I'm in limbo on the grass situation.  I am still waiting for the dude to come over and give me a quote.  I haven't found any other companies that do that hydrograss application nearby.  There are options to buy on your own, no clue.  I'll start looking into the DIY option today.  I want to get this started and get it over with.  The park is looking pretty dismal and it needs corrected sooner than later.  

Yesterday I didn't even go to the park (Saturday).  We got started on an immense yard cleaning project and spent a good portion of the day getting it done. I made those boys work. The youngest was going into fits of screaming and crying, irrelevant.  He doesn't like to do anything beyond watching cartoons and playing outside.  I don't know about you, but my parents started me very young doing outside chore in mowing the lawn and clipping the bushes.  You don't get a work ethic by sitting around all day long doing nothing.  It starts young and it has to be nurtured.  

At some point, James was finished with edging the front yard (I had mowed it) and came over to help. That's about the time he took off with the younger boy to give some corrective application as the boy was still acting up. I do not typically administer discipline of that nature to their kids. They can do that, that's really a parental thing. Tho I never had an issue with them doing that at schools either, way back in the dark ages when both teachers and administrative staff would spank your @$$ and parents didn't say a word about it.  My how times have changed and we see the result of these changes.

You should never, ever spank your kids! "They" tell us.  You couple that with cellphones and instant gratification.  It's a bad mix and lends to the culture rot we are now experiencing.  Well, that's what some folks call it, I call it the age-old loss of a moral compass.  That's really what it is, abandonment of morals and ethics and that is a result of people abandoning God.  You would be surprised how many people in one particular political party are also atheists.  I have Christian friends attempting to force me into thinking that atheism isn't possible.  

Maybe to some extent that is true, people believe in some kind of "god" if it isn't the true and living God. It's called idolatry.  But atheists specifically denounce the Christian God, the Lord, the Creator God and spend their lives attempting to denounce and mock and humiliate those that do believe. I don't cave to such people, they can mock me and/or God all they want, that's not going to change my view of it. I personally believe it takes more faith to believe in the big bang theory than the Creation reality.  

Well, I got off on a tangent there. Anyway, the boy came back out with daddy and his attitude had changed, if only temporarily.  When those 2 are told to do something such as clean their room, the youngest will just stand around and do nothing while the oldest gets the job done because he doesn't want to get into trouble.  However, I was out there and supervising them while working myself, that wasn't going to be an option and he was hating it.  He was required to do as much work as his older brother, tho it took constant prodding to get him to do so.  

Whatever the case, we got a huge swath of neglected yard - mostly one side of the house - completed. 

I will be going to the park after church today. A lady just called and said she wanted a lot.  I said fine, just show up, take a space and we will deal with it after you move in.  The usual questions about the appearance of the trailer, how many amp hookup, pricing and in this case, she wants to put a fence up.  I don't mind that at all, but I want it to be a decent looking fence. Not chicken wire, pallets or some other trashy looking setup.  

I also had a lady calling yesterday asking about putting a tiny home in.  I had to ask a lot of questions because, tho I'm not opposed to that at all, I want to make sure it's a good fit. My first question was one of amperage. Some of those homes are built with 100, 120 and up amperage receptacles.  I don't have that much amps at any of the RV outlets.  She said no, this one is built to use the same as an RV. Ok? How old is it? It's still being built!  This isn't some trashy looking thing.  The problem? Turns out it's still being built and she won't have it for another 2 months.  Whatever, she can bring it in if I have a lot available but my genie isn't telling me if a lot will be available. Right now, I have lots of lots available.

I reduced the monthly rate after looking at the main competitor who had lowered their rates.  I try to keep up with that because most people are just going to take the cheaper option if it means saving them money.  They might not like one place as much as another, but the savings, in their minds, will make it worth it. 

There are no others en-queue right now, but I just changed the rates a couple days ago.  And I changed a bit of wording on my website that the designer had put in there. Although I like the idea, "friendly staff awaits your arrival" isn't always true and I'm not always over there when people show up. In fact, many overnighters I never even see beyond seeing the footage on the camera.  I'm not racing over there for no particular reason if they don't need any help.  Most of them don't and they pre-pay online.  No, they say, we're fine, just calling to see what lot you want us on.

That happens frequently, even tho they are assigned a lot at the time of the reservation.  I guess they just don't read that part.  Or forget about it, or who knows what.  

No grand plans today beyond church, check the park, make sure people aren't there that aren't supposed to be there and also people lingering that have shown up.  Again, I didn't go at all yesterday.  I also will have to try and reset the camera that isn't recording motion events.  That's the manufacturers solution.  We don't have any such problems with the Nest cameras we have at the house. The drawback to the Nest cameras is that they are pretty pricey.  Same with Ring cameras.  

And of course, finding a solution for the grass situation.  It's got to be done and it's got to be done soon. The motor coach near Fort Worth apparently has fallen through as I sent the man a message and he didn't reply, that was a day ago.  There is another rv 25 miles away that I may go take a look at today. The pics make it look good as well as the description.  No, I can't move a 5th wheel but it would cost less to have it moved to my park than having to go through all the trouble of renting a car, driving to Fort Worth, turning the car in, taking an Uber to the house where it's at and hope that the man isn't making things up and that the unit actually works and will drive the 160 plus miles home without a hitch.

Not that I have anything else to do beside sitting on the side of the road with a broken down motor coach.  I'd be driving that thing about 55mph on the Interstate all the way back.  Yup, slow lane drifter, I wouldn't be in any big hurry.  Yes, I'm still set on trying to get a unit for sale or rent in there, no, I'm not in a rush to get some trashy looking thing that has a multitude of problems. The lower priced ones are usually trash with holes in the roof that have cause significant damage to the interior. I don't have the time or the desire to fix such nonsense. Taking the thing down to the frame and even replacing wood in the frame? No thank you.  

Well, it's almost time to leave. Taylor was going to go with us today but that may change since she had an appointment this morning and apparently has to work with the child one on one. I don't know, but I'm going regardless if anyone else is going or not. The youngest is currently screaming about something.....I have no clue.  

 Still trying to figure out how to get the 160 plus miles to get that motorcoach.  The man didn't put it up for sale - yet, I just happened to give him an offer on another RV he has and he showed me this one instead.  Obviously, I can't drive my vehicle over there and then drive 2 vehicles back.  I'm thinking maybe put an ad in local groups and see if anyone is heading to Fort Worth. Pretty common destination from these parts.  Pay them whatever - well reasonable - to get there and take an Uber from the closest point to the town the motorcoach is in.  It's just south of Fort Worth. 

I want that thing, is all I can say but there is a limited window where I can go get it before it he just says screw it and puts it up for sale on Marketplace.  His sentiment was he would rather deal with one person than have a hundred messages coming in asking about it. I figure I best give him an answer today or I will forfeit the sale and he will just find someone to sell it to.  It's old but it's in great condition.  Some people take care of those things - really all that matters is keeping the roof leak free. If you do that, you might have some issues inside the rv but much of that is repairable. A leak can and will destroy the interior where the water is going into it.  

The lady with the bumper pull over in Louisiana still has that thing for sale.  But after looking at the pics again, I determined it's too much of a project.  There is a leak in the roof and it's been rotting the inside portions where the water from that leak goes for quite a while now.  I really don't want another project, not right now anyway. If I were going to do a project, I would rather do a glamping setup.  It would be a lot of work just building the platform - and money - but after that, the rest would be relatively easy in comparison.  I know where I could set one up and have access to electricity and give the campers access to the shed for a bathroom. 

I keep thinking it's the weekend for some reason, it's only Friday and I have stuff to do today.  I dunno why, but the outside camera on the shed continues to stop recording motion activity.  If a vehicle or person walks by, it should activate the motion sensor and record it.  It stop doing it and I have no clue why.  The inside one works perfectly well.  

Besides not having a swimming pool and no guarantees that having one would draw people in anyway, I have no answers why I am not getting more business beyond the fact that I only have 4 google reviews and I just haven't been on the map long enough.  People tell me frequently the like the park and would come back again - but it doesn't translate into a Google review. Frustrating.  I lowered the monthly price and that is all I know to do at this point.  The nightly price is already low and I'm not going any lower than what it's at now.  There is no point in being in business if there isn't a decent profit to be made after all expenses.  

Whoever it was that called about coming in long term didn't show.  They said "one air conditioner isn't working" for an excuse to get a lower price.  But it's 50 amp service and there are quite a lot of other appliances in those units that gobble up electricity. It's probably why they didn't come. I'm not giving the park away for free.  I only know I need about 3 or 4 more long term to come in and come in very soon.  

There are other parks that are charging less.  I just don't see how they are making any money with unlimited electricity.  It's $375 for everything at one of those parks. My floor is $400. I won't go under that.  My location is closer than every other park in the area to certain things that people want, including a grocery store and the hospital.  And the grocery store is on a major highway, it's quick access to it.  I have all the right things going, or most of them anyway, I'm just not getting the business I need to keep it afloat without going back to work in the trucking industry. 

I swirl this situation around in my head a lot.  I can't live on $2,000 per month income. Which, if the park stayed like it is now with  5 lots open, that is basically the income from it after expenses.  I definitely can on 4 grand a month.  That's net income after everything.  Yes, that's a good chunk of change.  This is why I want that motor coach, I think I can rent that thing out for what I want for it.  At 2 grand and needing nothing more than a new brake caliper on the front right, it's a no brainer to me.  It's affordable housing for someone and it's close to town.  

Well, anyway, that's the musings for this morning.  Kids are on summer break but dad's home so I'm not particularly babysitting today. I'm going to have to go back to work on the inside of the shed. The walls need finished and there is still some insulation to install. Not much insulation, but the walls and drywall are not my forte.  But I want that drywall up and installed instead of sitting there as an eyesore.  

Oh and to add to this situation? There are a couple of units in there that are temporary. And the older couple leaving soon, I"m going to have a half empty (or more) park unless I can get some people in there soon.  

I did learn how to edit my webpage so I don't have to constantly ask the web designer to do it for me - and charge me accordingly. It was actually rather simple once I figured out the proper tabs to click on.  I didn't like some of the wording he had in there and I wanted to update the lot rent rates.  The first think people are looking for is the rates.....

 Some trailers/motor coaches that are listed are really difficult to tell if they are good inside from the pics.  In this case, the pics are blurry and it's hard to make out details.  It's 60 miles to go see it and I'm sort of sitting here wondering if it's worth driving that far for something that may turn out to be a dud.  I'm leaning towards the "no, it's not" side of things.  It's the only thing currently in my price range.  

The people that played the games with the trailer starting several days ago and culminating in their actions that are less than honorable claimed they are Christians "lol" so apparently that shields them from any wrongdoing.  It was amazing how callously they flipped that term out.  But, as far as I can see it, this is the state of the Christian church today.  Pastors do not preach repentance for the most part and people are given carte blanche to live their lives the way they want to. There are ample scriptures to show otherwise, but if these people are deceived, there isn't anything beyond prayer that I can do about it.  

The pastor in our church does not preach repentance at all. I've listened to enough sermons.  He has half the equation right in believing, the rest, however, is left out.  I think his intentions are good, but if he believes people are going to pick up a Bible and start reading it that simply say the words that they believe?  I don't know about that approach.  I haven't asked him directly about certain scriptures - and there are a lot of them - that lead a person to the understanding that certain lifestyles are "prohibited" by scripture and why doesn't he discuss repentance? 

But, the Bible also says to take the log out of your own eye before you can see clearly the speck that is in your brother's eye, I have enough of my own junk to deal with, they can believe what they wish.  I just think people are led astray, however, without hearing the fullness of the Gospel.  

On to other things. The man is coming today to give me a quote on the property grass. Something I'd like to get going and get behind me.  I figured at most a grand at the price for the lowest price seed he uses.  I just want grass that can tolerate full sun and heat.  I don't need fancy wancy, I need whatever works that will look good and will come back the next season after winter hits. 

I don't really know what else, besides just dealing with stuff at the property.  Vacation mode is over and it's time to refocus and get priorities straight, that's about it.  

 At .07 cents per square foot, I figure around $700 to spray the grass mulch in.  I don't know what kind of prep work needs to be done, but I have a man coming out tomorrow to take a look and give me an exact quote.  This is by far the cheapest grass alternative, tho the price could be higher depending on what kind of seed he recommends.  Still, even at a grand it would be far cheaper. 

The cons - well, the biggest one is that I'll be spending my days for 2 weeks watering grass every single day.  I'll have to install water Y spigots at every lot. That isn't a lot of money but it's still work and an ordeal. I'll have to buy a lot more water hoses and sprinklers. This is why I was balking at the price of sod or grass seed. It's not just the cost of the seed or sod, it's the cost of it plus the cost of everything else.  

If I don't do it, I'll have bare bones dirt lots and that is unappealing, ugly and nothing I want to have at my park.  So, I'll update when I get the man's actual quote and what needs to be done, if anything, to prepare the soil.  I doubt too much, that spray comes with all the stuff mixed in with it that it needs to make it grow. 

The older couple is leaving on the 8th.  The scare with the man's heart and falling was too much for them, they are moving close to their family somewhere near Waco. That is a serious blow to me, not only finances but some of the eyes in the park.  I've already got 4 lots open right now. Plus another guy's work is running out next month, he'll be gone.  And so on and so forth, 

So I get this call. It goes on for a while. The more they talk, the less interested I am in having them move into the park.  About the time he started talking about building a porch out of pallets? No thank you. But they were trying to get me down to $375 per month. $400 is my rock bottom minimum.  It's just too much money in electricity coming up to think about taking anything less, $400 is too low but I've got to try to get people in there somehow.  They wouldn't budge from their $375 and I just said no thank you, $400 is the lowest I'll go.  

Another trailer I had "in the bag", another one where opportunists sold it from underneath me. This time, I had already enlisted the help of a 5th wheel rv mover and had them ready to go. It's a long story, irritating because of what these people did and I just don't want to go into it. Maybe another day. I'll say that it was promised to me, I had my act together and getting it done in the time frame they wanted and they still just decided to have multiple people coming at the same time to "look at it".  No one was going to look at it, they were going to buy it.  

I can only say that if someone is selling a bumper pull that I want, I can go get it with the SUV.  And so far, the bumper pulls I have seen in the price range I am in are complete garbage.  There is a motor coach I saw come up today that looks very good for a great price, I am - going to see it - tomorrow.  I say it that way because they said fine, we'll see you then, even sending the address. But after these last experiences, I certainly am not driving out there without verifying that they still have it and they don't have anyone else coming out to look at it.  If they're doing that, the other person can have it.  I'll just keep looking.  I look numerous times per day, new rv's come online frequently and some of them I think I want and I try to be the first respondent. This motor coach is older but it only has 52,000 miles on it.  Again, so they say.  I doubt it has 1,052,000 on it, People don't drive RV's that much even in 25 years.  Mostly anyways.  

It's a gamble at 62 miles away, the pics look good, they say the bathroom floor needs replaced.  I can either do it myself or find someone to do it - like the dude at the park looking for extra work.  

Forget that one. someone else is going to look at it.  I am not driving out there for nothing, too far and waste of time.  I did, however, find someone that had a motorcoach for sale that I did, indeed, lowball.  Just because it's all I can afford.  They came back at me with a different motor coach that is older but in excellent condition.  After discussing it with him on the phone, I decided I really want the thing. 

The problem? It's 166 miles away.  I have looked at Amtrak, Greyhound and ride shares. No Greyhound service and rideshare starting price is over $400 to get me there.  I can rent a car - over in longview, there are none available here, but I would have to drop the car off in a town 16 miles away from the town the motorcoach is located in. So, unless they have Uber, how would I get from one city to the next? The thing is in excellent running condition, even has a working generator on it. It's old, but it has been taken care of.  IF the site is correct, there IS Lyft service in Midlothian, which is 16 miles away from the town.  So, I could get there for a little over $100.  

I dunno.  I'm just pondering a lot of things right now.  

G'day

 Wednesday, mid-morning. 

I'm trying to get caught back up on my sleep.  It's working at least today.  8 hours of precious, beautiful sleep and feeling a little better. 

I have an agenda today and I intend on trying to get it done. The 4 wheeler is ready to go and try to see if it's going to work.  I am admittedly dragging my @$$ today because of the lack of sleep for 6 previous nights, save one where I did sleep fairly well.  

Loading up the 4 wheeler with the new attachment, I am asked if I want to go to lunch? Lol, I feel like I just got out of bed. BTW, summertime is upon us.  The boys are out of school for 2 months.  There are things they will be doing this summer, including a 2 week vacation to Florida (I'm not going, this is Taylor going to see an old friend).  There are other things of which escape my mind atm, but they will probably be spending a lot of time with me out in the heat.  If they don't like the heat, they can go sit in the shed.  Either way, I have stuff to do and tho they can come with me, I'm not going to be constantly watching them.

Right now,  or in the next short period of time, I really need to decide what to do about grass. Besides cost, the other thing that crossed my mind is watering it.  If a lot has a trailer on it, they are using the water hookup.  Does this mean I need to install dual water outlets at every lot?  And if I do that, I will be installing a shut off valve at ground level on all of them. One thing always leads to another in this situation.

One blow after another. The older couple are also leaving on the 8th.  The recent fall the man had and having to have a pacemaker installed left the wife needing to move somewhere where they can have family help them.  This will be a blow in a couple of ways. First, of course, another long-term leaving. Second, these people helped me watch out for the park.  I do have the camera out there, of course.

I'm going to have too many lots open and I will likely have to resort to cut throat rates again to get anyone in there.  They were only paying $400 per month anyway, but still.  I don't know what else to do besides going ahead and posting it in the local gossip venues.  I have avoided them because of some of the caustic people in those groups that find fault with everything and make snarky replies all the time.  But, one of those is the main local venue and for that, I need to at least try it once.  

The only reason I'm saying that is that a church campground that specializes in having churches come in with lots of folks is also renting out rv lots on a limited basis and advertised in there.  The fact of the matter is, I will just have to eat it and say ok, I"ll have to go with lower rates and hope there is still decent profit after the electric bills.  The only thing that really got people in there was lower rates.  When faced with $1,100 electric bills, that doesn't really sound too appealing but having 6 lots empty after they leave? That isn't going to work either. At least there is  profit to be made at a lower rate.  I think I'll list it as $400 for single AC units and $425 for 2.  

If that doesn't get people in there, pretty much nothing will beyond expensive amenities that I don't have the money to pay for right now, which namely would be a swimming pool.  A clubhouse with activites, etc.  Just not enough money. A swimming pool would get half the town over there, not just rv'ers.  Of course my insurance wouldn't allow me to do that, just saying that pools are very popular around here.  No clue.  Get my medical card renewed and go back to work, list everything at such low rates that it would be ridiculous to overlook the place and move on.  Or, do what some other parks are doing in buying these small mobile-home looking things. Or, just buy the trailers like I have been wanting to.  People will rent them, I get enough calls about it.  

I'm waiting on these people to tell me when the pasture is going to dry enough to get in there.  I have a person lined up to move the thing if this happens. If not, I'll keep looking but I'd like to find one pretty soon. 

Whatever the case, I have a driveway to try and plow.

Editing: they contacted me just now about that trailer I want to buy.  I'm going to drive the 115 miles to look at it and probably buy the thing.  

G'day

 Tuesday - late morning, everyone gone (thankfully).  House is quiet.  I got home last night around 12:45 am, opened the door to my room and turned the light on --- it took Addler totally by surprise. He was sound asleep, woke up, raised his head, looked at me dazed and confused, eyes half open, lmao.  Once he recognized who I was he jumped up to greet me.  I turned the AC in my room down to "ice cold" setting after burning up for 5 days.  I love my mother dearly, but I doubt I will be doing any visits there unless it's winter time and the temps are much cooler.  That way, the AC doesn't have to be on in her house.  She would be completely offended if I decided to stay at a hotel, so I just have to figure out something else and that something else is just be there when the house is naturally cooled down.  

It's not a money issue, she just prefers to being warm all the time.  I don't get it, but I don't have to, just have to work around it.  

I was thinking of another visit later on this year.  If it's possible, anyway.  

I found a couple of trailers I am interested in. One I probably would have already bought but the person selling it is - who knows what this person is doing. She said her boyfriend was thrown in jail and she needs the money. It's $600 and I pounced on it.  Decent shape, you can't find something in that condition for $600.  It wasn't a "scammish" type of thing. She said she was trying to get gas money so she could show it to me.  

But, 30 minutes later, she removed the listing from Marketplace, saw my questions but didn't respond. So I don't know if that means she sold it, or thinks she has it sold to me, or if she still wants to keep it? No clue.  The other one is a 5th wheel at $1,500.  This one is in really good shape, the ad says the only thing wrong with it is the refrigerator doesn't work. Great, throw the thing out and get a new one. A new regular fridge, I should add, not an RV version.  RV versions are very expensive. These are small refrigerators and they don't cost a fortune. 

I take that back, the last time I priced them they didn't cost a fortune.  That has probably changed by now.  lt is possible the fridge in it could be fixed.  Whatever the case, it rained heavily last night and the dude said he wanted it to dry out first. Not the trailer, but where he has the trailer parked. From the pics, there are no roof leaks on it at all.  I could probably rent the thing for $600 per month, utilities/lot rent included.  I figure sooner or later, I'm going to snag something decent and get the thing making me some money.  

Well cancel the trailer that the person disappeared. She wrote back - "someone" took the ac off of it and left the roof open.  In other words, there is substantial water damage to the thing.  No thank you.   A trailer like that isn't worth anything at all. Not only that, but there are no tires on it, lol.  AND it has to be moved by "noon today".  Sketchy, at best. This other trailer, however, looks really good on the inside. $1,500 is at the threshold of what I want to pay but if I advertise it on the local gossip groups I should be able to rent it quickly.  

I've never quite understood people who just let leaks go in their trailers. They must know that any rain is going to cause damage.  Any time I had a leak, I would get up there and address the problem.  There's another trailer which looked ok from the outside, but the pics inside? Lmao.  It was totally gutted. The interior had been stripped out of it and there were wires hanging down from the ceiling with trash laying everywhere.  That is just garbage, why do people even try to sell such trash? 

Anyway, the other trailer which is definitely in decent condition is being held for me.  So they say. It's parked in a field and they are saying it's too wet, ie: get stuck trying to drive out to it.  I said I want it- it's not sight unseen, there are a LOT of pics inside and out of this thing. You can tell there are no leaks, you can see the interior furnishings are in decent shape. You just have to take the person's word for it that appliances work, excepting the fridge.  I dunno, but I'm going to ask the older couple at the park if they can get it for me.  It's a 5th wheel and I have no way of moving one. If they can't, there are people in the area that will do it, just for much more money.  This is just an initial plan, of course, they have to actually sell it to me first before I can get the thing lol.  

Ok enough talk about trailers. They at least confirmed that I can take the thing in writing, in reality who knows.  As for the park. I am so out of it today.  I just didn't sleep that much during the trip and then getting home so late last night.  I slept for 5 hours and then the sun came up and woke me up.  I need to go over there and check things out for sure.  James built that attachment for the 4 wheeler and made a new hitch plate to hook the thing up to it.  There is no way I am going to even try to do any of that today.  In fact, I just need to collect some money and then I'm probably going to go straight back home.

Oh, well the outside camera also needs to be recharged.  And there is something "orange" on the side of the driveway that appeared out of nowhere.  It's hard to tell what it is, but it is a curiosity that I want to go check out.  

Oh, well the attachment is a mini plow of sorts. I has rippers on it - tines with sharp edges - that tear down into the ground and till it up.  It has a box on the top so you can put weight into it for better plowing ability.  I'll see about getting to that tomorrow. Which means getting the trailer, loading the SUV and the attachment up, taking it over there, unloading it, etc.  I want to see if I can line up getting that trailer towed over here.  If I can get it cleaned up nicely, I'll just put it in a regular RV lot. It looks like it just needs a really good cleaning on the outside of it. 

There's always plenty to do.  

 Sitting at Sky Harbor airport.  I got here early after seeing that this would be one of the major travel days.  Although there are definitely some people here, it's nothing like what one would expect for a very crowded airport.  Not at all. I spent maybe 10 minutes going through security and could have easily spent another hour talking with mom before departing.  But, you know, I didn't want to get stuck at a security checkpoint nightmare.  You don't really know what to expect when you arrive at an airport.  

I did end up going to the bar and I visited with my old friend for about 5-1/2 hours and his friends that also showed up.  It was fun, I can say that, because it'a karoake bar and they have it almost every night of the week.  They wanted me to sing, I politely declined lol.  I can do my version of singing, I'm fairly certain it's nothing anyone wants to be subjected to.  It was getting late, at least by my standards and so after much discussion about various things, I said I was leaving.  Well, they  wanted me to cancel my flight and take off the next day.  Uhh, no.  I don't even think this setup would allow for that and even if it did, I'm more than ready to go home.

It was a good visit, I'm glad I came, I'm glad I am going home. Mom and I talked for many hours this morning tho.  The Lyft driver noted that she didn't look too happy when I was leaving.  No, she was sad, had tears in her eyes.  I might try to make it back later this year when it's much cooler and I can stand being in that hot house without feeling very uncomfortable. It's just he way she has always been, she likes being warm and 82 degrees is comfortable to her. 

I haven't slept too well excepting maybe one night because I was so exhausted. This is the major reason I want to go home. Yes, I have sleep issues, but I do, indeed, end up getting some sleep at home at least.  I won't even be home until around 1:00 am.  I did sign up for volunteering to take another flight online, but only at the $600 rate.  Leaves tomorrow morning and arrives early afternoon.  I don't know that anything is going to become of it, but I did hear the attendants at the desk talking to flight personnel who are deadheading.  That sometimes means people are going to be asked to volunteer to take another flight.  

There are a lot of standby people as well.  I am sitting close enough to the desk to hear conversations, Some of these people look desperate.  Whatever, I'd rather just fly home but the opportunity for free money is certainly right up there on my list as well.  Not to mention a hotel .  

And sitting here waiting, a man calls for a spot. Yes sir, we have 2 pull throughs and a back in spot available tonight.  He didn't actually commit, he just said "if we make it that far".  Yup, a lot of them do that, see if they can get a spot but not sure if they are going to be able to make it that far.  

That's it. My mind is a jumble of different thoughts at the moment.  Flight boards in 22 minutes.  

 Sunday - early afternoon. 

Doesn't feel like Sunday for some reason.  Mostly been hanging out with mom, saw my son and have plans to see an old friend tonight - at a bar. Not my choice, this is where he hangs out at and where he wants to meet. Whatever, at least it's not far.  That will be it for my visiting for tomorrow afternoon I am going back home. 

Good to see mom again, she's doing well, certainly for her age and I can rest easy for a while. I probably won't consider coming for a visit again unless it's in the winter time here.  She keeps the thermostat at 80-82 and that's her comfort zone. Mine, for sleeping at least, is 70. You may think that sounds like a ridiculous reason to put off another trip, but it's really not.  I was sitting there sweating at the dinner table when I first got here and finally she said something about the temp and I said, yes, need to cool it down, at least a few degrees.  

It was a great visit with my son, albeit only 2-1/2 hours. He was getting ready to go out with his circle of friends.  He turned 30 the other day and they were going to drag him off to bar and try to get him drunk.  Well, he said, I don't really drink, but they are driving so I'll go.  I don't know how that went, I think I"ll contact him and see what happened\, lol.  Since I will probably have a few beers tonight, I am not going to drive either. It's Memorial Day weekend and the cops are out looking for impaired drivers.  I will not be getting drunk but they can make stuff up. 

A Lyft ride at $20 each way is cheaper than a trip to jail and all that entails.  They do sobriety check points here, which I think is a huge infringement on citizens' rights regardless of the "good" reasons they are doing it. There is no probable cause, they just stop everyone. I saw something that said you don't "have" to go through the checkpoint, you can turn around and go the other way.  Yea, right, and you are telling me they aren't going to come chasing you down? 

I also found out this particular bar has cops that sit around waiting for people to leave. Anyway, it's just trouble I don't need, thank you very much. 

I'm not really into the bar scene, is what I'm saying.  I don't mind going to Chili's with a bar there, but that's a family style restaurant, not a bar-only thing where there is loud music, people getting drunk, people looking for fights, people have to yell to talk to anyone - not my thing at all.  I wish this interaction could be done elsewhere.  Whatever. I'm looking forward to going home tomorrow.  I have been having trouble sleeping - much worse than I already have at home.  I would have rather stayed at a hotel, tbh.  

The flight won't land in Longview until late, I figure I won't get to the house earlier than 1:00 am. I have no intentions of getting out of bed once I am there until late morning if that.  I'm just going to laze around the house Tuesday unless there is something pressing going on at the park.  There probably is, who knows, I got texts from people saying an "old trashy truck" showed up last night camping behind the shed.  Yes, that was me letting some folks stay the night so they could get a shower.  They paid $10 and spent an hour bathing in the bathroom. I know this because I looked at the notifications on my camera.  I didn't know what kind of people they are, didn't want to see things like tools walking out of there with them. 

I don't really trust people.  I got 2 forms of identification from them, pics texted to me.  The lady said they are from Oklahoma and they were visiting her father who is dying, but they don't get along with his wife who isn't her mother.  I get that, totally.  The identification showed they are from here but also another ID from a tribal government in Oklahoma. They are already gone so I don't have to worry about these people complaining about them. They originally asked about tent camping and that's what I was going on. They ended up just being in a pickup and needing access to a bathroom.  I'll bleach that shower and toilet nicely when I get back.  

I had a 6 nighter cancel. Another one gone. This one, the daughter of the man had something happen that he had to cancel and he offered to let me charge him for one night. Standard in the industry, tho I haven't even made up my mind about that.  Another RV coming tonight, or so they say anyway.  

I've got a 9 day stay coming tomorrow.  Hopefully they won't also be canceling?  Traveling season and I'm not really getting a good share or the travelers coming in. I have several lots available right now for overnighters.  Only one guy contacted me 2 days ago about a long term but he never committed and didn't show up.  

The boys were missing me to the point Taylor asked if I would facetime them.  Oh? I don't do facetime, but I made an exception.  They had gotten themselves into trouble - again. This time, they were both looking at Youtube in the bed in their bedroom when they were supposed to be sleeping.  IE: get up, go to the living room, get the device.  That got them blocked from games for the entire Memorial Day Weekend.  The younger boy cracks me up tho. He'll come home from school with a headache.  Why do you have a headache?  Too much talking.  Huh?  They talk too much at school. He is referring to the teachers lmao.  No, he doesn't like school, lol

Ok well enough.  There isn't much to discuss besides the ever evolving political and woke landscape that is basically destroying our nation - or at least turning it into something that probably most people don't want but won't do anything about it.  These politicians are something else. I had at least some hopes that McCarthy would stand firm until Democrats caved at least a little. Apparently this "deal" he has worked out isn't anything on the scope of what the bill the House passed earlier this year had in it.  In other words, as far as I can see it, he caved.  That's pretty much the mantra of the Republican party, cave.  

I'm going to take a nap, lol.  Didn't sleep well. 

 Admittedly in a bit of a grumpy mood this morning, I ended up going back to bed for a while. I was still exhausted.  An hour nap and I felt better.  Met with my son for near 3 hours at the Denny's near where he lives. It was a good visit, a lot of information passed back and forth.  His friends are taking him to some bar tonight to celebrate his 30th birthday. No, he's not a heavy drinker.  He drinks socially and not that often.  It was a fun and enjoyable visit. I doubt I'll see him again this trip.  

Back home, ate a huge dinner with mom and that's it. I have no other plans today and don't want any more plans.  2-1/2 more days and I'll be going home.  I think I will try and meet up with a friend that keeps saying he wants to, just hasn't happened yet.  He's having a cookout Monday and as much as I would love to come for that, the plane departs Monday sometime after 5 and I suspect I will need to leave here for the airport by 2 pm.  It's 45 minutes over there and Monday is likely going to be a huge travel day.  

At least the flight is shorter than the one that went from DFW to LAX.  I am pretty confident it will be a completely full airplane. They had people on standby for the DFW to LAX flight.  

Since lot 2 left, I opened up yet another lot for short term.  The pull throughs are popular and lot 2 is a pull through. In case someone needs a place to stop, they can do that online.  I had one person asking if I had a long term spot available today, yes.  Do you have 50 amp service? yes.  All questions were answered yes - and then he disappeared.  That's it, tho, I have no new prospects coming in for long term.  

Yes, obviously, I am keeping track of what is going on  at the park. An overnighter pulled in earlier - I got a notification and looked. They are prepaid, another coming tomorrow for same-said lot and then 2 more incoming tomorrow, another on Sunday and then a 5 day stay on Monday.  After that is another coming in on Thursday and then? That's it. For now, anyway, with no more short or long term booked.  As I said, this situation needs to change and in a hurry.  I need 3 more long term and I need them pretty quick.  

Funny thing, Facebook allowed one of my posts to run over and over - delete and relist option - and then today? They said it doesn't meet their standards and was deleted lmao.  The part that is ridiculous is they don't bother to tell you why, they just say it's in violation and dump it without giving the option to fix it.  In fact, I even paid for a boost on that ad a couple of times! FB and it's inconsistencies.  

Well whatever.  Not a lot going on atm.  Well, excepting the dude that fell and ended up in the hospital in Longview. He fell because of his heart, whatever happened exactly I don't know, but he now has a pacemaker in  and is home at the park recovering.  Initially misunderstood, I thought they said he fell and then had the heart problem. Then I find out he fell because of the heart problem.  Ok then, that sounds more feasible.  

The time change here is messing with me.  2 hours behind us, my bedtime is coming up soon yet it's only almost 7:00 pm here.  I'm really tired. I just never got caught up on my sleep from trip for the texting in the middle of the night last night with the power out.  I think I'm going to retire early tonight.  

 Half an hour waiting for this laptop to do an update that I didn't want.  I hate this computer.  

Anyway, we'll just go straight to that landing at PHX yesterday.  For I have never been through anything like that.  We turbulence about a half an hour before we even got to the airport.  I didn't think much of it until we started descending and the turbulence got worse.  The plane was jumping up and down, the wings up and down, kind of crazy. 

We got somewhere within 100 feet of touching down when it hit and it hit hard, the turbulence that is. The nose pitched up, the right wing went way up, then the whole plane dropped and then? Throttles.  Thank God.  The aborted the landing and did a go around.  Again, thank God because from my view, we were not lined up with the runway and the plane was not at the correct attitude to even land.  

I wasn't not the only one that became unnerved by that event. When the plane stopped, people that travel frequently were making comments.  It's one thing to hit severe turbulence at 35,000 feet, quite another when you're about to touch down.  

The second landing actually was the same thing, heavy turbulence but this time they managed to get it down.  I can tell you that I went straight to get my luggage and then I sat down for probably an hour.  My stomach was in knots and the food I had eaten a few hours earlier was not setting well.  I really didn't feel much better until I went to bed last night. I didn't eat dinner, I was exhausted as it was getting up at 2:30 am and I was toast. 

The day might may have been over, but the phone started blowing up at 3: 00 am.  What is going on?  The power went out at the park and nearly everyone was texting me telling me about it.  Another tree down, according to Swepco, but what am I supposed to do about it?  I took a screen shot of the fact they already knew about it and a tree was down and texted it back to everyone.  The weird thing is there was no weather going on. Trees don't normally go down unless there is a storm and heavy winds.  

I managed to somehow get back to sleep but I was up early.  

It seems like they have crammed seating even tighter on airplanes.  It wasn't fun that the man that sat down next to me on the flight from DFW to LAX was also large framed. I don't mean overweight, just a large framed man.  Our skeletal composure forced our arms to be "into" each other.  It was something I knew neither he nor I could change so we just both moved our arms so they wouldn't be touching at least.  A kid kicking my seat from the rear, I made the best of it.  

LAX - a cheeseburger -and we are talking a very plain cheeseburger, nothing fancy at all and a pile of fries? $17.  

Whatever. All of that is over and I am reminded once again why I don't travel to California nor do I like coming Arizona. Just watch the local news. Murders, shootings, death all over the place.  

This post negative? Well it's been a pretty negative trip so far, excepting mom and I sat down and talked for several hours last night before  I went to bed. That was good and we watched rabbits eating grass in her back yard.  

Oh, and the older couple? Saying that the people that pulled into lot 3 have 2 dogs that are crapping on her lawn and also that the husband fell and is in the hospital. The truck driver trainer is pulling out today, which was expected but leave several lots empty.  I have some overnighters coming in, one today and another Sunday.  But that's it, so far anyway.  

So, the idea of going back to work looms large.  I can't pay my bills on a half empty park and unless a slew of people come in in the next week or so, it's going to be my fate.  Might as well go get the medical thing over and done with, that will take care of that requirement. I'm sure someone will hire me even with a minor accident and ticket on the record, but the premium jobs I may not get. 

So what am I doing now? Sitting at a table at mom's house, typing out my blog entry as is my habit and trying to get over the aggravation of everything that has happened since I left town yesterday.  I love visiting mom and I"m sure I'll enjoy seeing my son, but it will be a while before I came back down here after this trip is over with.  Hopefully this will get better.  

Anyway, yes I'm set to see my son, sometime today we haven't worked that out, just that we were going to meet on Friday. After today, I have no idea what I'm doing.  

Editing this: I think another factor that is really getting to me is my mother likes living in much warmer conditions than I am used to. She has the thermostat set at 80 degrees, we have ours set at around 70 or even cooler.  I'm sitting here sweating, basically and yes, that's adding to the aggravation factor.  

 I did, of course, wake up in the middle of the night and as soon as I did, my brain went to full function mode, it must be time to get up, let's get moving.  That just kind of happened automatically.  I looked at thee clock, 2:20 am, lmao.  Yup, got up, took a shower and got it started.  I wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep that fast and if I did, I would have been awakened shortly after, there was no reason to drag it out, let's just get going.  So, my coffee time about 4 hours before I normally do. 

I'm in a pretty decent mood albeit a bit fatigued, hopefully I can stay in that mood even if/when s*** hits the fan.  Something always happens.  Minor, usually, but can be an irritant, and usually the actions of other people who are inconsiderate, rude and only think of themselves when it comes to their conduct in public. We've all seen the videos, it's pretty common to see this tho in real life, especially when traveling.  I'm just taking a virtual chill pill, hang back, let everyone do their thing, I'm in no huge rush, there isn't an emergency and I'll get there when I get there. 

I have an advantage that I don't have to fool with overhead compartment baggage.  I am, however, stuffing a shirt and socks into my computer bag in case I get separated from my luggage - or - get delayed somehow overnight somewhere and have something fresh to wear.  I'm just preparing for any problems in advance, we have all seen the news of airlines having major delays because of staffing problems, flight controller absences and computer glitches.  Weather isn't a problem today, there is no weather that I have seen in any of the routes.  The "experts" are saying this traveling weekend, which starts today btw at least according to them, will test the system and see if they've done their due diligence to bring things back up to snuff.

The hullaballoo with DeSantis entering the Presidential race, the Twitter Space they were using for him to announce it and the crash of that space is now the focus of attention.  The left were bashing Musk and Twitter for the crash.  Some people that actually know what's going on said that it was a Twitter Space, it was the first time so many people had tried to join one "room" like that - a million people or so - and yes, there were problems.  People that hate the right just want to focus on the problems that don't matter, they don't want to focus on the problems America is facing because they are creating those problems intentionally, by choice and by design. 

The Bud Light controversy isn't going away as the left and so-called experts thought it would.  It's definitely an anomaly considering the backfiring of other boycotts Republicans have engaged in in the past.  It's about time the right makes a stand and it actually works in this woke era of stupid people with big mouths getting all the airtime.  These people are stupid, pushing Communist policies that we already knew wouldn't work before they ever started trying to push them. The failures are clearly evident around the world in current and previous Communist regimes.  Okay, they may not be stupid, they have been deceived by a handful of people in high places with the juice to be able to push such agendas and force it on the masses in public universities, the school districts, local governments, state governments, federal government, the media, all the things the left control.  

Oh well. I'm leaving soon  Get there, check in - well I already did that and I already printed my boarding passes but I'm going to get the "real" boarding passes printed for me.  I have text messaging and email alerts to any glitches, changes, whatever - that American might dump on everyone.  There still doesn't look to be full aircraft on any leg of the journey, with the available seats showing on the graphs if you want to upgrade.  I also already paid for my baggage, why wait? Get it over with and the only thing I have to face is the ridiculous security system. I won't be shocked if they want to pat me down. I have no idea, but I go through that screening thing and it shows, of all places and almost every time, my private areas with some sort of blockage, like it's not clear and they can't see anything.

I hate it, because they literally grope you.  THAT will be the defining moment of this trip, at least for me and in the traveling portion of it - whether I have to go through that again. The the pro side to it is that once I get through that screening, I won't have to go through it again, at least not on the trip there.

I also had my return dates wrong in my head for some reason. I'm coming back Monday night, not Tuesday. I was very glad, actually, when I saw that.  I think 5 days there, 3 full days and 2 partial days, is plenty.  I can go again this year if I really want to - which I probably won't but who knows.  It's a Holiday weekend this time so I do wonder if my oldest brother will be inviting mother over and if so, I will be tagging along as well. Haven't seen him in years. He doesn't ever miss me and I don't particularly miss him, either, something that has been going on our entire lives, starting when we were growing up and he didn't want any part of family and has maintained that stance his entire life.

It was only in the last 15 or less years that he took an interest in helping mother.  He will remain nameless or even the pecking order of which brother it is.  He loathes social media. We are complete opposites in our views of life, he is a very, very private person.  I am to some degree, but nothing like him.  Anyway, I thought it was surprising he actually took an interest in mom.  I mean, it is natural of course, but he hasn't actually been a "natural" person by any stretch of the imagination when it comes to family and his shunning of it. Neither of my brothers went to my dad's funeral, just to show where their mentality is.  

The reservation system shows no new reservations.  It will be impossible for me to not at least check it online while I'm visiting family.   

Yup. The power bills showed up when I just checked. Unsurprisingly high. It's been hot and people have their AC running all day long plus I added the shed ac.  It's around $1,100 total.  This likely isn't even the worst of it.  This is where the rubber meets the road and why I have resisted backing down too much on my monthly lot rents.  Fortunately it is not due until the 13th of June and I will be collecting alot of lot rent before then.  It's easily the biggest expense, even beyond taxes.  It may to up to at least $100 per lot.  Or more. I don't really know. It's been summer hot in the 80's and 90's, it probably will go up more, but maybe not enough to kill my chances of taking a decent paycheck next month.  It's why I need at least 1 more lot taken for long term.  People are coming and going all the time, I really need to get to the place where I can just take people leaving without getting all nervous about it.

I haven't arrived at that place, yet.  But, it's why I would definitely considering long term tent campers in the mid rear of the property.  They won't even use electricity, at least not on my dime. They want to run a generator and I have no problem with that in the location where it will be. Well away from the park, no one will hear it there and not far enough back to disrupt my enjoyment of my forest.  It's basically next to the big, giant tanks where the gas operation is, but in the thick of the woods.  The property goes back another 800 feet? from where they will be staying, if they do, indeed, show up.

I had the 8 year old show me where it's at. His first try, he got close.  Then I showed him. Then we left, he wanted to play hid and seek in the woods so I just said oh well, we can do that.  He's going through his own little dramatics with me leaving and asking me not to, lol.  We came back to it later.  Where is the tent site, can you find it now?  He points the right direction.  Yes, but take me there.  We did that two more times until I was confident he knows exactly where it's at.  It's something he wanted to do, not being forced.  James can take him with him if these people show up and he can direct them to where it's at.  I do hope they come, it's $320 per month of pretty much pure profit besides personal income taxes.  

Well, it's time to leave. I'm sure I will be updating this from an airport somewhere later on.

G'day

 So the day is basically done.  Breakfast at Waffle House with Taylor, property to mow a couple lawns, hook up the trailer, load the ATV, take it home, back to the property, drop the trailer, over to the school, watch a graduation, over to Lowe's, Chili's, property.  Property, put the cap on the hot water line for the sink, played some hide and go seek with the boy - he insisted on playing so we did 4 rounds of it.  

Home, clothes, pack, check my itinerary and on hold.  I hope I didn't ruin my trip. My first and middle name are listed as one name and the middle name doesn't have anything.  I'm on the phone with American, on hold and have been on hold for a long time.  Apparently a lot of people are calling them, I haven't gotten past the computer yet.  I will stay on hold until I find out if/how it can be changed, for it isn't allowing me to edit it online.  I don't know the rules about this, but I do believe they are pretty stringent about the name matching the name on the license.  I'm not going through all of that tomorrow, if they can't or won't change it, then I guess I'm screwed.   

OK, 20 minutes on hold but I looked all of this up on several forums.  Apparently it's normal for them to combine your first and middle name together.  I printed out the tickets and it's formatted to have last name first and first and second name combined.  Literally everyone on these forums said it's nothing to worry about.  I hope so.  I'm just going to show up with my CDL and hope for the best outcome.  

The older boy started crying. Why are you crying? I don't want you to leave!  Lol.  

Oh, btw, I apparently couldn't have picked a worse time to travel lmao.  There are a LOT of people flying this holiday weekend.  I mean, so far the flights are showing on-time but that could easily change. I really would have picked another time to travel if I would have known it was going to be Memorial Day weekend. I would rather be home, there are going to be some get togethers I am going to miss. OTOH, I haven't seen fam in what, 4 years now?  I was going to go late 2019 and then COVID hit and that was the end of that, I wasn't even going to get shots and no way I was wearing a damn mask on an airplane for hours on end.  I rarely wore a mask that entire time and the professionals at the time and definitely now, the ones telling the truth anyway, said and say that masks were and are worthless to stop the spread of Covid.  

Emergency powers with presidents, governors and mayors should be extremely limited, they went way overboard with government authority crap, as we all know.  Even now, some state's governor is declaring a state of emergency because the republican legislature in that state are going to pass bills that allow school choice. This governor says this is an emergency because they are "shutting down public schools". No, they are giving parents who are fed up with the public school system indoctrinating them with trans, communist, social justice and just about everything but what they should be learning. Normal parents are sick of woke garbage.  

Whatever.  I'm spending the last few hours with fam and then going to bed early.  Yes, I know I can sleep on the plane, but planes are so uncomfortable.  The first leg will be great. The 2cd and 3rd? I dunno.  DFW to LAX has over 20 seats empty and LAX to PHX has almost 30 empty.  Weird.  They said this was going to be the busiest flying weekend in a long, long time, why are there empty seats on these planes? Well, maybe because who really wants to go to LA right now, or anywhere in California? Glad I'm just passing through.  It's over 2 hour delay, I'm not leaving the airport, rest assured.  

My son turned 30 today.  Amazing.  He's almost as old as my friends I live with, lol.  We're going to spend some portion of Friday together.  I really want to catch up with him, there is plenty to talk about.  He is still living with his mother, but it's more to support her. It's not the other way around, he has a full time job that pays pretty well, he could live on his own if he wanted to.  I don't know what the appeal is living with her, but to each his own.  I don't hold it against him, she still has me blocked on Facebook lol.  

Ok. Several hours later, kids in bed and I'm fixing to turn in myself. I decided I will get up at 3:00 am to ensure ample time to take a shower, have some coffee and get out of here, get over there and be there an hour and a half early.  That should be plenty of time to get through that small airport's security.  They will only be screening the small jet's worth of people, I've been through there several times in the past.  I've got one piece of luggage and I already prepaid that thing. It was $30.  Not too bad, actually and the only thing I need carry on the plane is my laptop in it's carrying case.  I don't go on vacations without my laptop.  I may buy a new one while in Phoenix.  Some huge electronics stores there I will be going to to see what their prices and selection are.  

Well, I haven't been there in 4 or so years, but I doubt that much has changed.  

I dunno what else. I've been looking for trailers after this dude reneged on his deal, had an offer for a higher price and blew me off.  He said "first come, first served". I replied I was the first one that replied and we agreed that I'd come pay for it tomorrow as you had asked.  Screw him, frankly.  I wasn't going to play a bidding war with someone else and I was pissed that he had just blown off a deal that he gave his word on.  But, people's word nowadays doesn't mean what it used to.  

So then I started thinking about glamping again.  A 16X10 bell yurt tent around $700, made out of thick canvas.  I was looking at pics where they had just built a basic platform on the ground, not elevated and just big enough for the tent to sit on. That would certainly reduce the price.  If I put one of those things up near the amenities shed, then they have access to toilet and shower.  Stick a king sized bed in it, some super duper little furniture pieces in it, some far out pics (hotel style stuff, in other words), some carpet, a microwave, coffee pot, bottled water, mini fridge and AC/Heat. Lights and whatever else they put in those things. I only have to run electric to it and I already have the underground wiring to do so.  

$700 yurt, around $800 for the platform, I have no idea about a bed, $600 I'll call it,  another grand for interior decorating.  I've seen those mini splits going for $500.  I don't know how hard they are to install, but that would be the way to go for cooling and heating it.  The end? Round it up to 4 grand and call it done.  The problem? Who knows if it would actually get any business.  I would advertise the Hercules out of it both locally on all the venues and on Google and other free sites where I can advertise glamping.  Charge $50 per night and hope and pray it gets at least 10 nights worth of stays per month.  

Oh, well who knows. Just kicking things around in my mind. However, it's 9:00 pm and tho not my normal bedtime? Yup, I'm going to sleep. 

 The grumpy people asked very politely if I would cut their grass tomorrow . That's all I really need, is a little mutual respect.  So I will do that early.  I got the water hooked up for the sink - but not without a lot of hassle. 3 trips to Lowe's, in fact. The "master plumber" sent me home with the wrong parts the first time.  Bypassing a bunch of junk, the third time was the charm. The wrong parts were in the bins and tho I thought I had the right stuff, I didn't examine it closely enough.  Neither part was the right one and I had to return them.

I got my money back - excepting it said I had bought 2 of each.  No, I did not buy 2 of each.  I bought one of each. Well, when I got back to the store I started looking through the bins.  There were wrong parts in almost every one of them. Like, people taking something, not wanting it and just throwing it back in the wrong place.  But, the caveat: they don't ever get put back in the correct place by employees, either.  

I went to the "Pro" desk asking for the store's general manager.  The dude looked at me and said, well I'll look for him but I'm the "division" manager, whatever that means.  No, he wasn't above the store manager.  I said fine, I will be waiting for him on aisle 43.  10 minutes passes, a man looks at me and says you must not know what you need, either?  No, I know what I need and I found the parts, but I want to show a manager the absolute chaos these bins are in.  I pulled out a handful of stuff from one bin - NONE of it belonged IN that bin.  

Well, he started asking me questions as if I'm sort of knowledgeable person about Pex pipe and fittings.  I said no, I am new to Pex stuff as well. But, he was simply asking if pipe that had been stored outside but inside of a shed would be alright? Well, it's HDPE and it should be fine, but I'd just check to see if it's brittle.  That was my advice and having had worked around HDPE for a dozen years I'd say it's fairly solid.  This dude that was looking for the general manager finally comes wandering back, looking for me.  So, I said find. Grabbed a handful of parts out of a bin and showed them to him. None of these parts belong in this bin and not a single part IN that bin is the correct part. Would you like me to show you more?

I wasn't being rude, I was making a point.  This is ridiculous.  Other people were nodding their heads.  They're the only game in town, I don't want to get run off out of there but I do want to show them what's caused me and other people endless irritation.  The man said he is new to the store but has worked for Lowe's for 22 years and was brought specifically TO this store to clean it up.  He gave me my money back for the parts that the front desk wouldn't refund.  I had no proof, but after asking if they have cameras on the self-checkout and him saying yes, I said fine, you can check the camera. I only bought one of each.  He said no, I believe you.  

So, installed the pex pipe? It's much easier than CPVC, I can see the appeal of it.  You can buy the barbed fittings and put the clamps on it - with the special tool - or you can buy the expensive fittings where you just plug the pipe into the fitting. Literally, you just push it in there and that's it. It's leak free.  I was actually quite amazed at how easy it was.  I would have done the whole place in that stuff if I had known.  I mean, yes, I've spent hours figuring it out.  

I think, now that I know it's not that difficult, that I will run a line of that pipe under the shed from the water heater and install hot water on the sink as well.  That will not be happening tomorrow, I have far too much to do, but I will put it on the list for when I get back.  I also will have to install a much larger AC unit. And the grass, gag. It's gotten so hot it's all half dead now.  It's hard to believe I have to start all over with grass again.  

I dunno, but I'm going to put the park out of my mind on vacation excepting to check cameras and deal with anything that comes up.  Ive got the older couple working with me and James will back me up as well.  The new people came in today, their 5th wheel is amazing.  It's brand new, 44 feet long and it's a beauty.  I've never seen on that looks like that before, they must have spent some serious money on that thing.  It has solid glass doors, dark tinted, that's a first for me.  

I've got my eyes on a 5th wheel.  It's older, of course, but it has no roof leaks and the interior pics make it look like the only thing it really needs is some new flooring. $1,200.  More expensive than that other one I was contemplating but no huge amount of work needing to be done to it - excepting - the slide out won't move back in.  So I'm going tomorrow after the 8 year old's graduation at 10 am.  I posted a question to experienced RV'ers in a  huge rv group to ask if they think you can pull a trailer for 30 miles without damaging it?  It won't need to go anywhere after that.

I also have a married couple wanting to move in to my tent camping spot.  Like, for a long time.  The end of summer, they said anyways.  I hadn't contemplated that but I don't see any reason why not, especially when they offered me $320 per month.  No one uses that site.  I have it listed in several directories but I only get people asking about it, only 2 people have ever camped there.  So why not?  I don't know the con's to having people living in tents, I will be looking that up.  

Uhh, there's more but I need to get some laundry going.  I want laundry done tonight and not have to deal with that tomorrow. 

 2 day count down. I went to Walmart yesterday and they had nothing in my correct size, so I bought a few pairs of jeans that are an inch longer. In other words, 35-34's instead of 35-33's.  But supposedly Burke's has nicer versions of clothing at discount prices, I dunno, but I'll find out later on today.  

Tomorrow will be busy getting ready to go and going to a "graduation".  Nowadays, kids graduate from every grade level.  Instead of it being a senior graduating from high school, you have kindergarteners graduating from kindergarten, 5th graders graduating from 5th grade - you get the picture.  It's kind of strange to me, almost like a participation trophy in a youth sporting league. You get a trophy just because you showed up.  In the old days, as all old people know anyway, that wasn't even on the horizon.  Your team got a trophy because you won the championship and were the league winners.  Parents - lefties - became offended at that because their little Johnny tried just as hard as anyone else and they somehow deserve something that they didn't earn. 

And that basically sums up politics and mindsets today.  People want stuff for free from the government that they didn't earn and have no intention of earning.  Wait til' AI starts taking some of their jobs.  One commentator mused that the people whose jobs are going to disappear aren't going to be the blue collar version, at least not initially, they're going to take away the white collar jobs.  And then what are these people going to do? Become mechanics?  Drive trucks? AC repairmen?  Laughable. 

I also find quite humorous one of these politicians whose name I cannot remember saying it's time for a revolt. About snorted my coffee out of my nose when I read that.  Democrats leading a revolt? With what, exactly? Sticks? Stones?  This is the anti-police, anti-2A crowd talking about a revolt! LMAO McCarthy has their number, he uses their talking points about this "default" fiasco before they do. He piles it right back on them with their language and it's infuriating the left.  I don't hate lefties, btw.  Lefties definitely hate the right, I see it everyday online and the verbiage senators and representatives use, it's beyond disagreement of how the nation should be run. Civility went far away with them when they perched themselves on moral high grounds establishing the "fact" that since they are right, they can use whatever methods they please - including highly immoral and unethical methods - to achieve their desired goal of getting rid of those evil Republicans.

If they could flip an off switch and make Republicans disappear like magic into the thin air, we would all be gone right now. 

The thing I would love to see. Just take Republicans out of the picture. See what happens to this nation when they all quit working and just sit back and do the same thing as the lefties/progs (communists) do.  

Well enough of that - I am following this debt ceiling "crisis" pretty closely and was amazed reading the WSJ of all outlets lambasting President Biden about using default as some sort of weapon. They surmised that there is enough money coming in to the treasury that the treasury could easily take care of the debt/interest payments. Other payments might have to be put off, but the country doesn't have to go into default AND Biden and his cohort would be guilty of violating the 14th amendment. It was a piece from the editorial board about what the 14th amendment actually intended. I'm just amazed because WSJ is definitely not  a righty type of outlet.  It's a very strange world we're living in right now, at least if you compare it to the 60's or 70's.  

Today?  Well hopefully no one is doing laundry so I can shut the water off and get the water line run to the sink.  That would be nice. It would also have been nice if I had remembered to buy shut off valves.  Gag.  Oh well. The shed has it's own shut off valve for the water right beside it in a trench I have yet to cover up.  Small trench, but a trench never-the-less. Now that I have extra sewer pipe, I can cut a piece to size and stick it over where the valve is so  a person can just reach down the pipe to turn the valve off or on instead of having to dig it up.  I'll get to that - soon, lol. 

I've received 3 new reservations since yesterday afternoon, which is a gold mine for me, lol.  It's all for the next coming week-  week and a half.  I don't know if that's happening because I fixed the software or if it's just because it's almost summer and people are traveling - here - for some reason.  Most of this is not overnight stays, it's people staying 5, 6 plus days.  ?? I know lots of lawyers come here because it's the county seat and there is a federal courthouse that has a nationwide reputation of passing trademark applications.  I know, that's a weird thing to be known by. But it's also a college town and the dude at Chili's informed me classes are letting out of ETBU, Wiley and the Texas institution of learning - meaning people are going home.  

So why are they coming here? I have no clue, except some tell me they have family living here. The biggest repeat customer, I found out through a google search, has a position in his company to motivate employees to do -whatever.  You know, tho, the family that just moved in until they get utilities on their land? They aren't from around here. They bought land here, but didn't grow up here.  I get it tho, it's a nice area if you like country living and the great outdoors, tall pine trees, thick woods.  At the same time, our town has 25% poverty rate.  It's amazing the disparity of the poor mingled in with much better off citizens.  The other people moving in today? They are building a house and needed someplace close by. They intoned my park was the closest place, but I doubted that. That little town - even smaller than ours, is about 20 minute drive away. There are no RV parks there? 

Likely they just want to be close to town and the offerings our town has.  For a small town, we have a lot of different type of business going on here.  If you like chicken, donuts, liquor or car washes, you'll love it here! Lmao

On tap for today is to hopefully finish the hookup to the sink and cut back branches that are partially obscuring the speed limit sign on the main driveway.  It's 15mph, it was a tradeoff with the gas company workers that have to drive clear to the back to inspect the gas equipment. They go back there on a daily basis.  It's a quarter mile back there.  Now? I have ordered a 10mph sign for the RV park driveway itself.  People are speeding through and instead of addressing several people, Ill just put a sing right at the entrance to where the RV's pull in.  If they still speed, then I will contact that person individually and ask them why they think it's okay to go roaring through the park?

I just am trying to take more diplomatic ways of getting through to people before having to confront them.  

I still haven't decided whether to try and mostly stay on my diet while vacationing or throw caution to the wind.  I know I said I was going to just eat whatever, but I really hate to come back and gain `10 pounds or whatever and spend months getting it back off.  I've been eating a lot salads in the last few months.  People say this diet is bad for your heart - but I think that's only for people that have turned into carnivores and are trying to treat the Keto diet as a protein/meat diet.  I don't have that view, I eat lots of veggies and I try to eat more chicken/turkey than beef/pork. I guess I'll decide when I'm sitting in Dallas wondering what I'm going to eat for breakfast....or wait until I get to Las Angeles and eat there.  

On the hoping side, I'm hoping the travelers find my site, call me or just reserve a space that's available.  I have 3 of them listed open right now, the people moving in today? I never unblocked the dates on it since I already had 3 lots going.

Time to get out of here.

G'day

 With everything I bought to install the drain,  I am short 1 screw collar for the final connection : ( 

I was just at Lowe's a few hours ago! I'm also wondering how they expect yo to screw on a fitting onto the water connection to the faucet in such a tight space? This is worse than auto mechanics!

On a better note, an older couple are moving into one of the pull through lots for a month or two while they have a house built on some land they bought nearby.  I'll take a month or 2 stay over nothing.  He showed up, we talked, he left saying he would discuss it with his wife and then 5 minutes later he came back: we'll take lot 3, thank you.  So I ecppect (hopefully) them to show up tomorrow.  I need one more long term to shore up my finances for this month.  

I just can't believe I have to go to Lowe's one more time just to finish this junk up.  It's a bit aggravating, I thought there would be enough collars in all the kits I bought to cover all of it.  One a nicer not, that isthe last fitting on the drain and it should be good to go. 

I am not hooking up the water supply until that drain is completely finished. I can just see someone coming in, using the sink and having water going all over the place.  

So what am I doing now? Waiting for solvent to dry on a couple of fittings to make sure I have a good connection that is nicely sealed.  Turns out the glue I have for my insulation? Will work find on the counter top to secure it to the cabinet.  I also put up a curtain over the window and then realized it does not block the view.  I'm going to cut the curtain in half, it's much longer than I need it to be and then double it.  Can't have peeping Toms having access to looking through a bathroom window to see people doing whatever they are doing in there.  

Not that there are any peeping Toms around here. I currently have a piece of insulation in it to block the view.  

The AC is barely keeping up with the heat. It's too small and I will have no choice but to replace it with a much bigger unit with twice the output.  I don't want the compressor running literally all day long for it to try and keep it cool in here.  Yes, I am at the shed, taking a break since I have to leave and go get that part.  If I can figure out how to use the pex clamper, it shouldn't take more than half an hour to install the water pipe.

I say should.  Who knows how long it will actually take..

I suppose while I"m at Lowe's I might as well mosey on over to Walmart and do the dreaded jeans shopping.  Oh. I have a 9 foot tall piece of pipe to install outside for the drain but I'm not putting that in until I have the drain and the water running.  I want to be sure it's leak free.  Then I can pile dirt under that pipe and where the T is where the pipe will go. It's a pretty good piece of pipe. Just don't want that putting that much weight on a line that has no support underneath it. I suspect a couple more hours after I get the part and I hopefully will have the vanity completed. 

What's next after that? Well I need the grass. It's all dying now that the heat came back. But there is no way I'm ordering that much grass to be delivered with only 2 days before I'm leaving for AZ. It will have to wait until I return.  I want as much time as I need to install it. If it sits on pallets for over a week, I suspect it will all just die and I will have wasted a lot of money.  I am also going to at least try to get someone out here to help me install it.  It's probably a futile waste of time - people mostly don't like to work-

+++++++++++++++++++

I watch the travel trailers for sale on Marketplace frequently. When I saw one for sale at $500 and the exterior in excellent condition, even tho it says it has water damage - I immediately replied that I'll take it today, I have cash.  She didn't respond tho she saw my message, so I guess I lost that one.  There is another one that is decent but much more money of course.  The lady with the $500 one said her father had passed and she's just trying to get rid of it.  

Hours later. I actually was the first reply to the ad.  The roof has a leak, I suspected the interior would need work, but the exterior is in excellent condition.  In fact, there is cabinet work that will have to be done and I am hoping this carpenter in the park will do some side work for me. He did offer.  He does great work as well.  I take it back on the exterior. The pics that are shown show it in excellent condition, there is an entire side that isn't in the pics.

However, she took a video of the inside and it doesn't appear that the inside of the side not showing in the pics is damaged.  It's the thing about RV's. Any RV. You have to maintain them, especially the roof.  If you don't fix leaks right away, it can cause a lot of damage.  The video shows a lot of stuff laying around, a portion of the floor that will need replaced and roof work over one area.  Now, if I go over there and it's totally trashed, more than what meets the eye on the video, I will just leave without it.  But if it can be fixed even if spending a few thousand dollars. that thing will be worth much more than I paid for it and I can test drive this theory of selling an RV with a down payment and making monthly payments on it. \

I don't know, but every trailer I've looked at excepting the more expensive ones need some kind of work done on it. I know I said I don't need another project, but at this price and if it's in good enough condition, that's hard to pass up. And if this guy was serious about side work, I can have a person with the gift of woodworking do the job for me.

Well enough.  The grumpy people are complaining that the newcomers next to them are speeding through the park. Well, if that's true, I will take the grumpy people's side on that one.  People don't need to be flying in and out of the park.

I will also have to bite the bullet and get a much larger ac unit for the shed. And when I come back, I'll have to get that sod.  This stuff isn't free, folks, it's really eating me up in expenses.  Grass sod is a one time deal. It thrives in the summer, dies in the winter, but comes back in the spring.  Winter grass does no such thing, but I only put that down to get some greenery going.  The shed AC would also be a one time thing and at least, the ac I put in there was free.  It was worth a try.  A bigger unit will keep it cool in there and it won't have to have the compressor on constantly trying to keep it cool. Plus, I can have remote access to it via wifi, which is important now that I see people fooling with the controls.  They turn it to a cooler setting? I'll wait til they leave and put it back to whatever, probably around 75 degrees.  

I dunno.  I just keep hoping the start-up expenses would go away.  That's not quite what's been happening....

 Monday - morning. Off and on sleep.  Trying to wake up so I can get over there and try to finish this vanity situation, or at least get it working.  If I want to put a mirror up, I will have to install the drywall there above the vanity so I can glue one to it.  I haven't decided that yet, not a huge priority.  I did discuss with a new arrival about doing the drywall - he's a carpenter that says he has done it in the past - but he isn't any better at it than me, or so he says.  Whatever, I'm not going to pay thousands of dollars to have drywall installed.  If I can find a handyman to do it for a fair price, I will go that route.  

Basically, I need to get that vanity done so I can get my stuff out of there and at least have the bathroom emptied of my tools. They are not in the way of anything but it's not a good look.  The other thing I want to install in there that I forgot about is a small sitting bench for people to be able to remove and put back on their clothing if they take a shower.  

Whatever the case, someone is doing laundry over there right now, I can finish the drain installation pretty quick, the water will have to wait until I can shut it off to the shed.  I don't know how much laundry they need to do and I am not going to interfere with it.  It's the older couple and we have expressed our mutual feelings for each other recently in text messaging.  They are really nice people.  They are getting a really good rate and they have one of the nicest spots in the park.  As long as they are there, I won't be changing that, they have their own yard. They have wind chimes out there, bird feeders, all the stuff you would do to make it your own space.  It looks nice. 

Anyway, I decided a couple new pair of jeans for the trip- they're going to have to be 35's for now.  I have a couple pair of 34's that fit okay, the rest don't fit at all.  But, I am likely going to be cheating on the diet the entire time I'm there.  I'll have to "pay" for that when I get back, I'm prepared to do some fasting and just cut calories to the extreme when I return. 

I still do not "feel" like traveling. I like home, I like being home.  I've done enough traveling in my lifetime for 100 people if putting it into the context of trucking. I've seen all of America besides Hawaii and Alaska. All of it.  From Washington (state) to Miami, to Maine to - everywhere.  We also did a lot of traveling when I was a child going to national state parks and tent camping all over the place.  I've probably been through every mountain range, all of the plains, etc etc etc.  I just don't have the traveling bug in me anymore and I don't know if it will ever return.

However. The state of Texas sent me a notice that my medical card needs renewed by the middle of July. I will be renewing it.  If you don't, they cancel your CDL and you have to take the tests all over again to get it back.  So, a $100 medical exam or a real PITA trying to get a CDL back - that seems to be a no brainer. I have far from written off trucking altogether, only out of the thought of potential necessity, not out of any feeling of desire to go back.  My hazmat endorsed license is good until my birthday in 2026.  I have the feeling I will be forced back into trucking.  

 I owe $689.86 on the SUV and it's done. I'm thinking to pay it off and get it over with.  Removes $350 per month payment which will be quite helpful right about now.  I am keeping close track of expenses at the moment.  The grass situation is really annoying me, actually, just because it's such a huge expense that I will either have to make - or not and have dirt lots.  Anyway, if I get the last payment taken out - which is soon, then I will owe the final payment and I won't want to wait anyway. 

Well let's see.  3 more days before I leave. Up at 3:30 am to be over to the GGG airport which is something like 40 miles away.  Just a few things needed to purchase for clothing and I'm good to go. My new piece of luggage showed up a few weeks ago, it looks pretty nice. I could have gotten away with a carry on  now looking at it, but I won't have to fool with getting stuff out of the overhead storage on the airplane.  If I"m there by 4:30 am, that is 1 and a half hours to get through security so it should be enough. It's a very small airport and we are talking a small Embraer jet - well small by commercial standards anyway - not that many people can fit onto the thing and  every time I've gone through there in the past the check in was easy.

It's big airports where I've had trouble. For some reason, they want to search me every single time,, even after going through their scanning machine. They want to feel your crotch and butt, which annoys me because they really feel you there. Like going over it several times?!!  What, did you think I was going to grow a pistol in between gropes?  I've made my distaste to them known on a few occasions, which is where they try to exert their pathetic authority - which is where I let them know in no uncertain terms the uselessness of their operation and how many times the government has done tests to see if weapons can get through the screening - which they do. 

I don't know how those people can do those jobs feeling people like that all day long.  But then again, I don't know how surgeons can stand to take a scalpel and start cutting into human flesh without it making them feel very uneasy.  Or several other jobs/vocations I can think of where I would be repulsed, disgusted or otherwise made to feel very uncomfortable in performing the required tasks.  

My ads are running, if anyone needs a long term spot, it's showing on Google and Facebook.  I can only hope/pray that some new people will need a space to stay for an extended period.  Or, short terms keep coming in. The repeat customer that was here for 4 days?  Just did 2 more reservations for the next 7 days.  It helps. It isn't enough, but it helps.  My current long term rate is $450 and I don't know that I want to lower it any. What I need to do is go through all the surrounding park's sites again, those that have online access anyway, and see what they are currently charging.  It's pretty competitive around here, I need to keep apprised of others' rates and I haven't done that in a while. 

Well, time to get out of here. I have to go to lowe's to get whatever it is you use to hold a counter top in place and go to the property and get all of that done.

G'day. 

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

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

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

++++++++++

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

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

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

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