Standing down. Replanted 2 of them (Taro plants) but the others were simply a matter of standing them back up and stabilizing them (after the dust storm knocked them all down). Meaning running some of the plastic drip irrigation tube I have left over - which is almost a 1,000 foot roll - running it around the rather large stalks and tying it up to one of the posts around the pond. This isn't necessarily a permanent fix, but really, these plants have gotten too large for the pond.
The only way I can see to stabilize them without running tubing to keep them up is to get much wider pots that I can fill at the bottom with heavy rocks to act as ballast against the weight of those stalks attempting to pull the whole thing over. So, I might try to find something like that this coming week for ONE of the sets of stalks, but I cannot possibly have too many very wide/large pots in that small pond, it will take up too much space for the fish to run around in. So, I may end up giving even more of the Taro away.
Which isn't any big deal. It always grows back and perhaps someone has a pond that doesn't have much fiolage in it - I get a lot of people who say they have no plants in their ponds at all. They don't want to pay the exorbitant prices for those kinds of plants at the pond stores - they charge a lot for them and usually not even in that good of a condition. Yes, I think the solution is to simply give away one of the huge sets of stalks and just replant some smaller ones where those were. Yes, I have PLENTY of small ones growing.
Again, you don't have to have a green thumb to grow water plants, they will basically take off without any help at all. They will start growing plants outside of the container you have them in once they fill the container up. They will send out shooters and just start growing small ones in the middle of your pond, without being in any kind of pot!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Severe dust storm came blasting through here yesterday and blew all of my Taro plants over.
There is only one thing I can do to save them: replant the entire lot of them.
That means taking ALL of them out of the water, pulling them out of their pots and redoing each one completely over.
Yes, that means a lot of work and time to get that done. Not exactly something I wanted to have to do on a Sunday afternoon.
There is no debating, I will get at least some of it done today if not all of it. The hard part is getting motivated to go out there and do it. Especially since it's humid and warm out there and only going to get worse as the day moves on.
Just got home from church. That was another battle. I did not want to go this morning, again, just not motivated to do much of anything today. But, it was worth going and that's that.
So, going to end this one early, get my shorts and work shoes on and get out there and get at least some of that work done.
There is only one thing I can do to save them: replant the entire lot of them.
That means taking ALL of them out of the water, pulling them out of their pots and redoing each one completely over.
Yes, that means a lot of work and time to get that done. Not exactly something I wanted to have to do on a Sunday afternoon.
There is no debating, I will get at least some of it done today if not all of it. The hard part is getting motivated to go out there and do it. Especially since it's humid and warm out there and only going to get worse as the day moves on.
Just got home from church. That was another battle. I did not want to go this morning, again, just not motivated to do much of anything today. But, it was worth going and that's that.
So, going to end this one early, get my shorts and work shoes on and get out there and get at least some of that work done.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
What I don't get about this guy that shot and killed all those people at the theater, besides the obvious question as to why he did it, is why he wanted to live after he was done? Allegedly, he just gave himself up at the back of the theater without any kind of fight.
He will spend the rest of his life in prison, but I believe he will end up getting the death penalty since Colorado has capital punishment. Of course, we all know how long it takes between sentencing and actually being put to death. What possesses a man to walk into a theater full of strangers - people he doesn't know - and then simply open fire on them? Will this guy ever tell? Is he psychotic?
Well, the weekend is here in full swing. I got up at 5am after going to bed last night at 8pm. I was sooooo tired, I really wanted to go up to the property but driving up there was out of the question yesterday. I could go this morning, but it would only be one night up there and then have to drive down. I pretty much have determined that on a regular weekend, if I am going to go, I must go up on Friday and at least get 2 nights out of it.
I believe I have decided on the place to plant the Queensland Bottle Tree. It is in direct, full sun, which, from what I am reading, is what they want and like anyway. So, I am going to take out the Christmas plant that apparently does not like full sun - it died regardless of how much watering I did with it - and plant the tree there. Perfect location for it. I want to get another one and plant it out front as well. I can plant it in a location that is already being watered and will not add even more watering to have to be done on the front. On the back, different story, going to have to run a small line and a dripper or 2.
I will try to get another one of those Christmas plants this year - after Christmas and they go on sale for less than half price - and plant it in the shade. Kind of like the Norfolk Pines I bought 3 or 4 years ago. I had thought they were regular pine trees and planted 3 of them in full, direct sunlight while the 4th one I planted in front of my house, right next to the wall, which gets no direct sunlight at all. The 3 in direct sunlight died. The one that gets no direct sunlight is doing very well. It doesn't hardly grow at all, maybe a couple of inches a year, but it's a beautiful little tree. Which contradicts everything I have read about those trees. I have read that they cannot survive outside in the temps and conditions we have here, that you have to grow them indoors.
Well, that logic can be thrown right out the window since that tree has been there several years now, is very healthy and shows no sign of deterioration. It does not grow very fast, possible a side effect of the atmosphere here, but that's okay, it's more of a nice little ornamental tree at this point. I am guessing if I planted the Christmas plant - don't remember the name of it - in a similar location, I will have the same results.
____________________
Long break. I posted an ad on Craigslist to give away more pond plants, the pond in the ground on the east side of my house has WAY too many Taro in there, it's taking up too much space for the fish to be able to swim around in. So, a lady and her young daughter came over and we went to work. I took out 4 of those plants, one of them was huge. Pulled the Umbrella plant out of it's pot and broke off 3 pieces of that. Got a couple of Yerba Mensa stringers and gave them to her and then - gave away the pond that has been sitting there for over a year now, not being used.
She wanted to put the plants into pots but mentioned she wanted a pond as well. I might have been able to sell that pond on Craigslist for some money, but it has a leak and a person is going to either have to buy a patch repair kit for it or buy a liner. She decided she would buy a liner for it and that would be that. So, I got quite a bit done out there already today, not just with the ponds but also in the front in dealing with various landscape issues.
Mark, the 30-something year old meth-head who still lives with his parents - was out front of his house, staring at me. His parent's house is across the street, 4 houses down. I didn't bother to get into a stare-down with him, I decided to completely ignore him. He then started making his high-pitched, squealing noises again, aimed in my direction. I don't know what the significance of those noises are, but he has done this before in the past while yelling obscenities at me, so I assume it's an insult of some sort.
Whatever the case, I was going to go get my cell phone and simply call the police. They don't have to do anything but go down there and start pounding on the windows and doors, as they did last time, to get Mark to stop his behavior. His parents don't want the police visiting their house because of Mark's bs. In fact, I doubt they want the police visiting them for any reason. But, as quickly as he started, he stopped. A 5 year old in a 30-something year old body that looks like he's 60-something because of all the meth. Nice life there, bud.
Which reminds me, I got all that other stuff done but completely forgot about the Queensland Bottle Tree. However, it is quite warm out there right now. It's about 40% humidity and around 95 degrees. The humidity had me sweating profusely and I may be done for the day. At the very least, taking a nice, cool break and then maybe go out there and see about uprooting the Christmas tree and putting the Queensland back in it's place. Probably won't take too long, I thoroughly flooded the tree with water and let it get down into the ground so that it should be easy enough to just pull it out.
Whatever the case, this entry waxes long.
Later.
ben
He will spend the rest of his life in prison, but I believe he will end up getting the death penalty since Colorado has capital punishment. Of course, we all know how long it takes between sentencing and actually being put to death. What possesses a man to walk into a theater full of strangers - people he doesn't know - and then simply open fire on them? Will this guy ever tell? Is he psychotic?
Well, the weekend is here in full swing. I got up at 5am after going to bed last night at 8pm. I was sooooo tired, I really wanted to go up to the property but driving up there was out of the question yesterday. I could go this morning, but it would only be one night up there and then have to drive down. I pretty much have determined that on a regular weekend, if I am going to go, I must go up on Friday and at least get 2 nights out of it.
I believe I have decided on the place to plant the Queensland Bottle Tree. It is in direct, full sun, which, from what I am reading, is what they want and like anyway. So, I am going to take out the Christmas plant that apparently does not like full sun - it died regardless of how much watering I did with it - and plant the tree there. Perfect location for it. I want to get another one and plant it out front as well. I can plant it in a location that is already being watered and will not add even more watering to have to be done on the front. On the back, different story, going to have to run a small line and a dripper or 2.
I will try to get another one of those Christmas plants this year - after Christmas and they go on sale for less than half price - and plant it in the shade. Kind of like the Norfolk Pines I bought 3 or 4 years ago. I had thought they were regular pine trees and planted 3 of them in full, direct sunlight while the 4th one I planted in front of my house, right next to the wall, which gets no direct sunlight at all. The 3 in direct sunlight died. The one that gets no direct sunlight is doing very well. It doesn't hardly grow at all, maybe a couple of inches a year, but it's a beautiful little tree. Which contradicts everything I have read about those trees. I have read that they cannot survive outside in the temps and conditions we have here, that you have to grow them indoors.
Well, that logic can be thrown right out the window since that tree has been there several years now, is very healthy and shows no sign of deterioration. It does not grow very fast, possible a side effect of the atmosphere here, but that's okay, it's more of a nice little ornamental tree at this point. I am guessing if I planted the Christmas plant - don't remember the name of it - in a similar location, I will have the same results.
____________________
Long break. I posted an ad on Craigslist to give away more pond plants, the pond in the ground on the east side of my house has WAY too many Taro in there, it's taking up too much space for the fish to be able to swim around in. So, a lady and her young daughter came over and we went to work. I took out 4 of those plants, one of them was huge. Pulled the Umbrella plant out of it's pot and broke off 3 pieces of that. Got a couple of Yerba Mensa stringers and gave them to her and then - gave away the pond that has been sitting there for over a year now, not being used.
She wanted to put the plants into pots but mentioned she wanted a pond as well. I might have been able to sell that pond on Craigslist for some money, but it has a leak and a person is going to either have to buy a patch repair kit for it or buy a liner. She decided she would buy a liner for it and that would be that. So, I got quite a bit done out there already today, not just with the ponds but also in the front in dealing with various landscape issues.
Mark, the 30-something year old meth-head who still lives with his parents - was out front of his house, staring at me. His parent's house is across the street, 4 houses down. I didn't bother to get into a stare-down with him, I decided to completely ignore him. He then started making his high-pitched, squealing noises again, aimed in my direction. I don't know what the significance of those noises are, but he has done this before in the past while yelling obscenities at me, so I assume it's an insult of some sort.
Whatever the case, I was going to go get my cell phone and simply call the police. They don't have to do anything but go down there and start pounding on the windows and doors, as they did last time, to get Mark to stop his behavior. His parents don't want the police visiting their house because of Mark's bs. In fact, I doubt they want the police visiting them for any reason. But, as quickly as he started, he stopped. A 5 year old in a 30-something year old body that looks like he's 60-something because of all the meth. Nice life there, bud.
Which reminds me, I got all that other stuff done but completely forgot about the Queensland Bottle Tree. However, it is quite warm out there right now. It's about 40% humidity and around 95 degrees. The humidity had me sweating profusely and I may be done for the day. At the very least, taking a nice, cool break and then maybe go out there and see about uprooting the Christmas tree and putting the Queensland back in it's place. Probably won't take too long, I thoroughly flooded the tree with water and let it get down into the ground so that it should be easy enough to just pull it out.
Whatever the case, this entry waxes long.
Later.
ben
Friday, July 20, 2012
I got home from work too late to head up to the mountains.
But more specifically, I am WAY too tired to drive all the way up there.
It's going to have to wait for another time. But ohhh, would I love to be UP there right now.
Just sort of click the fingers and I am there sort of deal.
No such magic exists on this earth - except for the realtor who has a huge property up there - he flies up there in a helicopter. Has been doing it for a couple of decades now.
I mean, as far as I know, he LIVES up there and just flies back and forth on a daily basis.
Oh, the lifestyles of the rich. Must be nice!
Well, whatever. I have things to do down here this weekend anyway. Notably, planting my new Queensland Bottle Tree sapling and also some other small, ground covering plants I bought to fill in some areas out front that are looking a bit barren. Oh, and the other thing that is inhibiting my drive up there is the car's oil needs changed.
Look, I have been listening to the radio all day long and then watching the news reports about the Aurora theater shootings. It is unbelievable. It is horrific.
But more specifically, I am WAY too tired to drive all the way up there.
It's going to have to wait for another time. But ohhh, would I love to be UP there right now.
Just sort of click the fingers and I am there sort of deal.
No such magic exists on this earth - except for the realtor who has a huge property up there - he flies up there in a helicopter. Has been doing it for a couple of decades now.
I mean, as far as I know, he LIVES up there and just flies back and forth on a daily basis.
Oh, the lifestyles of the rich. Must be nice!
Well, whatever. I have things to do down here this weekend anyway. Notably, planting my new Queensland Bottle Tree sapling and also some other small, ground covering plants I bought to fill in some areas out front that are looking a bit barren. Oh, and the other thing that is inhibiting my drive up there is the car's oil needs changed.
Look, I have been listening to the radio all day long and then watching the news reports about the Aurora theater shootings. It is unbelievable. It is horrific.
Blog fixed. Went to Google blogger support and someone found the answer - code was added to the left side of my blog that redirected it. HOW it got on there is a mystery. Others were reporting having the same thing happen. If you are being redirected to Kuniochi, type in Blogspot.com which should take you to your admin control and then go into layout and find the junk that has been added on there and remove it.
Umm, well now that that's over with, it's Friday, 8-1/2 hours from now I should be off work (should be, cause' sometimes I have to stay late)
Umm, well now that that's over with, it's Friday, 8-1/2 hours from now I should be off work (should be, cause' sometimes I have to stay late)
Thursday, July 19, 2012
I have no clue what is going on with my blog. When I try to come to it, it takes me to some different site. I can access it through typing in blogspot.com and only doing the posts - but I can't see the blog as it is continually redirecting me. I do hope it's only me that that's happening to.
Whatever.
I will attempt to access my blog via work computer tomorrow to see if it's a situation that - I dunno, apparently blogspot doesn't have much of a support system.
Umm, well, I will continue to write, but if I find out my writings can't be viewed, I will resort back to other blog sites that I already have accounts on, including Wordpress.
Hmmm, I will try changing the password, if I can, perhaps it has been compromised?
I came out here - to my kitchen - this morning - to find JD slumped over the computer keyboard. Not this computer - no-one but me uses it - but the old one that I let a few people use that don't have computer access. He woke up when I came out. We had a long discussion. I asked him about why he wanted to go to the Army and what he was going to attempt to learn through it? "I'm going to become a man". Okay. Fair enough. Yes, it will definitely instill some virtues in him - if he accepts that - that will help him out in life - provided, of course, he lives through it.
Not a joke, of course, if you enlist in the nation's military, you are also taking upon yourself the very real possibility that you might not come out of it alive. But it was cool to talk to him for a while, he comes over here frequently at night, but I am usually not awake for those visitations. At least he has some kind of plan = and hopefully will help him get out of the poverty situation that his family has been in for - ever - now.
Well, at least for him. I don't know that his 3 younger brothers have as much motivation as he does to succeed in life. JD and Caleb have been friends for quite a long time now, JD will always be welcome over here regardless of what happens.
Work has been different this week because my manager is on vacation. First and inside salesman, now the operations manager is there, holding down the fort.
Friday. Tomorrow is Friday. I am debating whether to go up to the mountains or not. I skipped 2 weeks in a row now - perhaps time for another venture up there. Not sure yet. I will determine that tomorrow near or when I get off of work. Pretty small window of time to decide, after work is over at 2:00 pm if I am not held late, to go or not to go. I already have most everything I need so preparation isn't much of an issue. I do love it up there : )
I just got through reading a couple of emails from my dad and one of my uncles. This is the first I have seen any confirmation of it, but they are definitely doing their reunion, in August, in Ashley, North Carolina.
I wish I could go. The cost of airfare alone is exorbitant. Then you have all the rest of the costs. I am not sure I will even have enough money saved up to drive to San Diego and go on the fishing trip with my son. I am pretty much broke and that's the name of that tune. The electric and water bills are what's killing my finances right now, but it wasn't unexpected. Just that I had thought, after paying off that trailer, I would have a bit more than what I have now. But I don't and that's that. Oh well and move on with life. If we can swing a trip to San Diego - even on budget mode - great, if not - dunno what to say.
I'll say that I have enjoyed my trips to the mountains and hope for more of the same : ) I don't pay lot rent and I own the trailer outright. My expenses are confined to fuel getting up there, almost exclusively. I would have had to eat anyway, no extra there. The dogs would have had to eat anyway, no expense there either. So yeah, maybe I will make that trip up there tomorrow - but only if I can find time to get the oil changed on the car first. It's past due and I don't much care to let it go.
ben
Whatever.
I will attempt to access my blog via work computer tomorrow to see if it's a situation that - I dunno, apparently blogspot doesn't have much of a support system.
Umm, well, I will continue to write, but if I find out my writings can't be viewed, I will resort back to other blog sites that I already have accounts on, including Wordpress.
Hmmm, I will try changing the password, if I can, perhaps it has been compromised?
I came out here - to my kitchen - this morning - to find JD slumped over the computer keyboard. Not this computer - no-one but me uses it - but the old one that I let a few people use that don't have computer access. He woke up when I came out. We had a long discussion. I asked him about why he wanted to go to the Army and what he was going to attempt to learn through it? "I'm going to become a man". Okay. Fair enough. Yes, it will definitely instill some virtues in him - if he accepts that - that will help him out in life - provided, of course, he lives through it.
Not a joke, of course, if you enlist in the nation's military, you are also taking upon yourself the very real possibility that you might not come out of it alive. But it was cool to talk to him for a while, he comes over here frequently at night, but I am usually not awake for those visitations. At least he has some kind of plan = and hopefully will help him get out of the poverty situation that his family has been in for - ever - now.
Well, at least for him. I don't know that his 3 younger brothers have as much motivation as he does to succeed in life. JD and Caleb have been friends for quite a long time now, JD will always be welcome over here regardless of what happens.
Work has been different this week because my manager is on vacation. First and inside salesman, now the operations manager is there, holding down the fort.
Friday. Tomorrow is Friday. I am debating whether to go up to the mountains or not. I skipped 2 weeks in a row now - perhaps time for another venture up there. Not sure yet. I will determine that tomorrow near or when I get off of work. Pretty small window of time to decide, after work is over at 2:00 pm if I am not held late, to go or not to go. I already have most everything I need so preparation isn't much of an issue. I do love it up there : )
I just got through reading a couple of emails from my dad and one of my uncles. This is the first I have seen any confirmation of it, but they are definitely doing their reunion, in August, in Ashley, North Carolina.
I wish I could go. The cost of airfare alone is exorbitant. Then you have all the rest of the costs. I am not sure I will even have enough money saved up to drive to San Diego and go on the fishing trip with my son. I am pretty much broke and that's the name of that tune. The electric and water bills are what's killing my finances right now, but it wasn't unexpected. Just that I had thought, after paying off that trailer, I would have a bit more than what I have now. But I don't and that's that. Oh well and move on with life. If we can swing a trip to San Diego - even on budget mode - great, if not - dunno what to say.
I'll say that I have enjoyed my trips to the mountains and hope for more of the same : ) I don't pay lot rent and I own the trailer outright. My expenses are confined to fuel getting up there, almost exclusively. I would have had to eat anyway, no extra there. The dogs would have had to eat anyway, no expense there either. So yeah, maybe I will make that trip up there tomorrow - but only if I can find time to get the oil changed on the car first. It's past due and I don't much care to let it go.
ben
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Queensland Bottle Tree arrived today. It is not 2 feet tall, more like about 10 inches. Not complaining, I just thought the pic made it look taller than it is.
It was very well packaged and was in perfect condition.
Which was quite amazing considering it traveled from Florida to Arizona. It was starting to dry out - but that was expected. Watered it nicely and now I have to decide what to do with it. Many people put them in pots for a few years before ground planting them.
But the information I have been reading is saying that they are extremely hearty trees and transplant well at any age or size, whether young or old. I would rather get the thing in the ground if it can handle it so it can get it's root system started in the ground versus a pot. Get a dripper from the drip irrigation on it and get it going. It's kind of exciting, they say these trees grow quickly in the first several years. Of course, watching a tree grow? Umm, on a daily basis not a happening event, but watching it's progress over time is really cool.
It was very well packaged and was in perfect condition.
Which was quite amazing considering it traveled from Florida to Arizona. It was starting to dry out - but that was expected. Watered it nicely and now I have to decide what to do with it. Many people put them in pots for a few years before ground planting them.
But the information I have been reading is saying that they are extremely hearty trees and transplant well at any age or size, whether young or old. I would rather get the thing in the ground if it can handle it so it can get it's root system started in the ground versus a pot. Get a dripper from the drip irrigation on it and get it going. It's kind of exciting, they say these trees grow quickly in the first several years. Of course, watching a tree grow? Umm, on a daily basis not a happening event, but watching it's progress over time is really cool.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
So, part 1 of the doom and gloomers dismal outlook on the economy is about to come true: higher food prices. It's all over the news: the drought is causing crops to fail and that's going to mean higher prices for everything in the grocery store.
Interestingly, however, one story also adds that the price of beef should actually come down temporarily as ranchers slaughter massive numbers of their cows because of the high price of feed. But after that? The price of beef is allegedly going to go way back up.
Other stories are showing a slow down in the economy. Look, it's not like I want the doom and gloomers to be correct, but they've been foretelling a recession that will be far worse than the thing we saw in 2008. If food gets out of control, I'm like everyone else: eat the cheap stuff. My concern is the 401k. There are options of where to put your money, of course, but it's really quite limited.
I don't know, but if the price of beef does come down even temporarily, I am going to fill up my freezer with it. I just cooked a ham that had been in there over 6 months a few days ago - tasted great. I just emptied out my upright freezer to defrost it - it's ready now to be stocked up again. I depleted almost entirely my canned food reserve - gotta use it before it goes bad - so I am going to replenish that as well. At least, as much as possible with whatever's on sale.
____________________________
The kid that comes over to walk that dogs - infrequently at this point for whatever reason - came over today with his brother. I have a wireless doorbell. The button to ding the bell is on the front of the house. It works, quite well actually. Well, they were in here messing around, kids, and the doorbell went off. One of my tenants was sitting at the table with me and said he would go out there if I didn't want to. Nope, I said, it's probably for them - the kids/their parents - and those kids can go out there.
Well he went out there and the doorbell kept ringing. ??? He came back in, said there was no-one out there even though the doorbell was ringing repeatedly - kids. They had ripped the doorbell button off the wall out front, brought it in and were hiding it from me, thinking it was a joke. I mean, laughing and making fun of it.
After explaining to them a few things about life in general and the fact that destroying someone's property isn't funny, I threw them out.
Dogs have been sick. I DO hope tonight I do not have to go through what I have been with them for the past 2 nights. I will find out soon enough as..........
................it's my bedtime.
G'nite.
ben
Interestingly, however, one story also adds that the price of beef should actually come down temporarily as ranchers slaughter massive numbers of their cows because of the high price of feed. But after that? The price of beef is allegedly going to go way back up.
Other stories are showing a slow down in the economy. Look, it's not like I want the doom and gloomers to be correct, but they've been foretelling a recession that will be far worse than the thing we saw in 2008. If food gets out of control, I'm like everyone else: eat the cheap stuff. My concern is the 401k. There are options of where to put your money, of course, but it's really quite limited.
I don't know, but if the price of beef does come down even temporarily, I am going to fill up my freezer with it. I just cooked a ham that had been in there over 6 months a few days ago - tasted great. I just emptied out my upright freezer to defrost it - it's ready now to be stocked up again. I depleted almost entirely my canned food reserve - gotta use it before it goes bad - so I am going to replenish that as well. At least, as much as possible with whatever's on sale.
____________________________
The kid that comes over to walk that dogs - infrequently at this point for whatever reason - came over today with his brother. I have a wireless doorbell. The button to ding the bell is on the front of the house. It works, quite well actually. Well, they were in here messing around, kids, and the doorbell went off. One of my tenants was sitting at the table with me and said he would go out there if I didn't want to. Nope, I said, it's probably for them - the kids/their parents - and those kids can go out there.
Well he went out there and the doorbell kept ringing. ??? He came back in, said there was no-one out there even though the doorbell was ringing repeatedly - kids. They had ripped the doorbell button off the wall out front, brought it in and were hiding it from me, thinking it was a joke. I mean, laughing and making fun of it.
After explaining to them a few things about life in general and the fact that destroying someone's property isn't funny, I threw them out.
Dogs have been sick. I DO hope tonight I do not have to go through what I have been with them for the past 2 nights. I will find out soon enough as..........
................it's my bedtime.
G'nite.
ben
Sunday, July 15, 2012
I will be interested, next time I go up to the property, to see what fire condition the National Forest Service has that gauge set at and whether camp grounds along the road to mom's property have been re-opened. I am wondering this because the State of Arizona is basically being rained on - a very good thing. I just checked the drought monitor, the entire state is either in an extreme or a severe drought depending upon what part of the state you are looking at.
The rain is expected to go on through Monday. This will not eliminate the drought, but it should do something about the exceptionally dry forest conditions that are so bad, many campgrounds have been shut down, open campfires have been banned and even outdoor target practice has also been banned. This because of the nitwits that will start a campfire and not know what they are doing. Although, in these dry conditions, an ember floating from an open campfire could easily start an entire forest on fire in a very short period of time.
Speaking of trees, I finally found a Queensland Bottle Tree up for sale on Ebay. I have been looking for one for quite a long time, I was surprised to find one there. It's a sapling, of course, but for $6.99 plus shipping, I was more than willing to give one a try. I have a nice place to plant it, too and hopefully it will take. Though I am not sure if I am supposed to plant it in the ground right away or let it grow in pots for a few years. Whatever, I don't have it yet but I have read a few sites on people's luck in growing them in pots, looks like if you get the soil mixture right and keep it watered, it should do fine.
Meanwhile, My Chinese Elm tree - none of my trees are "real" trees yet, they are still young and this particular tree is maybe 10 feet tall so far - well it's been spreading it's seeds around. Or perhaps the birds are doing it through their digestive system - or however it's happening, I have several saplings that have sprouted on their own in optimal places where there is plenty of watering going on. 2 of them are 2 feet tall already. They sort of appeared out of nowhere. These saplings are nowhere near the actual tree itself. The wonder of nature.
My "dead" Sissoo is making a remarkable comeback. What unbelievably hearty trees those things are. They can withstand some of the worst conditions and still survive. It's now spreading out new leaves all over the tree. Which is a welcome relief, that particular tree was growing fast and well, it was in a portion of the yard where I really wanted a nice tree to be growing. Of course, what portion of the yard would I not want a nice tree growing? lol.
The intended purpose for the vines growing on the fence on the east side of my house have all but covered the entire fence area where I wanted the view blocked. My neighbors are pigs and I don't want to be exposed to their foulness - an eyesore at best, the house and property are nothing but garbage.
I got a view of the "man" that is living with that woman in the shack behind my neighbor's house - which is perched right next to my fence and looking down into my property. Umm, if you can make any judgments by looks, then this fellow is quite the - character. Tattoos all over his arms and neck - probably all over his body who knows - hair halfway down his back, scraggly looking beard and mustache. Those 2 individuals are now living in a shack that is about 7X7 in dimensions. Yes, you read that right, it's smaller than most prison cells. They are already under the understanding - forced upon them - that I will not tolerate them playing that horrific music at obnoxiously loud levels at ANY time of the day. They probably have also figured out that I will not stand for them looking down into my property, making comments and acting like ******* and ********. Use your imagination.
Pretty much, I am going to have to save up enough money to buy the block and mortar and put in a block fence and completely block out the view of the pigsty/filthy conditions of that property and now, those people living in that shack. I AM going to call the city about that this coming week and see if that kind of living arrangement is allowable, I am guessing the City will not do anything about it. I will have to resort to calling the police if the situation gets out of hand. I will have to petition the city to allow a higher than allowable fence. The normal 6 foot fence will not block them from looking down into my property, it would have to be an 8 footer. Though, now that I think about it, I have serious doubts that shack has proper electrical code compliance - undoubtedly running and electrical cord to supply it with power, that IS a code violation.
Life goes on. I am sitting here, in my kitchen, looking at 200 square feet of room and what a person could do with it in terms of a "kitchenette" type of structure. It sounds small, but looking at it, it's plenty of room for one person. Or a couple. A small kitchen; a small bathroom with show stall, no tub; a living and sleeping area. That's it. I could fetch at least $400 per month for something like that. The cost of the structure would pay for itself about a year's time.
Well whatever. The temps outside right now are tolerable and I need to get some stuff done out there before time to go to church.
Happy Sunday.
ben
The rain is expected to go on through Monday. This will not eliminate the drought, but it should do something about the exceptionally dry forest conditions that are so bad, many campgrounds have been shut down, open campfires have been banned and even outdoor target practice has also been banned. This because of the nitwits that will start a campfire and not know what they are doing. Although, in these dry conditions, an ember floating from an open campfire could easily start an entire forest on fire in a very short period of time.
Speaking of trees, I finally found a Queensland Bottle Tree up for sale on Ebay. I have been looking for one for quite a long time, I was surprised to find one there. It's a sapling, of course, but for $6.99 plus shipping, I was more than willing to give one a try. I have a nice place to plant it, too and hopefully it will take. Though I am not sure if I am supposed to plant it in the ground right away or let it grow in pots for a few years. Whatever, I don't have it yet but I have read a few sites on people's luck in growing them in pots, looks like if you get the soil mixture right and keep it watered, it should do fine.
Meanwhile, My Chinese Elm tree - none of my trees are "real" trees yet, they are still young and this particular tree is maybe 10 feet tall so far - well it's been spreading it's seeds around. Or perhaps the birds are doing it through their digestive system - or however it's happening, I have several saplings that have sprouted on their own in optimal places where there is plenty of watering going on. 2 of them are 2 feet tall already. They sort of appeared out of nowhere. These saplings are nowhere near the actual tree itself. The wonder of nature.
My "dead" Sissoo is making a remarkable comeback. What unbelievably hearty trees those things are. They can withstand some of the worst conditions and still survive. It's now spreading out new leaves all over the tree. Which is a welcome relief, that particular tree was growing fast and well, it was in a portion of the yard where I really wanted a nice tree to be growing. Of course, what portion of the yard would I not want a nice tree growing? lol.
The intended purpose for the vines growing on the fence on the east side of my house have all but covered the entire fence area where I wanted the view blocked. My neighbors are pigs and I don't want to be exposed to their foulness - an eyesore at best, the house and property are nothing but garbage.
I got a view of the "man" that is living with that woman in the shack behind my neighbor's house - which is perched right next to my fence and looking down into my property. Umm, if you can make any judgments by looks, then this fellow is quite the - character. Tattoos all over his arms and neck - probably all over his body who knows - hair halfway down his back, scraggly looking beard and mustache. Those 2 individuals are now living in a shack that is about 7X7 in dimensions. Yes, you read that right, it's smaller than most prison cells. They are already under the understanding - forced upon them - that I will not tolerate them playing that horrific music at obnoxiously loud levels at ANY time of the day. They probably have also figured out that I will not stand for them looking down into my property, making comments and acting like ******* and ********. Use your imagination.
Pretty much, I am going to have to save up enough money to buy the block and mortar and put in a block fence and completely block out the view of the pigsty/filthy conditions of that property and now, those people living in that shack. I AM going to call the city about that this coming week and see if that kind of living arrangement is allowable, I am guessing the City will not do anything about it. I will have to resort to calling the police if the situation gets out of hand. I will have to petition the city to allow a higher than allowable fence. The normal 6 foot fence will not block them from looking down into my property, it would have to be an 8 footer. Though, now that I think about it, I have serious doubts that shack has proper electrical code compliance - undoubtedly running and electrical cord to supply it with power, that IS a code violation.
Life goes on. I am sitting here, in my kitchen, looking at 200 square feet of room and what a person could do with it in terms of a "kitchenette" type of structure. It sounds small, but looking at it, it's plenty of room for one person. Or a couple. A small kitchen; a small bathroom with show stall, no tub; a living and sleeping area. That's it. I could fetch at least $400 per month for something like that. The cost of the structure would pay for itself about a year's time.
Well whatever. The temps outside right now are tolerable and I need to get some stuff done out there before time to go to church.
Happy Sunday.
ben
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Good intentions.
I had them.
Fail.
Took the plunger/seat out of the hose bib - the valve you hook your garden hose up to - earlier this morning. It was not shutting off properly and the last time I used it, I had to crank it down so hard that I knew the next time I opened it? It would never shut the water back off.
I decided today to fix the thing. I took the handle out of it that has the washers on it to seal it and went to Home Depot. Bought a whole new hose bib that looked exactly the same, got it home and...........not exactly the same. Would screw back into the body of the hose bib.
Realize that I had to shut the water off to the entire house to do this job. That's why there is pressure. I therefore decided to go back to the plumbing store where I bought the hose bib - Evergreen plumbing - it wasn't only closed, it had shut down, out-of-business. Umm, that place had been in operation for over 20 years that I know of.
Over to Ace Hardware since it was closer and usually has a better selection of such things. Bought a hose bib with compression attachment. Instead of attempting to fix the old hose bib, I figured to replace it. Got home and found? Not enough copper tubing available to put the compression bib on there!
BACK to Ace Hardware where I found a different style of valve that would work on the only portion of copper tubing I had - sticking straight up out of the ground. I figured if THAT didn't work, I would be forced to buy a soldering set including a torch. Didn't want to go that far with it - or more to the point: have to spend that much money on it. Got home, cut the copper line, put on the new valve and walaaaaah!
Okay, standing down. The only other thing left to do is return the bib I bought from Home Depot - but I have made enough trips for one day, maybe do that tomorrow or later on.
That was my "big" project for today. I don't really feel like getting into much of anything else excepting the normal stuff I have to do around the house on weekends, which usually entails some amount of cleaning projects.
I hid my camera and I have no idea what I have done with it. I remember hiding it some time ago, I have no idea where I put it and can't find it. I really wanted to post some pics of the properties behind me to give some context as to what I am talking about when referring to either of those pigsties. These aren't normal people I am talking about and they do not live like most normal people do. Well, I'll find that camera eventually. I could use my cell phone to take the pics, but it doesn't have very good quality.
Well that's enough for one entry.
G'day.
ben
I had them.
Fail.
Took the plunger/seat out of the hose bib - the valve you hook your garden hose up to - earlier this morning. It was not shutting off properly and the last time I used it, I had to crank it down so hard that I knew the next time I opened it? It would never shut the water back off.
I decided today to fix the thing. I took the handle out of it that has the washers on it to seal it and went to Home Depot. Bought a whole new hose bib that looked exactly the same, got it home and...........not exactly the same. Would screw back into the body of the hose bib.
Realize that I had to shut the water off to the entire house to do this job. That's why there is pressure. I therefore decided to go back to the plumbing store where I bought the hose bib - Evergreen plumbing - it wasn't only closed, it had shut down, out-of-business. Umm, that place had been in operation for over 20 years that I know of.
Over to Ace Hardware since it was closer and usually has a better selection of such things. Bought a hose bib with compression attachment. Instead of attempting to fix the old hose bib, I figured to replace it. Got home and found? Not enough copper tubing available to put the compression bib on there!
BACK to Ace Hardware where I found a different style of valve that would work on the only portion of copper tubing I had - sticking straight up out of the ground. I figured if THAT didn't work, I would be forced to buy a soldering set including a torch. Didn't want to go that far with it - or more to the point: have to spend that much money on it. Got home, cut the copper line, put on the new valve and walaaaaah!
Okay, standing down. The only other thing left to do is return the bib I bought from Home Depot - but I have made enough trips for one day, maybe do that tomorrow or later on.
That was my "big" project for today. I don't really feel like getting into much of anything else excepting the normal stuff I have to do around the house on weekends, which usually entails some amount of cleaning projects.
I hid my camera and I have no idea what I have done with it. I remember hiding it some time ago, I have no idea where I put it and can't find it. I really wanted to post some pics of the properties behind me to give some context as to what I am talking about when referring to either of those pigsties. These aren't normal people I am talking about and they do not live like most normal people do. Well, I'll find that camera eventually. I could use my cell phone to take the pics, but it doesn't have very good quality.
Well that's enough for one entry.
G'day.
ben
Friday, July 13, 2012
The drama continues.
The hoarders behind me - that own both properties that both border my property.
The city apparently told them they can't live there anymore, on the property that has no house but is filled with junk and ugly shack looking things.
So, these people - however they are related to my "neighbors" have now moved into the shack behind where my "neighbors" live.
I'm going to have to take pictures of all of this nonsense, in fact, I will. I'll have to get on top of my house to get pics of the property with all the junk - they put up garage doors to block my view of it. You don't believe me. Yes, they put up garage doors in the rear of the property in order to block my view of their property. However, the roof of my house is well high enough to look over the top of those garage doors.
I will do that tomorrow.
Anyway, this shack behind the house is elevated. I live on a hill, basically, the properties behind me are at a higher elevation than mine. On that portion of property, there is a 4 foot fence. The shack and house are well elevated above mine. These people are now standing there, staring at my property and I am - starting to get pissed off.
I doubt the city will do anything about it, either, if I contact them about it. The only resort I have to do anything about it if these people are there long-term - which I have to expect - is to build a block wall there at least 8 feet high.
I dunno.
I guess it's time to find the city's codes online and start reading - all of it. I have had enough of this BS.
The hoarders behind me - that own both properties that both border my property.
The city apparently told them they can't live there anymore, on the property that has no house but is filled with junk and ugly shack looking things.
So, these people - however they are related to my "neighbors" have now moved into the shack behind where my "neighbors" live.
I'm going to have to take pictures of all of this nonsense, in fact, I will. I'll have to get on top of my house to get pics of the property with all the junk - they put up garage doors to block my view of it. You don't believe me. Yes, they put up garage doors in the rear of the property in order to block my view of their property. However, the roof of my house is well high enough to look over the top of those garage doors.
I will do that tomorrow.
Anyway, this shack behind the house is elevated. I live on a hill, basically, the properties behind me are at a higher elevation than mine. On that portion of property, there is a 4 foot fence. The shack and house are well elevated above mine. These people are now standing there, staring at my property and I am - starting to get pissed off.
I doubt the city will do anything about it, either, if I contact them about it. The only resort I have to do anything about it if these people are there long-term - which I have to expect - is to build a block wall there at least 8 feet high.
I dunno.
I guess it's time to find the city's codes online and start reading - all of it. I have had enough of this BS.
Well, I saw an accident today that was interesting.
A young guy - I guess between 18 and 20 - was cranking away on a bicycle. I passed him while driving down the road. I was stopped at a stop light a ways down the road, he was cruising right along. The stop light I was at? An SUV was turning right at the intersection. He had his turn signal on, it was obvious - at least to me - he was going to make a right hand turn.
It wasn't so obvious to the bicyclist, who came into my field of view as I started moving forward and saw him out of the corner of the eye and then? Saw him SMASH into the side of that SUV that was turning right, his body taking most of the brunt of the impact as he flew off the bike and smashed into the side of it and then slid down onto the asphalt.
I was completely amazed as this kid shook his head on the ground, got up, started looking for all the electronics that had also flown everywhere, went to his bike while the driver stopped and got out of the car. I had also stopped and was going to get out, but this cyclist wasn't having anything to do with anyone helping him, it was pretty crazy, really. For as much impact as that kid's body took, I thought he should have been checked out by medics at the very least.
He was having nothing to do with it. The driver didn't want to call police and I shrugged my shoulders and left. The driver had damage to his vehicle and frankly, that kid was riding on the sidewalk - not legal in these parts. Cyclists are required to ride on the street.
Whatever the case, the weekend is here. Not going up to the mountains. It rained here today, hard and long. I was all over the place and it was raining everywhere I went.
Except my area. I don't get it. I came home and dug my fingers into the ground - dry. WHAT?!!! I asked Mark if it had rained here. He shook his head no, it had dropped a few droplets in the morning but that was it. With all the rain that dumped around here today, and the area around the mountain where I live not getting hardly any of it, I actually ended up having to run the drip watering system today.
Unbelievable.
Oh well. Becoming the new norm. No rain, don't expect it. At least, not anywhere near where I live. I don't know if the mountain behind us has anything to do with it or what.
I'm through. Well, just throwing it out there: Obama campaign saying that Romney may have committed a felony. Ummm, I am not a fan of Mormonism, but if a person is a devout Mormon? Crime is pretty much a far-fetched thing besides the rogue mormons who want to engage in polygamy. If the Obama administration is going to stoop to the levels of calling his opponent a felon, then it becomes obvious or at least apparent that Obama? Is desperate.
A young guy - I guess between 18 and 20 - was cranking away on a bicycle. I passed him while driving down the road. I was stopped at a stop light a ways down the road, he was cruising right along. The stop light I was at? An SUV was turning right at the intersection. He had his turn signal on, it was obvious - at least to me - he was going to make a right hand turn.
It wasn't so obvious to the bicyclist, who came into my field of view as I started moving forward and saw him out of the corner of the eye and then? Saw him SMASH into the side of that SUV that was turning right, his body taking most of the brunt of the impact as he flew off the bike and smashed into the side of it and then slid down onto the asphalt.
I was completely amazed as this kid shook his head on the ground, got up, started looking for all the electronics that had also flown everywhere, went to his bike while the driver stopped and got out of the car. I had also stopped and was going to get out, but this cyclist wasn't having anything to do with anyone helping him, it was pretty crazy, really. For as much impact as that kid's body took, I thought he should have been checked out by medics at the very least.
He was having nothing to do with it. The driver didn't want to call police and I shrugged my shoulders and left. The driver had damage to his vehicle and frankly, that kid was riding on the sidewalk - not legal in these parts. Cyclists are required to ride on the street.
Whatever the case, the weekend is here. Not going up to the mountains. It rained here today, hard and long. I was all over the place and it was raining everywhere I went.
Except my area. I don't get it. I came home and dug my fingers into the ground - dry. WHAT?!!! I asked Mark if it had rained here. He shook his head no, it had dropped a few droplets in the morning but that was it. With all the rain that dumped around here today, and the area around the mountain where I live not getting hardly any of it, I actually ended up having to run the drip watering system today.
Unbelievable.
Oh well. Becoming the new norm. No rain, don't expect it. At least, not anywhere near where I live. I don't know if the mountain behind us has anything to do with it or what.
I'm through. Well, just throwing it out there: Obama campaign saying that Romney may have committed a felony. Ummm, I am not a fan of Mormonism, but if a person is a devout Mormon? Crime is pretty much a far-fetched thing besides the rogue mormons who want to engage in polygamy. If the Obama administration is going to stoop to the levels of calling his opponent a felon, then it becomes obvious or at least apparent that Obama? Is desperate.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
The City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Division; Planning and Zoning; Waste
The City of Phoenix. A circus unto itself. If they tell you they are going to do something, I give it, at this point, about an 80% chance that what they say they are going to do? Will NEVER happen.
Case in point (and I have several of recent versions, not to mention instances from the past) is my discussion with a "manager" in the Zoning division last week. We had a long conversation about the property in question. Namely, the 2 structures built on the property that could never pass a city inspector's inspection and the extension cord they are using to provide those structures power from the next property over.
The conclusion of the discussion is that she was going to send someone out to inspect the property and that she would call me back after that inspection was done.
Of course, neither ever occurred, as I just got off the phone with a person at the City that states there is nothing in their system about it and that he knew nothing about it - which this particular individual is in the position to have received this information from this lady that I spoke with since that is his venue.
I got shuffled around for quite a while before I finally got to this guy, btw. I am not letting up on this, whatever can be done about the property legally, that's what I am intent on getting done. It's a hoarder's dream and a normal, neighboring property owner's nightmare. So, this is the determination: if those structures are under 200 feet, there is nothing they can do about it. Okay. I dunno how many square feet they are, but I doubt they are 200 square feet.
HOWEVER. The extension cord running power from their other property to that one? Illegal. I know for a FACT there is no power ON that property. SRP was going to turn the power on until they saw the pedestal and declared that that pedestal would have to be replaced before they turn the power on. I know this because SRP has to come into my back yard to do such. SRP told me this. The pedestal was never replaced, hence, the power never turned on. Yet, there is a stereo blaring loudly over there - well it isn't any more after I called police - and there are lights running over there at night.
The end of the story is that he is going to have someone come over next week and make an initial inspection. I am going to have to look through my notes and find this woman's name and phone number that I talked with last week and ask what, exactly, happened to her promise of sending someone out there.
Never-ending battle. But, as one lady I was speaking with today noted, the City of Phoenix has some great employees that do their jobs well and then there are the idiots - her words - that are incompetent and have no business even working there. Selah.
Case in point (and I have several of recent versions, not to mention instances from the past) is my discussion with a "manager" in the Zoning division last week. We had a long conversation about the property in question. Namely, the 2 structures built on the property that could never pass a city inspector's inspection and the extension cord they are using to provide those structures power from the next property over.
The conclusion of the discussion is that she was going to send someone out to inspect the property and that she would call me back after that inspection was done.
Of course, neither ever occurred, as I just got off the phone with a person at the City that states there is nothing in their system about it and that he knew nothing about it - which this particular individual is in the position to have received this information from this lady that I spoke with since that is his venue.
I got shuffled around for quite a while before I finally got to this guy, btw. I am not letting up on this, whatever can be done about the property legally, that's what I am intent on getting done. It's a hoarder's dream and a normal, neighboring property owner's nightmare. So, this is the determination: if those structures are under 200 feet, there is nothing they can do about it. Okay. I dunno how many square feet they are, but I doubt they are 200 square feet.
HOWEVER. The extension cord running power from their other property to that one? Illegal. I know for a FACT there is no power ON that property. SRP was going to turn the power on until they saw the pedestal and declared that that pedestal would have to be replaced before they turn the power on. I know this because SRP has to come into my back yard to do such. SRP told me this. The pedestal was never replaced, hence, the power never turned on. Yet, there is a stereo blaring loudly over there - well it isn't any more after I called police - and there are lights running over there at night.
The end of the story is that he is going to have someone come over next week and make an initial inspection. I am going to have to look through my notes and find this woman's name and phone number that I talked with last week and ask what, exactly, happened to her promise of sending someone out there.
Never-ending battle. But, as one lady I was speaking with today noted, the City of Phoenix has some great employees that do their jobs well and then there are the idiots - her words - that are incompetent and have no business even working there. Selah.
So last night, this horrific smell comes into my room. I assume someone out there cooking something - nasty from the smell of it.
Well, I was awake anyway. There was a thunderstorm with loud booms going off every few minutes, seconds, intermittent - couldn't sleep through all that noise.
After a while, the noise finally subsided and I went back to sleep.
I came out here - my kitchen - this morning and it smells unbelievably bad in here.
The kid tenant - the 22 year old. This is what Lynnette just came out and informed.
She said she came out here last night after the smell hit their room, found a pot of beans on the stove, the burner was on high, the entire living room/kitchen/hallway filled with smoke, the beans looked as though they were going to start a fire.
Are you serious? This isn't the worst of it. That guy just left it like that. In other words, he turned that all on and NEVER showed back up to turn it off. Lynnette went and knocked on his door, he didn't answer. She didn't know if he was in there or had left. That kid is going to hear about it from me. I can see - maybe - turning on the burner on low and slowly cooking the beans, but anytime you turn the burner on high, you better be around to watch it because the burner ring turns bright orange and it gets VERY hot. Whatever you are cooking - usually on that high of a setting you are just wanting to boil water - it isn't going to take long.
The pot is ruined. He will be replacing that pot and he will be offering some kind of explanation of why, exactly, he thought it okay to turn that thing on and then just leave/disappear - or he will be getting and eviction notice. Pretty strange, the guy is usually a pretty responsible person.
But, it reminds me of Mary. A former tenant who was on methamphetamines who did exactly the same thing one night. The smoke detectors went off, I woke up obviously, went out to find a pot of water, boiling away, burner on high, no-one to be found. In that case, though, we had already agreed that she was leaving - actually, I had given her an eviction notice because she wouldn't stop the meth - there was already tension between us and she came in from outside and started screaming at me.
Now, that pot of water was at a high boil and she didn't reappear for 10 minutes or more after I turned it off, removed the pan, dumped the water, cleaned the pot, put it away, put her box of macaroni away, wiped down the counters, all that good stuff. That was the night she called the police on me but I turned it back around on her and had her served with the restraining order papers.
Now, for the kid tenant to do something like what he did, I do have to wonder if there are drugs involved with this or maybe he was drunk or something. I have no idea, but I will definitely be finding out and also looking into why the smoke detectors didn't go off. They are both hard wired and battery juiced for electricity. Even if the batteries were dead, they still should have gone off. It's a damn good thing Mark and Lynnette came out and discovered that mess, cause' Gilbert just left it like that. Eventually there would have been a fire.
No, that does not make me happy. I have already had one house burn down, I never want to go through that again. Gilbert and I are destined to have a frank, curt and unambiguous discussion in the very near future.
My house really stinks right now. Same kind of thing when that other tenant put popcorn in the microwave and had it in there for 5 minutes. The house filled up with so much smoke, you couldn't see anything and it destroyed the microwave. It will smell for days, undoubtedly, in here. It's tooooooo hot to open up the house and air it out. But, if it smells this bad when I get home from work, I may just have to open up the doors and windows for a few hours and try to get some of the stench out of here.
Gag.
Well, I was awake anyway. There was a thunderstorm with loud booms going off every few minutes, seconds, intermittent - couldn't sleep through all that noise.
After a while, the noise finally subsided and I went back to sleep.
I came out here - my kitchen - this morning and it smells unbelievably bad in here.
The kid tenant - the 22 year old. This is what Lynnette just came out and informed.
She said she came out here last night after the smell hit their room, found a pot of beans on the stove, the burner was on high, the entire living room/kitchen/hallway filled with smoke, the beans looked as though they were going to start a fire.
Are you serious? This isn't the worst of it. That guy just left it like that. In other words, he turned that all on and NEVER showed back up to turn it off. Lynnette went and knocked on his door, he didn't answer. She didn't know if he was in there or had left. That kid is going to hear about it from me. I can see - maybe - turning on the burner on low and slowly cooking the beans, but anytime you turn the burner on high, you better be around to watch it because the burner ring turns bright orange and it gets VERY hot. Whatever you are cooking - usually on that high of a setting you are just wanting to boil water - it isn't going to take long.
The pot is ruined. He will be replacing that pot and he will be offering some kind of explanation of why, exactly, he thought it okay to turn that thing on and then just leave/disappear - or he will be getting and eviction notice. Pretty strange, the guy is usually a pretty responsible person.
But, it reminds me of Mary. A former tenant who was on methamphetamines who did exactly the same thing one night. The smoke detectors went off, I woke up obviously, went out to find a pot of water, boiling away, burner on high, no-one to be found. In that case, though, we had already agreed that she was leaving - actually, I had given her an eviction notice because she wouldn't stop the meth - there was already tension between us and she came in from outside and started screaming at me.
Now, that pot of water was at a high boil and she didn't reappear for 10 minutes or more after I turned it off, removed the pan, dumped the water, cleaned the pot, put it away, put her box of macaroni away, wiped down the counters, all that good stuff. That was the night she called the police on me but I turned it back around on her and had her served with the restraining order papers.
Now, for the kid tenant to do something like what he did, I do have to wonder if there are drugs involved with this or maybe he was drunk or something. I have no idea, but I will definitely be finding out and also looking into why the smoke detectors didn't go off. They are both hard wired and battery juiced for electricity. Even if the batteries were dead, they still should have gone off. It's a damn good thing Mark and Lynnette came out and discovered that mess, cause' Gilbert just left it like that. Eventually there would have been a fire.
No, that does not make me happy. I have already had one house burn down, I never want to go through that again. Gilbert and I are destined to have a frank, curt and unambiguous discussion in the very near future.
My house really stinks right now. Same kind of thing when that other tenant put popcorn in the microwave and had it in there for 5 minutes. The house filled up with so much smoke, you couldn't see anything and it destroyed the microwave. It will smell for days, undoubtedly, in here. It's tooooooo hot to open up the house and air it out. But, if it smells this bad when I get home from work, I may just have to open up the doors and windows for a few hours and try to get some of the stench out of here.
Gag.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
So, manager is leaving town tomorrow and will not be back until 2 Mondays from now.
The person taking his place is an inside salesman. This person - does not have time - for running a store and doing the work he normally does - at the same time.
When the cat's away, the mice will play?
Hardly.
It means I will be undoubtedly be working overtime hours in shipping and receiving - especially receiving and putting away materials.
I have to be honest here. I like OT, no doubt, but in this heat? By the time I have pulled orders; loaded the truck; get the truck to it's destination; help unload; go over the order; get into the truck and repeat - and finally getting back to the yard up to 9 hours later? I'm done, exhausted, wiped out and ready to go home.
The heat is really getting me this year. I mean, I endure it while I'm out there and no complaining, sweating profusely I might add most of the day, but by the time 2:00 pm comes around, I'm ready to go home. The humidity levels are higher and that is what is really making it miserable out there.
Brace myself, right? Indeed. I think about the time quitting time comes around and I still have a bunch of work to do, I am going to get a gallon of cold water, go outside with it and dump it over my head.
I came home from work today and just plopped down into a chair. Uhhh, but I had stuff to do, including cleaning out a pond filter. It's a bit of a job. The thing was clogged up and no water was coming out of it. It was filthy - full of fish dung. There is enough filter material in there that it stops that stuff from getting through there, but it doesn't take too terribly long for it to build up and then clog up.
With fish as big as I have in those ponds, they need good, filtered water with a good movement of water going through that pump and out that waterfall.
It was 92 degrees this morning at 5:45 am. It's 7:30 pm and it's still 107 degrees. We don't get the benefit of a huge cooling event during the night. It "cools" down, but not like up in the mountains or other places in the U.S. where much cooler temps come. When you walk outside in the morning and it's 90 plus degrees outside and it's not even 6:00 am, yeah, there is a bit of a mind game going on there.
Yes, I am commenting on the heat here. Others can comment on the heat wherever they are. That's great, but in many of those places, it cools down CONSIDERABLY at night. I know because I have looked up various cities throughout the U.S. When you walk out your door early in the morning and it's cool out, it definitely helps with your view of the day in considering being outside most of it. Yes, it might be getting hot, but at least it STARTS out cool. I walked out of my house this morning and between the 92 degrees and the humidity, I was dreading the day.
Whatever. The pond filter is clean. The plants are watered. The dogs are fed. I am full. Life is good regardless.
I could comment on other things, especially politics, but, who cares. Maybe all those groups on both sides of the aisle could donate all of that money they are spending on negative ads and give it to a charity. I made up my mind a long time ago. It isn't necessarily a vote for anyone, it's a vote against the big spender. Who wants to spend more and tax more. And reduce our military. And on and on.
G'nite.
ben
The person taking his place is an inside salesman. This person - does not have time - for running a store and doing the work he normally does - at the same time.
When the cat's away, the mice will play?
Hardly.
It means I will be undoubtedly be working overtime hours in shipping and receiving - especially receiving and putting away materials.
I have to be honest here. I like OT, no doubt, but in this heat? By the time I have pulled orders; loaded the truck; get the truck to it's destination; help unload; go over the order; get into the truck and repeat - and finally getting back to the yard up to 9 hours later? I'm done, exhausted, wiped out and ready to go home.
The heat is really getting me this year. I mean, I endure it while I'm out there and no complaining, sweating profusely I might add most of the day, but by the time 2:00 pm comes around, I'm ready to go home. The humidity levels are higher and that is what is really making it miserable out there.
Brace myself, right? Indeed. I think about the time quitting time comes around and I still have a bunch of work to do, I am going to get a gallon of cold water, go outside with it and dump it over my head.
I came home from work today and just plopped down into a chair. Uhhh, but I had stuff to do, including cleaning out a pond filter. It's a bit of a job. The thing was clogged up and no water was coming out of it. It was filthy - full of fish dung. There is enough filter material in there that it stops that stuff from getting through there, but it doesn't take too terribly long for it to build up and then clog up.
With fish as big as I have in those ponds, they need good, filtered water with a good movement of water going through that pump and out that waterfall.
It was 92 degrees this morning at 5:45 am. It's 7:30 pm and it's still 107 degrees. We don't get the benefit of a huge cooling event during the night. It "cools" down, but not like up in the mountains or other places in the U.S. where much cooler temps come. When you walk outside in the morning and it's 90 plus degrees outside and it's not even 6:00 am, yeah, there is a bit of a mind game going on there.
Yes, I am commenting on the heat here. Others can comment on the heat wherever they are. That's great, but in many of those places, it cools down CONSIDERABLY at night. I know because I have looked up various cities throughout the U.S. When you walk out your door early in the morning and it's cool out, it definitely helps with your view of the day in considering being outside most of it. Yes, it might be getting hot, but at least it STARTS out cool. I walked out of my house this morning and between the 92 degrees and the humidity, I was dreading the day.
Whatever. The pond filter is clean. The plants are watered. The dogs are fed. I am full. Life is good regardless.
I could comment on other things, especially politics, but, who cares. Maybe all those groups on both sides of the aisle could donate all of that money they are spending on negative ads and give it to a charity. I made up my mind a long time ago. It isn't necessarily a vote for anyone, it's a vote against the big spender. Who wants to spend more and tax more. And reduce our military. And on and on.
G'nite.
ben
Sunday, July 8, 2012
87 was re-opened yesterday. They sent out a huge contingency of hot spot firefighters, air craft and whatever else and had that fire put out quickly. Drove by it on the way home, I have no clue how it started, but since it was directly on the side of the road, I assume some dingbat threw a cigarette out a car window or something similar.
Well anyway, 5 days off coming to a close, the reality of work and heat back in my face coming soon. I could take 2 weeks off right now and still not feel like it was enough. I intend on taking more time off next month.
The dead Sissoo tree. By all rights that tree was dead. All of it's leaves were crispy brown. It was a "victim" of the drip system not working. I fixed the drip system and spent 2 weeks watering the heck out of that tree. I figured to give it a try before chopping it down.
My hope was based on the winter 2 years ago where the freeze was so bad, every single Sissoo tree on my property (I have something like 20 of them that I planted as saplings) appeared dead. There was NOTHING on those trees. After watering and watering, every single one of them came back.
Well, happy to say that this tree? Is covered with fresh, new buds. It is putting out leaves all over the entire tree. I caught the problem, apparently, before the roots died. This tree was growing very nicely before this problem is why I was really going to be a bit sad to see it go. It's about 10 feet tall at this point.
"Neighbors" - if you can call them that - behind me were out there yesterday and this morning - while I was up at the mountains - cleaning up the cat poop. I dunno yet if they got it all up or not. Monday the Neighborhood Services department is coming out, but I am putting more hope on the city's Zoning department inspector.
It's kind of hard to believe some of the temperatures being recorded in places in this country that really shouldn't be getting that hot., I wonder how people in those areas that don't have AC deal with it. I would be going out and buying a window AC unit - at the very least - to keep at least one room cool in the house. We live in extreme heat, but we expect it and are pretty well ready for it when it comes. Some folks are stuck with evap coolers - which will not keep a house cool in the hot summer. It will cool it down about 20 or maybe a bit more degrees, but it isn't going to be 70 in your house. On a 115 degree day, it will probably be in the low to mid 90's inside a house with only evap cooling. The advantage of evaporative coolers is they are cheap to run and definitely better than nothing.
Well, nothing to do but pray that cooling comes to those areas and comes quickly. If we could only just fast-forward to October....................
Well anyway, 5 days off coming to a close, the reality of work and heat back in my face coming soon. I could take 2 weeks off right now and still not feel like it was enough. I intend on taking more time off next month.
The dead Sissoo tree. By all rights that tree was dead. All of it's leaves were crispy brown. It was a "victim" of the drip system not working. I fixed the drip system and spent 2 weeks watering the heck out of that tree. I figured to give it a try before chopping it down.
My hope was based on the winter 2 years ago where the freeze was so bad, every single Sissoo tree on my property (I have something like 20 of them that I planted as saplings) appeared dead. There was NOTHING on those trees. After watering and watering, every single one of them came back.
Well, happy to say that this tree? Is covered with fresh, new buds. It is putting out leaves all over the entire tree. I caught the problem, apparently, before the roots died. This tree was growing very nicely before this problem is why I was really going to be a bit sad to see it go. It's about 10 feet tall at this point.
"Neighbors" - if you can call them that - behind me were out there yesterday and this morning - while I was up at the mountains - cleaning up the cat poop. I dunno yet if they got it all up or not. Monday the Neighborhood Services department is coming out, but I am putting more hope on the city's Zoning department inspector.
It's kind of hard to believe some of the temperatures being recorded in places in this country that really shouldn't be getting that hot., I wonder how people in those areas that don't have AC deal with it. I would be going out and buying a window AC unit - at the very least - to keep at least one room cool in the house. We live in extreme heat, but we expect it and are pretty well ready for it when it comes. Some folks are stuck with evap coolers - which will not keep a house cool in the hot summer. It will cool it down about 20 or maybe a bit more degrees, but it isn't going to be 70 in your house. On a 115 degree day, it will probably be in the low to mid 90's inside a house with only evap cooling. The advantage of evaporative coolers is they are cheap to run and definitely better than nothing.
Well, nothing to do but pray that cooling comes to those areas and comes quickly. If we could only just fast-forward to October....................
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Fire
No, neither my trailer nor my house.
More like, the road, Arizona 87 and more specifically the "Long fire" has shut down the road to go home.
I didn't make this up, my mother called me a few minutes ago to alert me to it and asking me where AZ 188 is? No clue, I had to look it up.
Near Rye, which is down the mountain from Payson, which is my road home.
K.
Not panicking here.
That area is desert brush. I am guessing/really hoping that by tomorrow morning, when I wanna head home, the road will be reopened.
It would add at least 100 miles to the trip home to go around it - there IS no alternate route through there. Not that I know of, anyway. I would have to go up to Show Low, back down to Globe and on the 60 back.
PLEASE, Lord, let them get that fire contained or at least the road re-opened in a quick hurry. That road is a major artery to the Payson and surrounding areas.
More like, the road, Arizona 87 and more specifically the "Long fire" has shut down the road to go home.
I didn't make this up, my mother called me a few minutes ago to alert me to it and asking me where AZ 188 is? No clue, I had to look it up.
Near Rye, which is down the mountain from Payson, which is my road home.
K.
Not panicking here.
That area is desert brush. I am guessing/really hoping that by tomorrow morning, when I wanna head home, the road will be reopened.
It would add at least 100 miles to the trip home to go around it - there IS no alternate route through there. Not that I know of, anyway. I would have to go up to Show Low, back down to Globe and on the 60 back.
PLEASE, Lord, let them get that fire contained or at least the road re-opened in a quick hurry. That road is a major artery to the Payson and surrounding areas.
Friday, July 6, 2012
There is something a bit eerie about being in the mountains at night, no-one around, yet intriguing at the same time.
For some reason, however, having the .40 caliber S&W doesn't really feel like enough.
I will be bringing my shotgun with me - loaded either with slugs or buckshot - from now on.
My mom has a gun sitting on the counter when she's up here. She carries it with her on dog walks. Well, she carries it with her everywhere. Our gun laws are so relaxed that a person can legally carry a gun in most places and just about anywhere outdoors.
The eerie part is sitting at the table and looking out the window and seeing nothing but pitch black. There could be someone out there staring at you through the window and you wouldn't know it. Ummm, so I pulled the blinds, lol. Okay, so I'm on private property, but that doesn't mean squat to criminals.
For some reason, however, having the .40 caliber S&W doesn't really feel like enough.
I will be bringing my shotgun with me - loaded either with slugs or buckshot - from now on.
My mom has a gun sitting on the counter when she's up here. She carries it with her on dog walks. Well, she carries it with her everywhere. Our gun laws are so relaxed that a person can legally carry a gun in most places and just about anywhere outdoors.
The eerie part is sitting at the table and looking out the window and seeing nothing but pitch black. There could be someone out there staring at you through the window and you wouldn't know it. Ummm, so I pulled the blinds, lol. Okay, so I'm on private property, but that doesn't mean squat to criminals.
Back up in the mountains.
I remembered the mouse, I forgot about the keyboard.
I want a regular, external type keyboard for this computer, I am not a fan of laptop keyboards, at all.
Anyway, I tried to hook up the satellite with the receiver I bought off of Craigslist, that I had to have them come out and show me how to change the settings that I didn't know had to be changed but figured it was a setting issue with it, not a bad receiver, and ........... nothing.
Kept getting "searching for satellite signal". Checked the settings, A okay. Called Direct TV for some help, we went through the whole mess, everything is set right. I started regretting even coming up here, I want to watch a particular series that starts tomorrow morning and they are showing all 17 episodes through Sunday. Spent an hour attempting to figure it out, no clue, whatsoever, decided that I would have to have Direct TV come up here and get it working.
But why? I had the other receiver working last weekend. I had the satellite towards the general direction, moving it around slowly, that it was in last weekend. Big-time bummer. Final thought, cause' if it ain't working, I'm going home in the morning. Took the satellite apart and, however it happened, the connection was loose. Could this be all the problem is? YES!!!
The setup is now "permanent". The receiver will stay here, my aggressive panhandling techniques have me getting this card for free every month, no $6 monthly charge on it, I bought the receiver specifically for this trailer, done deal. It's pretty cool being an aggressive panhandler. You get stuff for free. You know, just like standing on a street corner with a sign and pinching your fingers together at everyone asking for a bit of spare change. Gotta love that, right?
So anyway, it rained up here since I was up here last. How do I know? Cause' I just found out about yet another leak. So, gonna have to bring all the equipment up here and spend a weekend just fixing that problem. I had hoped I had all the leaks fixed when I had this thing at my property. Oh well, you know how aggressive panhandlers are, begging on street corners is far more important than actually working. Ohh, the life of being a beggar.
Well, anyway, that's it The dogs love being up here, they hate the drive. Even with motion sickness medicine, Duke has a particularly miserable drive up and down. I pretty much have to ignore it. He's all crashed out now, in fact, all 3 of them are sleeping. I decided this time to bring frozen dinners and not so much cooking food. Just don't feel like cooking. I did bring some hot and spicy brats, though : )
!!
I remembered the mouse, I forgot about the keyboard.
I want a regular, external type keyboard for this computer, I am not a fan of laptop keyboards, at all.
Anyway, I tried to hook up the satellite with the receiver I bought off of Craigslist, that I had to have them come out and show me how to change the settings that I didn't know had to be changed but figured it was a setting issue with it, not a bad receiver, and ........... nothing.
Kept getting "searching for satellite signal". Checked the settings, A okay. Called Direct TV for some help, we went through the whole mess, everything is set right. I started regretting even coming up here, I want to watch a particular series that starts tomorrow morning and they are showing all 17 episodes through Sunday. Spent an hour attempting to figure it out, no clue, whatsoever, decided that I would have to have Direct TV come up here and get it working.
But why? I had the other receiver working last weekend. I had the satellite towards the general direction, moving it around slowly, that it was in last weekend. Big-time bummer. Final thought, cause' if it ain't working, I'm going home in the morning. Took the satellite apart and, however it happened, the connection was loose. Could this be all the problem is? YES!!!
The setup is now "permanent". The receiver will stay here, my aggressive panhandling techniques have me getting this card for free every month, no $6 monthly charge on it, I bought the receiver specifically for this trailer, done deal. It's pretty cool being an aggressive panhandler. You get stuff for free. You know, just like standing on a street corner with a sign and pinching your fingers together at everyone asking for a bit of spare change. Gotta love that, right?
So anyway, it rained up here since I was up here last. How do I know? Cause' I just found out about yet another leak. So, gonna have to bring all the equipment up here and spend a weekend just fixing that problem. I had hoped I had all the leaks fixed when I had this thing at my property. Oh well, you know how aggressive panhandlers are, begging on street corners is far more important than actually working. Ohh, the life of being a beggar.
Well, anyway, that's it The dogs love being up here, they hate the drive. Even with motion sickness medicine, Duke has a particularly miserable drive up and down. I pretty much have to ignore it. He's all crashed out now, in fact, all 3 of them are sleeping. I decided this time to bring frozen dinners and not so much cooking food. Just don't feel like cooking. I did bring some hot and spicy brats, though : )
!!
So, yesterday's aggressive panhandling netted me an extra $29 off of my Direct TV bill; 3 more months of free movie channels (Starz); started 3 separate investigations from 3 separate divisions at the City of Phoenix into the property behind me; talked to executives at 2 companies and management at another to have the conduct of their employees reviewed (SRP, Verizon Wireless and the City of Phoenix) and basically was having a grand ole' time once I FINALLY got through to a person at the City that is actually interested in actually DOING something about the properties behind me.
Or so he says, anyway.
I am intent on aggressively panhandling Verizon Wireless as well for all the trouble I have experienced with their product. Yup, I'm pretty good at begging. Oh, wait a minute, that's not begging, I actually PAY this company and the others listed EVERY single month. I get a bill, I pay it online, doesn't sound much like begging to me, does it to you? Yes, apparently one person who shall remain nameless thinks so. I know, I should just get over it but I have never in my entire life been called a beggar, mostly because I have never begged anyone for anything. Whatever. I'm actually quite happy with all the progress I made yesterday on some things that I had put on a shelf. Especially the situation with the people behind me. My motivation levels went up to extreme heights yesterday and, well, just got'er done.
Today? Absolutely no intention of doing any of that. Though, I am supposed to get a couple of phone calls today about follow-up - specifically with the situation going on on the property behind me and also the situation with Verizon Wireless. I think I'll leave Direct TV alone for a while, they were nice to me yesterday on 2 separate occasions and that's good enough for me.
___________________
Long interlude. Continuing to put finishing touches on the drip system. City of Phoenix employee called me to inform me that he was issuing them a notice to clean up the poop. I come into my back yard to continue with repairs to the drip system and lo and behold - 350 man, standing with a woman on the woman's back porch, staring over my fence, making comments about my dogs.
I flatly asked them what they were looking at. The woman mouthed off right back at me, 350 man turned away, I called the police. That guy has NO business being anywhere near my property, certainly not on a neighbor's porch, looking over the fence, with this injunction still in place and still valid until October. Police came out quickly, but he was already gone. I got an incident/report number and that was good enough for me. When the year for this injunction is up, I will have something to back me up if it becomes necessary to go back to court and get yet another injunction against him.
But, anyway, they have 2 days to clean up that cat crap. If they don't, the city worker will be back out on Monday to take pictures of it and then I assume it becomes a court matter after that. It will be easier for them to just clean up the piles and piles of crap out there than to push it, though, there is so much of it, I am sure that is not going to be a pleasant job. Which I could care less about. If they are going to feed feral cats, they need to clean up after those cats as well. The war continues, stay tuned for more exciting updates.
lol
Or so he says, anyway.
I am intent on aggressively panhandling Verizon Wireless as well for all the trouble I have experienced with their product. Yup, I'm pretty good at begging. Oh, wait a minute, that's not begging, I actually PAY this company and the others listed EVERY single month. I get a bill, I pay it online, doesn't sound much like begging to me, does it to you? Yes, apparently one person who shall remain nameless thinks so. I know, I should just get over it but I have never in my entire life been called a beggar, mostly because I have never begged anyone for anything. Whatever. I'm actually quite happy with all the progress I made yesterday on some things that I had put on a shelf. Especially the situation with the people behind me. My motivation levels went up to extreme heights yesterday and, well, just got'er done.
Today? Absolutely no intention of doing any of that. Though, I am supposed to get a couple of phone calls today about follow-up - specifically with the situation going on on the property behind me and also the situation with Verizon Wireless. I think I'll leave Direct TV alone for a while, they were nice to me yesterday on 2 separate occasions and that's good enough for me.
___________________
Long interlude. Continuing to put finishing touches on the drip system. City of Phoenix employee called me to inform me that he was issuing them a notice to clean up the poop. I come into my back yard to continue with repairs to the drip system and lo and behold - 350 man, standing with a woman on the woman's back porch, staring over my fence, making comments about my dogs.
I flatly asked them what they were looking at. The woman mouthed off right back at me, 350 man turned away, I called the police. That guy has NO business being anywhere near my property, certainly not on a neighbor's porch, looking over the fence, with this injunction still in place and still valid until October. Police came out quickly, but he was already gone. I got an incident/report number and that was good enough for me. When the year for this injunction is up, I will have something to back me up if it becomes necessary to go back to court and get yet another injunction against him.
But, anyway, they have 2 days to clean up that cat crap. If they don't, the city worker will be back out on Monday to take pictures of it and then I assume it becomes a court matter after that. It will be easier for them to just clean up the piles and piles of crap out there than to push it, though, there is so much of it, I am sure that is not going to be a pleasant job. Which I could care less about. If they are going to feed feral cats, they need to clean up after those cats as well. The war continues, stay tuned for more exciting updates.
lol
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