing over where I am at right now.  Blah again.

So, Caleb starts asking me some questions last night about a presentation he had gone to.  A man had invited a small group of him and his friends to show them how they could make a lot of money very quickly.  Yup, that sent alarm bells off instantly.  He then said the man wanted "just" $500 from each person to start their own "business".  More alarm bells.  I listened to the whole thing and then educated my son about scams, scammers, smooth talkers who can make a piece of dog dung sound likes it's a precious gem and gee, doesn't seem a bit odd that you are going to have to pay him to start working for him?

He then gave me the name of the company, which I looked up on the internet. Of course, multi-level marketing, they pyramid scheme.  What else could it have been.  I asked him if he had given that man $500? No, but his friend had.  I informed him that his friend basically just threw away 500 bucks and if you - Caleb - are smart, you won't follow suit.  Just watch what happens with your friend and you will see for yourself. He will do a lot of work and make very little money.  The complaints about that particular company online are numerous and not few.  Well, you know the old saying: if it sounds too good to be true, IT PROBABLY IS!!

I fell for one of those scams when I was much younger, but I had given the guy so much money - almost 3 grand - that I became infuriated when I found out 1: how stupid I had been giving him that much money for nothing in exchange and 2: the man laughing at me on the phone and telling me he wouldn't be giving me my money back.

I guess he thought that since he was in Las Vegas and I was in Phoenix, nothing could happen.

Yes, well it's only 3 or 400  miles to Las Vegas, and yes, I stormed into that man's office and I pretty much told him - well I won't say what I told him here, even though I am sure the statute of limitations is long since over with - I didn't actually DO anything to the man, but at that time in my life?  I would have knocked the guy silly if he hadn't given me my money back.  He got that impression quickly and I was handed a check.

I went straight to the bank and cashed it.

Well, anyway, I have to be outta here.

Later.

ben

Friday, April 13, 2012

Friday the 13th - 4/13/2012

Supposed to rain this weekend, that would be awesome!
I called Direct TV yesterday and got connected with the disconnect department.  I decided that I was going to cancel Direct TV and get Dish Network - Direct TV keeps raising their prices and I have had enough of it.  I like Direct TV far better than Dish Network, but since I don't watch that much television anymore, I really don't care what's in the house as long as tenants have something to watch.

I figured I would call them before making that step - contacted Dish and "signing" a contract and give them one final opportunity.  The best department to get anything done in that scenario is disconnection.  The guy was all over it.  He took off 2 charges which brought my bill down $12 per month and then suggested I take a look at a different programming package.  Said I would lose some sports channels but would keep most ofthe rest of it and would drop my monthly rate by another $14.

I was very happy with getting it down immediately $12 per month without having to change programming and told the man that I would compare the other package with the one I have and decide at a later time if I want to change it.  Not sure, didn't look yet.  I will have to make sure first that changing it doesn't automatically give me another 2 year contract.  Direct TV is sneaky about that junk and I always ask before doing anything if they are going to try to corner me into that.  They have told me no in the past only to come back and find out that they did anyway - of course, that sends me over to HQ and however long it takes for them to remove it.

Well, whatever.  I have to get off to work.

Happy, lucky, Friday the 13th!

G'day.

ben

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Thursday 4/12/12

Got the new microwave yesterday at Walmart for $65.  1.0 cubic foot and 1,000 watts.  Good enough and brand new.  Whittling this project down.  I need to find a good, used spare tire for it - though the rubber on it's good, you don't want to get stuck out in the middle of nowhere with a flat on a trailer.

Still have to yank out the carpet.  One of those "don't feel like it" things, I'll get to it in the next couple of days depending on how tired I am after work.  You know, one of things where you go to work all day and then come home to - go to work again? lol

The dog got out yet again yesterday.  This time the kid that walks them was leaving and she darted out.  He was much better at catching her than I will ever be, had her back in about 5 minutes.  I wasn't particularly happy with the dog doing that, to be honest about it.

I also installed a new tub faucet set in the main bathroom yesterday.  The thing broke the first time I turned it on, meaning taking the thing back out and going to Home Depot to get another one, only to find out they were out of stock.  This is the kind of thing that can reeeeeeally irritate me when doing home projects.  A project that should have been done in 20 minutes ended up taking over 2 hours.

Sending out the next to last payment on the other trailer today.  One more payment after this and it's over with - and I can't tell ya how glad I'll be to have that thing paid for and out of my hair.  It will probably go up for sale as soon as I get the lien release on it.  I just want to get back what I paid for it, which should be easy enough - it was sold for less than it's worth in the first place to help out Mark and Lynnette in having a place to stay.

That's it.  Off to the races - ummm - work that is.  There was nothing in the truck routing system yesterday, I do hope there is at least something in there this morning or this is going to be an awfully long day at work!

G'day.

ben

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Wednesday 4/11/2012

They had put a run in our truck routing system to take 2 large machines up to a contractor up in the mountains for delivery tomorrow.  And then 2 hours later, they removed it. Ouch!!! I haven't been out of town in the semi in quite a long time now.  In fact, most of the runs I am doing take me no more than 10 miles away from the yard.  Kinda gets old after a while, a little mix-it-up once in a while would be nice.

But I guess that ain't happening this week.  

I came home from work yesterday and Duke was sick. I was like, NOT AGAIN.  He was very warm, like he had a fever so I gave him a couple of low dosage aspirin, fed him some treats because he wouldn't touch his regular dog food and then thought about the possibility of yet another dog going down.

So with great relief this morning to find his temp back down and an extremely hungry dog.  Hopefully whatever it was is gone and no longer a factor.

Getting warm again around these parts, but I guess the temps are supposed to go back down.  Yesterday's high was 93, today's is slated to be 81.  I heard news commentators complaining about the "cold" - my gosh, do these people LIKE 115 degree heat?!!

I attempted to find a microwave yesterday for the trailer that would fit into the cupboard that is made for it.  Well, unfortunately, the only thing that is going to fit in there is a smaller unit with lower wattage.  If I were going to live in the thing, I might have an issue with it, but since it's just a getaway trailer for here and there usage, I will just have to go ahead and get the smaller, lower wattage unit.  Hey, it's only $60 for one of those compared to $149 for a much nicer one.

I am also still looking for a refrigerator.  Tenants have that small one packed full of their stuff.  Not that I can actually afford a refrigerator right now, but maybe if I can get a bigger one in here I can sell the smaller one for $100 and recoup most of the loss.  That refrigerator is only 4 years old, plenty of life left in it, just that it's only an 18 cubic foot (or 16, I can't remember which) and that is tiny for 3 people using it on a daily basis. 

Ummm, time to be off for work.  Have to go in earlier than normal for - what else - another run into the Intel plant.  

G'day.

ben

Monday, April 9, 2012

Monday 4/9/2012

Well it appears it's that time again.
What time is that, Ben?
Time to pull out the cat trap.
The situation had improved by itself for quite a while now,
not finding any cat poop or destroyed vegetation.

Which has completely changed in the last few days.  Poop
in my decorative landscaping rock but more to the point: trampled
vegetation, ie: my ground covering plants that are currently flowering.
That is maddening - at least to me - and I won't allow it.

I know, it's just cats destroying your property, right?  Why bother?
Uh-huh.  Maybe if it were your property that you had spent countless
hours/afternoons/weekends and money and energy going out and getting
all that stuff and then, after all the hard work of digging holes into ground
that is full of rocks, watching them grow, then installing a drip irrigation system
to water them with - perhaps if you had spent 3 years doing all of that, you
might think a bit differently as well.  Walk a mile in another man's shoes..........

My neighbors - the people that own or feed all those cats - could care
less, as they have let it be known exceedingly well.  No worries on the
cats, I am not going to harm them in any way, shape or form.  If I catch one,
it's simply going to be relocated to a completely new area where it can set
up shop and do it's thing somewhere else : ).  Probably an industrial area,
where there are usually plenty of pigeons and mice to feed on.

As soon as a cat disappears, the s*** will start all over again. Oh well.  I am
simply not going to let a bunch of hoarders - which includes animal hoarding -
dictate and rule my life.

I am hoping Mark will get in the trailer today and tear out the old carpet.
He did that with the ruined section without my asking him, though we had \
discussed it.  But if not, I will do it myself.

Lynnette is in a mode again.  Not a mood, a mode.  Perhaps the mode is linked
to a mood, but still.  This will go on for a good month at least.  I will not go into
the details but it's kind of ridiculous to have to tolerate that around here.  Whatever.

In any case, it's almost time to be off to work and I wanna take a glance at the news.

G'day.

ben

 Monday - early afternoon I am just plain tired. I think it's all the rain.  The alarm went off this morning and I just wanted to shut i...