Monday - mid afternoon

Yesterday wasn't bad.  Not great, considering it was a Sunday, but not bad either.  The only negative was the loader at the plant in Lufkin.  The slow dude, he won't load more than one truck at a time, while everyone else there will load 2 or 3 trucks at the same time.  So, I had to wait almost an hour before he got to me.  But other than that, it was a short day.  

Today, however, was a bit different.  When I got to the plant in Gurdon, I knew something wasn't right. Well, after I scaled in and got parked and hooked up the air line to begin pressurizing the tanker.  There was no one around except a couple of people on the production line. Very odd, that line entails using a lot of personnel working various portions of it.  

A lady finally came up to me, realized what I wanted and told me to wait while I go find "them".  She came back and informed me they were busy and "trying to get the level in the tanks low enough so you can offload".  Oh, there's plenty of room for one more truckload in the west side tank. Well, they're just busy, something is broken and they are trying to fix it.

Outside, closed the valve for letting in air pressure, who knows how long that is going to take.  In fact, got in the truck, tilted the driver's seat back and took a nap.  The line manager comes knocking on my window however long later and told me about it.  Some "worker" came in last night, he said, and totally destroyed the press.  The press is where the plywood goes into and gets pushed together with hydraulics.  "I've been working here for 24 years and I've never seen anything this bad".  

Whatever the case, it was over an hour wait, not great, not terrible.  He signed off on the paperwork and I got busy.  Had to keep working around a crew of construction workers installed new rails for the railroad running through there.  It's a spur where cars are dropped to load with wood.  Anyway, about 50 minutes and the tanker was empty.  I turned the air pressure valve off and the water valve on, they require us to wash out the lines with water.  

Nothing.  I'm looking at all this menagerie of lines coming into this area and I'm not seeing anything that would answer the question as to why water wasn't flowing through there.  I finally had to go find the same supervisor and he came and started opening and closing all the valves. I had already done this, but more power to him. He got frustrated and started following lines back into the depths of the building.  He came back and said he couldn't find anything.  

Well, I replied, I'm done offloading it's just that y'all want us to flush out the lines when we're done.  Yes, you can't leave without flushing out the lines first.  So he gets on the phone and starts talking to someone, follows another line which lead to a dead end and I'm standing there thinking, hmm, how long is this going to take?   He then goes off yet again following lines and finally, after a while, he must have found where someone had shut off a valve, because water pressure came into the line, I could hear it bang up inside the pipes.  

The end of that story, it took me 3 hours to get in and out of that plant, far longer than it normally does.  Shrugs shoulders.  Doesn't matter, the dispatcher had removed the other loads for this week out, she didn't contact me about it, but I already knew why, because the line supervisor had already told me: he canceled the rest of the loads for two days.  

I didn't even get back to my park and it had all changed again. They must have figured they could get the thing up and running faster than they had originally expected, for after they took all of that work out of my tablet, they put 3 loads back in.  But, instead of working tomorrow as originally planned, I am working on Wednesday.  I guess that's ok? I don't have any control over this stuff, the work has been pretty sporadic the last week or so.  

So, I'm about to enter the park and the lady that is always cleaning someone else's dog poop up said she was going to deposit 2 piles on "their" doorstep.  I already knew who she was talking about and I didn't try to stop her. These people lie to me about it, I know they are, I just can't prove it.  And she did exactly that, dumped it right in front of their door, lmao.  Sorry, I don't normally take pleasure in such things, but this has been going on for quite a while now.  

After that, a man calls me.  Is this the RV Park? Yes.  Back and forth, the man acted like I knew who he was, I had no clue.  Not expecting anyone in until Friday, I just went  with it. "We're over at the Convention Center, how do we get there?" I give them instructions.  "Ok, we'll be there in a little while".  Well, I thought, not too long please, I assumed it was people wanting an overnight spot. I have plenty atm, come on!  Sure enough, they showed up 10 minutes later.  Farmer John and Jane.  Literally.  They spent 50 years running a farm, sold it and now? Rich. 

We got into this incredibly long conversation and then I found out they have family in a couple of nearby towns. They wanted to stay near where they are, but not near enough where it would be assumed they would be seeing these family members too frequently. "How much is it for a month?" I told him the price. He pulls out an envelope filled with $100 bills, there was a lot of money in there.  Hands me 4, fresh, crisp $100's and that was that. "Can we have a receipt?" Sure, but I'll have to go home to get one, my office is over there, not here, that building has a laundromat, shower and toilet in it.  

I can't say I didn't welcome the finances.  The welder's money showed up today, odd for them, it usually shows up either early or on time.  So now, I'm looking at my business account wondering if I can make that property tax payment?  Maybe.  But, whatever fees are being assessed, they are assessed already. Won't go up again until next month.  I figured if my next paycheck is enough, I could probably make the payment. However, my paychecks have sucked and just because I was promised more pay doesn't mean it will show up in real life.  I can't be screwing myself and not be able to pay my bills.  

So, I"ll definitely wait until the second paycheck of the month and hopefully, there will be enough to pay the power bill, pay the property tax and still have enough left over to pay my personal bills.  

 Saturday - night

On my way up to Crossett, AR yesterday to load the truck with glue/resin for Ennis, TX, I get texted by the dispatcher.  No, she didn't text me, she called me  now that I think about it.  Well, Gurdon is starting up again, was wondering if you'd rather just take the tanker you have up there, drop and get a Gurdon trailer?  I didn't have to think about it for 2 seconds. Yes!  Still took quite a bit of the day to drive to the yard - that trailer has the ABS light on and needs repaired, then 45 minutes to the tank wash to get a different tanker then the 3 hours 15 minutes back.  

But I was gleefully happy to be done with Ennis.  I've gotten the hang of it now, I just don't like that run.  I don't like going to or near Dallas, I don't like working around formaldehyde, I don't like dealing with the hose with that stuff inside of it - tho I just ended up plugging and capping it and getting a new plug and cap at the shop.  Lots of things about the Ennis run that is far less appealing than Gurdon.  

Gurdon has it's issues, certainly, but it's still more appealing overall.  She asked me when I want to start, I guess Sunday was the start up day so yes, I took Sunday.  I know, "you hate working on Sundays".  Absolutely correct.  However, my financial situation just took a turn for the worse with 3 trailers leaving and not a single phone call yet with my Facebook ad boost.  I also haven't received the check from the welders who have some service paying for them.  Yes, the welders are still there.  

I did not work today.  I spent today depositing money into the bank, going to a few stores and then to the auction place where I won some stuff for the park a while back, haven't had time to get over there.  I was unsure where the place was, been there once but it's out in the boonies.  GPS showed odd routes there.  When it does that, I tend to start moving the screen in closer to see what's going on in traffic.  Sure enough, I-20 closed beginning at the highway that goes by my street and to the next major highway, 59.  All traffic was being diverted to my highway exit and wow, was traffic backed up! As far as the eye could see.  

Turns a portable parking lot - a semi car hauling truck - caught on fire.  And burned to the ground. Not only did they have to deal with the truck, they had to deal with taking all of the cars off of that truck to safely transport all of it out of there.  It caused a traffic nightmare that went on for 7 or 8 hours.  I disregarded the route the GPS was wanting me to take, it was trying to take me WAY out of the way and also the way it must have been showing everyone else. They were all going north, I went south.  It may have added miles but there was no traffic.  

Anyway, I am getting up earlyish in the morning. I won't have to have the tanker cleaned out, that saves over an hour and sometimes much more depending on how long it takes for them to clean it out. It takes 20 - 30 minutes to even get someone out there on a Sunday.  I can just drive straight to Lufkin, load and go straight back to the park.  I'll guess around 5 hours total  I intend on showing up around 9:00 am, if I show up too early I'll just end up sitting there waiting for other trucks to get loaded first.  Means the day should be done by noon.  That's not bad. 

Monday I also have early delivery, leave the same time the kids leave for school, gets me up there around 9:15- 9:30ish, maybe earlier, hopefully get it offloaded relatively quickly and get home - 1:30 ish.  

The great appeal to that run, done much earlier.  

Struggling with how to deal with property taxes, still.  I was again hoping this month - March - to get it paid. I think it will start accruing late fees now.  The hope is that with higher pay, I can afford it, but I didn't count on losing fully 3 trailers all within a couple of days of each other.  I haven't had any calls about spots for a while now.  It was nice while it was full - that lasted quite a while actually.  

I don't know what else. The kids will be gone a week for spring break, I will be spending whatever free time getting my books together and attempting to get taxes done.  I think that's this month sometime.  I mean, I can kick the kids out but it's just difficult to get stuff like that done with them around.  It will be the first year of dealing with business taxes and also coupled with working for a company.  I dread the tax process as well. Anything, really, to do with taxes....

________

Time for bed.  Sunday's a coming....

 Thursday

Bam, just like that 2 workers left plus the other worker that took off a few days ago.  3 open lots that I need filled immediately.  This is not helpful, not that many. They all thanked me for the stay and said if they come back this way, they will definitely look me up. Actually, the railroad worker is taking his unit into a shop for repairs, then flying to Chicago and after that going on vacation.  Can't blame him for taking the rig out of there for there is no reason for him to pay for something he isn't using.

The one that left a few days ago was just there for a month anyway. The other one leaving today said he had been waiting on a check and it finally arrived.  

This stuff throws me for a loop. I can see one lot being vacated, but 3?  There's never any advance notice, either, they just either take off without saying anything or they call the day of their departure. 

So, I just edited a Facebook post I put up yesterday, added a info on available lots and then did a Facebook boost.  This targets people specifically looking for an RV park. It has worked in the past, it's cheap and hopefully get at least 1 or 2 out of it.  

It seems like every time I try to come up with a solution to pay the property taxes, I keep getting hit with stuff like this.  I can't pay what I don't have the money for. 

Facebook ad boost was approved. I hope to get some inquiries fairly quickly, they have in the past.  I probably wouldn't have bought that propane bottle for the free grill I picked up a while back if I had known so many people were leaving.  I have a 3 day stay coming up tonight for the pull through I have dedicated for such things and I have a 16 day stay coming up the 7th.  

But now? I've opened up all the newly vacated lots for whatever, overnight, weekly and of course monthly.  This is the life of an RV park - people come and people go.  I was just hoping that I could stay full for another month to figure out this property tax fiasco.  

Shrugs shoulders. I can only do so much.  People will call, it always happens, the question is: when?  

Meanwhile, day 2 of being off work.  Had to go and pull the quarters out of the machines, they were full and soon wouldn't have allowed more money to drop into the containers.  I probably have at least $300 worth there.  It's just a pain to count them all out and take them up to the bank.

But, that's what I'm going to start doing right now. 

 Wednesday - semi-early

I went to bed early last night so waking up at 5:00 am wasn't a big deal. The dog wants out, I'm putting him out.  There is nothing worse than a Great Dane blowing up - in your room.  Been there, done that, don't want a repeat. This dog hasn't done that. Doesn't mean he won't.  The oldest kid also likes when I'm up and discussing the day and just chit-chatting about nothing in particular.  

I didn't want today and tomorrow off. I had 3 days off, 2 days on and now 2 more days off? I mean, even if they do start paying me more, that's not going to be realized on the next paycheck with all of this time off.  

Last night, I checked the weather report. It said 0% chance of rain. ZERO percent.  So what do I see on it this morning? 57% chance and then changed to 79%. So far, no rain and after the next hour or so, it disappears. I hope it doesn't rain, I have plans for over there today and rain is not a part of that plan.  No, rain is the party crasher that cancels the plans and forces me to do something else.  

Trump took Michigan on the Republican side yesterday, that was expected and I doubt Haley is going to see much else during Super Tuesday. I do see the point for her now that she's been in this this long, might as well do Super Tuesday, I doubt it's going to be some shocking upset in her favor.  I would think after that, she will drop out instead of dragging this out.  

You see, I am not a fan of Trump's demeanor, but I am a fan of his results.  The left can malign him all they want, but we didn't have this border chaos going when he was President.  We had some measure of world dominance.  Our economy wasn't as screwed as it is now, leftist declarations of how great it is be damned.  I see stuff on the supermarket shelves whose cost has risen considerably in the last year and just shake my head.  That bottle of shampoo is now $4 more than it was 2 years ago.  I had to take a double take at that yesterday.  Almost $11 for a bottle of shampoo. Trump isn't interested in getting us into wars. I don't know how he would have handled Ukraine, but I doubt it would be what it is now. 

I think I was going to start doing this a while back but I never really followed through with it, I am now.  I am tired of people wanting to reserve a spot but they don't pay up in advance.  This gives them the option to show up - or not show up, holding up a lot which may have been wanted by someone else.  As was last night, when the motor coach just showed up - he didn't even call until he was there - I just happened to have that back-in site available because a short termer left.  Trying to replace that one as quick as possible.  

So this dude calls just now, he wants to reserve a spot. Sure, are you paying in advance?  Yes. It's as simple as that and I don't have to worry about it. If he doesn't show, that's on him, the money is mine.  That spot is held for him until noon tomorrow.  Show or not show, I have my money out of it.  

Maybe I'm safe, threat of rain is passing, like within the next half hour and nothing so far.  I'm really not looking for an excuse not to do anything, but rest assured if this was going to be an all day rain day? Sit home, drink some coffee, do some paperwork, work on other things, thanks. 

It seems unlikely that I will make it to another of these pathetic paychecks without taking an owner's draw out of the business account.  If, after all of this talk about higher pay, it doesn't materialize next paycheck, we - the manager and I - will be discussing his promise and what happened to it.  

That's pretty much where my mind is. If I didn't have to take money out of the business account, I would be able to pay the property tax with maybe a small amount put on credit card.  It does help that the electric bill - due on the 10th of next month - is about $700 less than last month's bill.  But, we are in the middle now. Getting warm during the daytime, people are running AC units.  

Lol, now they've moved it up to almost noon for rain and no rain now. I give up on it, time to get over there and get to work. 

G'day

 Tuesday - afternoon

Getting up early was easy, I actually woke up 10 minutes before the alarm went off.  Heading down the highway? Amazing the amount of vehicles out there at that time of night.  Apparently gone are the good ole' days of almost no traffic at all.  At least on the 20 headed towards Dallas.  Offloading was a little easier since I'm starting to get the hang of the nuances at that plant.  Much more tedium and back and forth than at the Gurdon plant.

This time, with the delivery line, I blew air through it for about 5 minutes, then shut the valve off on the tank side, shut the air pressure off and then bled off the air from the valve on my tanker.  Did it work? I have no idea, I can just tell ya I tried, even lifting the line up in the air and holding it up there to allow gravity to help clear out that line.  I plugged both ends this time, there will be no product seeping out of either end.  

But it hit me on the way back and I stopped at a rest area for  30 minutes to take a nap and continued with that nap when I got home.  I feel better now.  

Feast or famine, I am off again for 2 days.  I don't want 2 days off, not with the current state of my financial affairs.  The Gurdon run is still down, we still don't know why but I guess that doesn't matter, it's down and is staying down whether we know the reasons or not.  I think it's maintenance and repairs at the Lufkin plant, Gurdon is still operating, they are getting the product from the Crossett plant.   Crossett and Lufkin plants are owned by the same company. 

I have a run for where else - Ennis - on Friday, takes me into Saturday and then, I have no clue.  The only good thing is that it's the first run again, so Saturday I will - hopefully - be done early again. Even if tired right now, I have nothing further I have to do today. Mowing I'm putting of til' tomorrow since I'm not working.  Actually also means I can get home on Friday at amore reasonable time, I think it was 3:00 pm I was home on the last portion of that run.  I'm wondering if they are going to make me wash out the tank, no word on that yet.  It's been 4 loads, I'm told they can do 4 or 5 loads before needing to be washed out.  

Well, anyway, 2 days off. What will I do tomorrow? The question really should be, what will I feel like doing tomorrow? Nothing of course. That's what I feel like doing, but what I will do is probably get out of bed around 9:00 am, get some coffee, eat a little breakfast and head over to the property and start mowing.  

After that, I will probably fix some signs that fell over. 

After that, I will probably go home. Or, I will start on the security system.  Or - who knows.  Plenty to do, not that much motivation atm to do it.  I have one lot that is vacant atm, I need to fill that one back up with someone and the other lot has someone coming in tonight.  Or so they said, they didn't make a reservation online, they might show, they might not.  

___________

So this dude pulls into my park and asks a tenant about a lot for the night? Do you have the owner's phone number?  Guy calls, I said I have a back-in site, the pull through is reserved.  Ohhh, darn.  He wanted a pull through for he thought his rig was too long for a back -in site.

How long are they?  55-60 feet.  Ohh! Ok, I'll take it!  

So I go over there a few minutes ago. This thing is over 40 feet long, a motor coach, mind you, not a travel trailer or a 5th wheel, it's huge and looks new.  It's 400k worth of machinery, he said he "had to put on all new tires today" at a cost of over 5 grand and that he was taking it to a paint shop in Shreveport to have it painted.  

He then goes on.... this dude operates his own air service, owns 3 Leers, 2 Kingairs and is a pilot himself.  "I fly billionaires".  We are constantly busy, I worked over 300 days last year.  I just built my own airport and selling lots (for homes and hangars).  

You know what I find funny? These people have all the money they will ever need and yet, they still look for the cheapest place to park their rigs, lol.  Like, they could literally stay wherever they wanted to, but this guy (and many others before him also wealthy) come to my place because it's the cheapest place around.  I even raised my prices a few months ago, but it's still less than anything else in the area except for the trailer trash places.  

It was interesting talking to him.  He said his friends ask him why he doesn't retire? I don't want to retire, I can still fly and it keeps me busy and active.  He has a point.  Some people retire but they keep busy.  Others retire, don't keep busy - and die. 

 Anyway, I wanted my money lol. He wanted to give me a hundred dollar bill, no sir, I don't have any change but I can take a credit card.  Another rig was supposed to show up as well, but they hadn't arrived by the time I was ready to leave. I intend on staying there most of the day tomorrow - no rain and lots to do, hopefully get a decent night's sleep - I don't really need to be there tonight.   

Those people said they would be leaving "early" - if they even show up - I'll be out there early enough.  

This guy said "I go through here all the time, I'll be back".  Apparently taking a liking to the place, I think the aspect many people like is that the park isn't lit up like a Christmas tree - many parks are and that often times is a turn off to these travelers that would rather have it dark. It's quiet, you will hear a few vehicles at odd times of the night, those are the workers that have weird shifts, but mostly it's pretty nice in terms of the sounds you hear, which is nature, not traffic.  

Well enough. It's 8 pm, gonna watch a bit of tv and then get some rest. 

 I'm sort of missing being a part of a church.  When I say that, I mean volunteering and doing the menial jobs or just helping people in need, nothing fancy and not the head of anything (I've done that, not wanting to do that at this point in time).  

I've just had such bad experiences with churches and it just seems like I'm opening myself up to another disaster if I try to get involved.  So I don't.

I was looking at the event they had for people that volunteer at the church I go to - it's a large church, yes, but there looked to be 200 people there.  I don't know any of those people in those pictures of them. I know who some of them are, ie: their roles and duties in the church, but I don't know them on a personal basis.

In fact, the only person there that really knows my name is the pastor.  This isn't a pity party, lol, I have resisted for quite a while getting involved because of the burns I have experienced in the past, especially by leadership in the church.  

I haven't gotten involved in any of the adult ministries where people gather to discuss things, get in the word, make new friends because I haven't wanted to have that kind of connection.  Old stuff is hard to shake off apparently, I thought I had gotten past a lot of that stuff.  Well, I think I have gotten past it, it's just starting over again....do I really want to do that?  

It's easy to get lost in a big church.  It's not why I go there, the kids pretty much get me to start going again. I was going to that church sporadically before they said they wanted to start going.  I haven't made a single friend in that big church since I started going - by design.  I haven't tried and I haven't wanted to. If I did want to, I'd go to those meetings and by now I'd be hanging out with different people.  I have no problems making friends, don't read this wrong lol... it's the type of friends I want.  I have found that non-Christians who don't go to church and want nothing to do with church make far better friends that these people that DO go to church.

Oh, these people have their horror stories of sheer hypocrisy and that's why they have shunned the church.  They don't want anything to do with it and after hearing some of the stories, I can hardly blame them.  If people see these people as representative of Christ, I can see where they'd want nothing to do with any of it.  Backstabbers, gossips, just a lot of stuff you wouldn't think you'll find inside of a church.  One of my stories ended up having a church losing half it's members. 

Not going into that now, just thinking about whether I want to start going to these meetings. I'd go to a 9:30 am meeting, out before the 11:00 am service, which I normally go to. 

 Monday - evening

Had no time to post this morning.  

One of the things I keep forgetting to mention here  - or I have mentioned it and don't remember - is the fact that the formely weed covered fields are filling up with what must be natural grass growing.  I certainly didn't plant anything out there, but there is a lot of area that has a thick covering. If the grass roots get dense enough together, they won't let weeds for the most part grow up through it.

Or at least, that has been my experience.  Right now, the dead stalks of the weeds are still there with the grass growing all around them.  I can at least be hopefully

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out how to afford a 50 pound bag of Bermuda seed - not for those fields but for the lots - because this is the time to put that seed down and there is rain coming soon.  $300 or so for that bag.  Yeah, as with everything else, nothing is cheap or even close to it. 

So, in the morning I have decided to set the alarm for 4:15 am. Rest assured I won't be on here writing in the journal. It's going to be get up, take a shower, get my stuff and leave.  I intend on being at the plant around 7:30 am.  Huge advantage to leaving that early, I will completely avoid the ridiculous amount of traffic headed towards the Dallas/FtWorth area.  Coming back, probably not so lucky but whatever.  It'd still be noon before I get back.  It's 1-1/2 hours minimum unload time and 2-1/2 hours back.  

That is, however, better than 5 or 6 pm.  I'd like to hope this is the last one of these runs, but I'm hearing we might be stuck on this for awhile. Whatever they are doing in Lufkin, it's dragging out pretty good.  

I'm just hoping I can find enough energy after I get back to do at least a couple hours of mowing.  Maybe take a nap in the truck first and then get with it, probably not a bad idea.  My sleep is all over the board lately, some nights sleep fairly well and others? Fitful and really not sleeping.  Well, the tracker says I'm sleeping but it also pretty much says "fair" and "let's do this and that to get you into better sleep".  

I dunno what else.  I'm tired.  I didn't sleep well last night and it drags me down during the day.  I truly would love to sleep better, perhaps I best get into a daily walking routine to help with that. I was doing it for a long time but this truck driving and trying to keep up with the RV park have really taken it out of me and takes up a lot of time.  

Oh, well I was going to go to church early on Sunday but, the kids were gone and the house was quiet.  I just ended up sleeping in. Not too many Sundays when the kids are somewhere else and we get some peace and quiet.  They aren't supposed to make any noise in the mornings, but they do anyway, consequences be damned.  

Time to get off of here and start thinking about early bedtime. 

 Sunday - mid-afternoon

I don't have the magic touch, apparently.  I tried for at least an hour to get that new mower to work both on Friday and Saturday. 

Longer term guest said he tried it several times before it finally cranked up and ran perfectly.  It was hard to believe him after all I went through to try to get it running.  Sure enough, I pulled the cord once and it fired right up and kept running.  Insanity.  

I would have mowed the lawns, but everyone is home today, too many vehicles.  I don't want to risk blasting rocks into cars and trucks, so I just thought, I'll do it when I can when people aren't home.  I would say tomorrow I could do at least a few of them, but tomorrow is a work day and more to the point: it's likely going to be a late day.  

Anyway, upon looking at the load for Ennis run tomorrow, I finally got the "early" load.  It loads a noon instead of 2 pm.  So, I intend on being up there at 10:00 am and hoping I can get loaded, get out of there by 11 and get home by 1:30.  It would be nice for I want to mow lawns if there is any time left in the day.

The other oddity is offloading on Tuesday in Ennis.  7:00 am. To be in Ennis at 7:00 am, I'd have to get up around 3:30 am and just bypass my normal, morning rituals and go straight to the truck and start driving. The other driving never shows up that early, but I'd kind of like to.  It would be before noon and I'd be done with the day.  

It's an hour and 45 minutes or so to offload, from the time I drive in there until the time I drive out.  Maybe an hour and a half, there is just too much tedium to deal with to get in and out of there quickly.  The steps you have to take make you go in and out of the building where the tanks are several times over and that takes time.  I've tried to refine the process to as few trips as possible, but it's just impossible to really get it down any faster than I have it. Sometimes I get a revelation and realize there is something I can do to decrease offload time, I've had that happen a few times in Gurdon.

There is no communication given about when Gurdon is going to start back up, but I believe the reason that is so is because our company simply doesn't know.  People don't ask lots of questions as I do.  I have found that to be true in many different things/venues in life.  I dunno, but I bought a new pair of chemical resistant (rubber) gloves at Lowe's yesterday.  Same as the other ones except these are much easier to get on and off.  I don't want to be exposed to these chemicals.  

As it stands I had to remove one of the lines from the tube that holds them, I cannot put a cap on the end that goes into the tube  for there isn't enough room.  

My 3 days off almost over.  I have enjoyed it even tho I didn't get some of what i wanted to get done, done.  

____________

Evening.  Now that I know I can get up there earlier, I plan on getting up at the same time the boys do for school at 5:45 am.  Leave here around 6:30, leave the park around 7:00 and be up there approximately 10:15 am.  This will get me home no later than 4, probably much earlier.  I just throw in extra time because it happens a lot that something occurs that eats up time. I would get up earlier, but why bother?  I think that's early enough. If I happen to wake up before the alarm, then I'll do it.  

Kids were cranky tonight.  The older wanting me to come sit with him on the couch, but both of them were on their game consoles playing a game together in the same place.  So, one was bickering at the other, the other back atcha, etc etc until I said nope, you want me to come out here and be subjected to this nonsense, no thank you, got up and went back to my bedroom.  Then they got into a fight, got into trouble and were forced to bed early.

I had suggested that earlier today, that they should go to bed early for they stayed up late last night at the house they stayed at.  Like, no time restrictions on bedtime, which is crazy.  At least get them in bed by 10 pm even if there is no school, otherwise, everyone else will pay for it the next day after they bring them back. People that don't have kids - just don't understand I guess.  

Whatever the case, I'm getting off of this computer and getting myself into bed.  I made lunch for tomorrow so I don't have to deal with that in the morning, it's just get up, get a cuppa, take a shower, get dressed and get out of here.  

 Saturday- morning. 

No idea what to do about the grass. The mower won't start, I may just remove the fuel line and see if any fuel is even getting through there.  I didn't even think about that yesterday.  My mind was like: this is a brand new mower that cost almost $400, hasn't been used that much and already giving me trouble? I know it's a fuel problem because I can pour fuel into the choke and it will fire right up and run for a few seconds.  

I really need to mow the grass over there, having a mower sent to the manufacturer to be repair sounds like it would take weeks, at least.  What kind of useless warranty is that? You call Craftsman for warranty work and you will hear people whose first language is clearly not English. Not a fan of international call centers, not at all. 

I am going to take that other mower I bought - and got a lot of use out of actually - to a shop and see if they can fix that one as well.  I think it also has a fuel problem.  l just don't see the new one having a bad carb this soon.  

Okay, I have no idea what would block the line on a brand new mower, but I have suspect the fuel is blocked somehow.  I wonder if that kid in the park dumped something into the fuel tank?  I'm going to go over in a while, drain the fuel out of the tank if it will drain and take a look. If it doesn't drain, well there's the problem, something is preventing fuel from flowing into the fuel line.  If it does flow, then I dunno, a bad carburetor already?  

I also just contacted a local guy who does small engine repair. But he's not open until Monday so that doesn't help me.  I have 3 mowers, actually, that should be fixable. The 3rd one is one we've had at the house forever, it ran like a champ for a long time and then finally quit.  

On another note, I installed Steam on my desktop to accommodate for playing a game.  Well, Steam took over my speakers.  With nothing coming out, I ended up uninstalling steam audio from the device manager.  That didn't work, so I uninstalled Steam altogether.  That did work, so I thought I was good. 2 days later? Sound went out again.  Device manager - steam somehow reinstalled itself after deleting the entire app?  Uninstalled again and all I heard was cackling.  Racking my brains, I checked the main speaker and it was partially unplugged.  I had checked it earlier but didn't realize I had partially pulled the connection out.  

Computers.  Sigh.

Ok. Time to get this day moving. I'm going to at least try to get that mower going.  I'm certainly not buying another new mower to replace a - new mower?  I will sent it back to the manufacturer if that's what it takes, but I really think I can either fix it or someone local can in a fraction of the time sending it to the manufacturer would take.

G'day

 Friday - 8:30 am

I wasn't actually going to get out of bed this early. Not that this is early by any stretch of the imagination, but there were two things that forced me up. First, the dog.  He's got to go! Lol.  I fed him a couple of cups of food and then put him out, where he went straight to the chain link fence and started fence-fighting one of the neighbor's dogs.  

Ridiculous.  I put an end to that, the noise level was unbelievable.  

Then, I got out the pork shoulder roast, put it in the crock pot and then added a bunch of stuff to it per the recipe I am using.  It's a good thing I took snap shots of the recipe last night on my computer screen, it looked intriguing. Like, this combination of ingredients is probably going to taste super good when it's finished!  The reason it's a good thing is because the computer decided it would wipe itself clean of all history once again and nothing came back up.

I have it set to bring back everything that was on it the last time it was on.  But, once it clears itself? That all disappears. 

I'm not unhappy that I got up at this time of day, I feel pretty good, having a cuppa, got the roast done.  It supposedly has to cook 10-11 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high. I typically like to do these types of roast on low setting.  

Keto. Well, I've been doing it for a while now and have seen little results. Well, that is until this morning, when I got on the scale and was almost shocked to see the weight had dropped almost 5 pounds.  I was on a plateau for a long time, to the point I was thinking of giving up on it and trying something else. But when I have those thoughts, I also think: I've had so much success with this diet when I do it the right way. Why am I not seeing results now?  Probably just too much cheating.  There are days when the folks want to order something delivered or go get it where there is nothing on the menu that is Keto friendly.

I either have to eat whatever it is - you don't really have to twist my arm to eat Domino's pizza - or find something in the fridge to make on the quick. Lately, however, I've been saying no to any such luxuries for I really want to dump this fat. I know it takes a while to lose fat, especially when you've just eaten whatever you wanted to for a long time.  

Anyway, I got off and on the scale several times.  I really didn't believe what I was seeing, but it kept showing the same weight every time.  I even moved the scale to a different place on the floor, for some reason, I can get false results if it's situated - wherever.  Same thing.  Okay!  I'll take it! It really motivates me to stay on it once you see some results such as this.  Will it be that low tomorrow? Maybe not, but it shouldn't go up too much higher. It's just the way this diet works, I don't know why, I just stick with it. I desperately want to break the 200 pound barrier and get into the 190's. I'm still 15 pounds away from that.  Yes, I gained a lot of weight and fat on the last round of the "let's eat whatever we want whenever we want to!" game.

Behind door number 1! Domino's Pizza! Loaded with your favorite toppings, you get to gorge yourself on the heavenly tastes that are produced by a delicious pizza!

Behind door number 2? Well, you know, I tried all 3 doors, so there is that.  Potatoes! ALL kinds of potatoes!

And door number 3?  PASTA!!!!!!  

Let me just say here, even if I am not in ketosis - I don't know for I haven't checked in  quite a while - the fact that you stop eating sugary foods such as cookies, ice cream, candy, anything loaded with sugar - is enough to make you lose weight regardless. No potatoes chips, no or very little greasy food, lots of salads.  I consume bags of premade salads so fast that I find myself having to go the grocery story a lot to get more. You can't just load up on that stuff, it goes bad lol.  

I think why I'm feeling better right now is that I am on the cusp of hopefully getting some decent pay.  The manager didn't say I would be getting a little more, he said I would be getting a lot more going with the pay-per-load method.  You see and as I have discussed before, when I was told the pay, I thought the lady was talking about what I would be making per week, which is what most companies tell you.  She was a bit deceptive with that, she didn't specify it was per paycheck or the fact that paychecks are every 15 days.  Remember, I was on the fence in Oregon about sticking it out with them. If I were to have found that out while there and going through one of those "gee, I really want to get the heck out of here" moments, I think I would have left.  

I remember one night, with all the noise from that damnable laundromat on the floor beneath me going on late in the night and not being able to sleep, I was laying there thinking: I'm going to leave right now.  Screw this company, screw these people. Sleep deprivation will put you in a seriously foul mood, I can attest to that. It's a rather hellish condition where, at least in my case, you are sleeping 2 to 3 hours a night, some nights not at all and then getting up very early - 2, 3, 4 am type of stuff - spending all day in a truck attempting to stay awake and learn while you're doing it.  Not to mention the drivers you are with want to chit-chat. You don't feel like chatting because you are so tired, but you don't want to be rude, either.  I did learn a lot with those drivers, no doubting that, but the fact of the matter is, this entire time, it hasn't paid off. 

If I had been making what I thought I was going to make, I would be more than fine right now. The property tax would be paid, I would be saving money towards another septic system and I would be targeting one of the credit cards to pay it down. Or, I would do some of that and not pay myself out of the business fund and let that build up.  Which is what I really want to do for then I don't have to pay taxes on it.  I can just buy another septic system, it's a business expense, none of that money came into my personal funds, no taxation on it.  

So what now? Well, I'm just sitting here in a quiet house - I mad that dog shut his mouth, even outside in the back yard his voice carries - drinking coffee, happy that I got up relatively early, at least I'd call it early for a day off, and thinking about what I'm going to do today.

Well, if you read this journal, you know what I'm going to do: mow lawns.  I seem to have misplaced my bluetooth ear buds somewhere, I had them yesterday here at the house but now? I can't find them. I am wondering if the youngest child found them and decided to do something with them.  That's typically what happens with things that disappear without a trace and no explanation of how they disappeared. You go to his bed and you find stuff stuffed down beside the mattress and the wall.  That kid got himself into serious trouble yesterday, the likes of which the principal is requiring them to go in for a meeting today.

Not going to go into the specifics, but just to say it's pretty bad.  He's only 6 years old so there is a little wiggle room, but the action was completely unacceptable. He knows better, that can be stated as a definitive truth.  

Well lookit there! I have a memory from Facebook a year ago where I had parked myself on the scale and it shows 214.6 pounds.  That was a milestone then, I had lost probably 20 or so pounds.  I'm just above that.  This time, I intend on at least giving it a Herculean try to get down below the 200 mark.  I remember the first time I started keto and I got all the way down to I think 193 pounds.  What a great feeling that was!  I need to do that again.  Dump these size 35's and get into 34's  or even 33's.  Pants, that is and waist size.  

I'm not really in a big hurry to go do more work, if you can't tell.  I have  plenty of time and if I don't finish today? There is always tomorrow. Don't worry, I definitely intend on spending several hours over there mowing today, no one has complained but complaining sort of stopped after I threw that drunk old man out.  Some people were aghast that I had the "balls" to do that.  The guy was a threat to my business, I'll put it that way. Going around acting like he was the property manager, getting into the lady's faces and giving them hell and calling them foul, vile and reprehensible names, when I found that out, that's when I said enough.  There's just no way I could get justify his continued presence at my place. That and using the N word.  

I most assuredly hate that word.  Every person that has black skin, in his eyes, are the n word.  That's what got him a black eye from the other tenant, I later found out.  The man started using racial slurs and the other guy got up and started to leave.  Wait a minute, where are you going? Mark said (Mark, the old dude).  The other guy just shrugged and said I've heard enough. Mark went off again and that's when the dude gave him a whopper of a black eye.  Did he deserve it? Well, violence isn't really the answer to anything for the most part, but they were both drunk.  

I have distanced myself from people staying there now.  I greet people, I wave at them, I get into conversations here and there, but I am not hanging out with anyone there.  Just think it opens the door to what happened over time with Mark, who called me his "friend". I didn't really like him that much, his speech even without the n word was atrocious. It got to the point I hated even going over to the park, for I knew as soon as he saw me, he would be coming straight up, calling me an a-hole (his apparent word of affection for anyone he likes, call them an a-hole repeatedly, over and over).  

Peace has been restored and if any of those people that used to hang out with him didn't like me getting rid of him, they haven't said anything to me about it.  As they shouldn't, for I won't hold back on my assessment of that man.  

My facebook local selling group got up to 1.9k members and then it stopped, lol.  I was hoping to keep it going to at least 20k.  The more people, the more stuff being sold.  However, I very much tend to it, I ban the bots and the people with strange names that are obviously attempting to scam people. Especially the air duct cleaning people. You ban them and the next day there is another one, and another and another.  They keep coming out with new scams all the time, you really have to watch closely every single thing put up in a group like that, those scammers/thieves aren't even in the US.  They want your personal info by pm'ing them and then they can do various things with that info. 

I guess I should shut up now and think about getting going.  Water, a thermos of coffee and get out of here.  I don't much care to mow the lawns but not because it's work, but because the rocks in the ground.  You dig down a little bit into the soil and it's just rock under there.  Go down deep enough and it's clay, but the rocks are the issue and I don't know what I could do about it besides getting rid of the grass and installing a decorative landscaping rock instead.  People don't like that, tho, they like grass.  So, I have to put the mower on mulching mode - were it can't shoot out anything out of the opening on the side.  It doesn't completely eliminate rocks from being thrown around but it does it well enough.  

I will not mow near vehicles.  

Anyway, time to get this day started!

 Pulled pork is on the menu tomorrow evening for dinner.  I was going to make and thought we had a shoulder roast in one of the freezers.  I dunno if I'm going batty or what, I could have sworn I bought one and put it in there.  Well, it wasn't.

So, even tho it's getting way late for me, I decided to go to the store/s to get a roast and whatever else I needed.  Super 1 - had everything but the roast. Up to Kroger's, they had a couple of them in there, nice sized, one of them said $24 and the other said $21, sale price $7 and change with card.  Of course I took the cheap one, I have had a Kroger's card since I was with Fry's food stores in AZ.  They sold out to Kroger's and the card just transferred over.  In fact, the phone number associated with the card is from when I was living in a mobile home in Tempe, AZ in the 90's.  Lol

I did the self checkout thing, I don't like doing it for a few reasons but I didn't feel like waiting in line.  Of course, it didn't ring up the sale price.  Why? I already knew why: it's no longer on sale.  That was over 2 days ago.  It's got the tag on it, that's not my problem, please ring it up at sale price. The lady did without asking any questions, it's their policy. If it's got a sales sticker on it for X price, it doesn't matter if the sale is still on or not. 

There is no way I would have paid over $20 for a pork roast, lol.  For that much money, just get the pre-made stuff.  I won't say tastier but definitely much easier, heat up the packets, get out the burns, serve. 

Not the putting a shoulder roast in the crock pot is hard, but there is a certain level of satisfaction one gets when you cook something and it turns out nice.  

Mid 80's coming Monday, time for them to fix the AC in the truck. It works sometimes, other times it doesn't. I know for a fact the evaporator is freezing over, that's what stops the air from flowing through the coils and cool it off.  The mechanic said differently many months ago, dumped freon in it and good to go. Yeah, it worked for a few days? No, it worked the same as it has been. Pumps out cold air, then it stops pumping out any air. He blamed that on a piece of paper. Yeah, well there aren't any papers there now and hasn't been in a long time. 

I wish people would just listen.  I'm not fixing this myself. Yes, it could be low freon level, which means there is a leak. Why would a person dump freon into a system, knowing it is low but not bother to try to find out why it was low in the first place? It could also be clogged air filter - but they replaced that. Dirty coils - old truck, definite possibility. I'm not being paid to diagnose problems, I fix lights and light mechanical stuff, I'm not fixing the AC system. I just as soon they take it to an AC shop, not our regular mechanics shop. I've been down this road with other trucking companies, they never are able to fix it right, AC systems are specialty systems that you have to have specific training for.  Just because you are a mechanic does not mean you have the knowledge to repair AC systems.  

Whatever the case, I am not setting the alarm. I have decided I will get out of bed when I want to.  There will be no one home, it's just the dog I'll have to get out of bed to let him out, then back to bed and hopefully back to sleep?  I'll try!

 Friday - late

Just another day in paradise.  Ennis - the tank they wanted filled, there are 4 of them that they can pick from that all take the same stuff - had a leak.  I hooked the hose up to it and noticed the cam arms were not very tight.  It took a few more minutes to see that because of that?  A fairly good stream coming out of it.  I tried to fix it, but you really can't do much about that, they need to replace that cam fitting with new arms or replace the entire fitting.  

However, that inlet is over a giant tub - about a 300 gallon version - and that's what it's made for. So, I just let it leak out, maybe a couple of gallons or so, it didn't take long to empty the tanker.  That was that.

During all of this, I had contacted the manager about my pay. I just can't do this, I'm not putting in that kind of time for that kind of pay.  I didn't threaten to quit, but I made no bones about my stance.  He called me back later and told me that he was looking at what I'm getting paid and yes, he is going to fix it.  I mean, I flatly told him that this kind of pay for these kinds of hours was untenable, just can't do it.  It's not a gamble - like gee, I'll say stuff I don't really mean and see if they bite.

I absolutely meant it.  I was ready to go to a cable manufacturer in town and see if they would hire me as a forklift driver, the pay couldn't possibly be less than what I am getting and it would be 5 days a week.  They are always advertising for forklift drivers, I have many years of forklift experience and I am quite good at it, if I do say so myself.  

Why bother with the trucking industry, I thought, if I can just make enough money around here?  Now, I'm not saying they would have paid me that much, I don't know. Their ads don't show the pay.  

Anyway, I was quite relieved when he informed me he would simply start paying me by the load.  "You will make a lot more money".  Those were his words. "Don't go around talking about it to other drivers, don't say anything to ****** about it (he's the guy that trained me on the Ennis and the Gurdon run)". He made it clear that I was to keep that info zipped and I can certainly do that. What it means, at least one could surmise, is that I am going to be making more money than some of these other people.  

Pay can cause a lot of issues between employees if one person is doing the same thing as another but one is getting less pay than the other. That would be the only reason to say that.  Yes, for more pay, I can keep my mouth shut. The trainer just really needs to open his mouth and say something.  He's too nice of a guy, a doormat type of person. I have tried to encourage him that he's a far better driver than he thinks he is.  

They have trouble keeping drivers, that's the deal. They have trouble even luring in new drivers and I doubt a lot of people would want to make it through their hellish training in Oregon.  I was ready to quit and leave on several occasions. Literally, call a taxi, take me to the airport and use my credit card points to fly home.  OH yes, I was and I even wrote about that at the time. It was that bad.  My gut told me right about this company, but I stupidly followed my need for money that, at the time, superseded my instincts and I stayed with it.  

Now, if this pay increase is substantial and pays what I need it to pay plus gets me saving money, I'm all over it.  Keep my on the dedicated Gurdon run, that's my role, we are only doing Ennis because of something going on at the Lufkin plant (what it is, I still don't know, I've been trying to find out just out of sheer curiosity and because I really don't like the Ennis run at all).  I do like that run as long as they give me the early slot.  When they sent me those 4 runs the other day, all of them were the early slot.  Why they keep giving me the late slot for Ennis, I have no clue.  

Anyway, I will wait with "bated breath" as the old saying goes.  It would be really nice if I could just stick with this job. I know, it's old equipment, but I have dealt with old equipment before.  It's not fun when it breaks down, especially if it breaks down repeatedly in a short period of time...and you are out for 16 hours plus staying in the truck over night....

That will be Monday when he calls me and we go over this stuff. He had me doing a Gurdon on Monday but said as of right now, it's changed and I (he) will just wait to see what happens.  There's loads going to both Gurdon and Ennis every single day, I just am getting time off, probably because I complained about Superbowl Sunday. 

So, 3 days off, 3-1/2 if you count today after work.  Tomorrow, I will be over at the park mowing grass. Probably for half the day.  It will take some time to mow all of that, not really looking forward to it, just needs to be done.  Hopefully the riding mower will start, haven't had that going in a while.  If there is enough time, I will see about installing the security system or at least get a start on it?

And lest we forget, there is still a power problem at the shed, it's not a huge issue now for it's not hot out and the "lack of power" is not heating everything up. But those days are coming, which means renting a ditch witch - money I don't have - tho I do have everything else including the direct burial wire.  I have to do that before the hot summer days are upon us. 

Did I mention grass? Oh yes, I did yesterday.

See? It's never ending.  But that wiring project is in the high priority range, months seem to just disappear when there is stuff you have to get done....

Interesting, the business checking account has almost enough to cover this property tax crap. Of course, I can't just spend all of that money on property taxes, there are other bills. Although, the power bill is paid and I don't have to deal with that again until the 10th of next month - well after I collect enough money and then some to cover it.  I'll wait until the next power bills show up, not in there yet, see what that is going to cost to see if I can cover this tax payment as well as everything else.

Kind of sucky to live life working and not really doing much of anything....existing is not my thing. I like to do stuff and yes, there is plenty of free stuff to do, there is still the niceties of life that cost money. I'd actually love to go spend a night in a nice hotel right now. Odd desire, I guess? But that's what I'd love to do. In fact, now that I think of it, I could pay for it with credit card points and everyone is going to be gone Saturday night, why stay here when I can go relax in a different environment? I might just do that. Then again, no one will be here, I could just stay here in peace and quiet lol.  

OTR trucking got me started on hotels. They put you up for a variety of reasons.  Breakdowns, of course.  34 hour reset where you demand that at least one night is not in the sleeper of a truck - admittedly a lot of companies won't pay for that.  Layovers where you're stuck somewhere for days.  I think vacation was the last hotel stay?  We're supposed to go to Las Vegas Memorial Day weekend for a wedding, but I don't know if that's going to happen now or not.  I can pay with cc points, they don't have such luxuries.  I kind of want to go whether they go or not, they being the folks here.  I'm just saying that because it will mean staying at a hotel somewhere, of course.  

Still, life may be taking a turn for the better if my trucking job actually delivers on the promise.  I won't hold my breath, but I also don't take it that my manager is some kind of liar or manipulator or even exaggerating. He's pretty down to earth, very low key and laid back.  He is given X amount of money to pay employees, he has to work with that pool of money to pay everyone.  I've done my best to not say stupid stuff out of angst for the company, it is kind of dumb to stick your foot in your mouth before you even give a person a chance to do anything about a situation. 

Well it's dumb to stick your foot in your mouth regardless, I can admit I've done that in my lifetime more than once, lol. Get older - learn.  Don't let the other players know what you're hand is before the deal is over.  Wait and see what happens, play it cool, keep your mouth shut as much as you need to.   That's what I've done here now that I've paid the price to even get in with this company.  They certainly have no problems making demands of you, now it's time for the tables to be turned? I'll remain optimistic.

As for now? Time to vegetate in front of the TV and watch some favorite shows.  

 Thursday - 8:00 am

Actually woke up at 6, an Amber alert went blaring off on the work tablet - the thing used for elogs and getting new loads etc, very loud.  Wasn't able to get back to sleep after that, but I did end up sleeping around 7 hours so not the end of the world.

Plus, it enabled me to get up and see the boys off. They told me last night they want me to get up this morning to say good morning to them and then I could go back to bed, lol.  I was like, uhh, no.  If I'm sleeping, I'm not intentionally waking myself up for stuff like that.  I know I won't be able to get back to sleep.  

Anyway, today is the second part of the run, taking it to the place near Dallas.  I despise this run for a variety of reasons, driving that far along I-20 being one of them.  Another heavily congested Interstate with people paying more attention to their phones than the road in front of them.  Driving aggressively, weaving in and out of traffic. Brake checking for no reason at all.  No good reason anyway.  Etc.  

I have to compare that to driving on I-30 to Gurdon and as bad as I think that is, I actually think the 20 is worse.  

Headline: "James Biden contradicted himself in interview".  Biden says he has never discussed his business dealings with his son.  I don't, of course, believe him, but what effect does it have? Biden will be President until his 4 years is up, even if he is impeached, the impeachment won't include removal from office, the Senate will guarantee that.  

And the gaslighting.  Biden is now saying the border is not secure. He's been saying ALL ALONG there is no issue at the border! Does he believe our memories are that fickle that we can't remember the s*** he said just a month ago?  These illegals are going to change the fabric of our society, you see them in the news all the time.  One dude who was in a high speed chase, the guys that assaulted the police, the murders and sexual assaults.  You have them filling up the "sanctuary cities", a thing I am amply glad I am not a part of, ie: living in any of them, and now many of these cities are saying no more.  No s*** Sherlock! You should have been saying that before it got to this point!

And THEN you have the results of defunding the police!  LOL! What did these people think would happen when you dismantle entire police agencies or crippling their ability to fight crime by stiffing them on available funds?  It didn't take a rocket scientist when they first started blurting out DEFUND THE POLICE! after the George Floyd incident and "nationwide" cries for getting rid of police that crime statistics would skyrocket. I'm so glad I live in "flyover country", you know, the area that is worthless to the left?  

I'm done with that for now.  Have to start thinking about the work day.  I need tomorrow off, really, need to get the grass mowed.  At the same time, I need the money.  

Ok. I just saw my paycheck. Unless I'm dreaming, I've been working a lot lately and  that paycheck is not representative of the amount of time I'm spending behind the wheel and doing their dirty work at the plants.  I don't get up every day for such a pathetically low amount of money, I could get a local job, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week and make more than this.  Literally, I mean not even in the trucking industry and not have to put up with the bs.  

I can't pay the property tax with this paycheck.  Not and pay my other bills.  Now it's going to start adding up with fees, there's just nothing I can do besides putting it on credit cards and I'm really hesitant to start doing that.  Only if it's the difference between losing the property and keeping it, then I'll do whatever I have to.  I'm not anywhere near that yet.  I'm just throwing my hands up in the air.

I've already texted the manager and then he called me.  I told him flatly I'm not interested in working for $600 per week paychecks.  That's pauper's pay in the trucking industry and yes, I remember working 11 days in a row, then a day off, then another 2 days before getting 2 days off. And before that 11 days in a row, I think I worked 6 days before that. Again, I will not continue on with a job that expects me to perform for them like this and not get paid for it regardless of miles.  In a "local" job like this, mileage is not the only thing to take into consideration as it shouldn't be.  You have hours spent in plants either loading or unloading.  

Anyway, unless there is some glitch or I'm just living in a dream world where I think I worked but I really didn't, this isn't going to continue.  It was really almost shocking to see that paycheck.  I figured at least another $600 net pay.  The manager has no ability to increase my pay excepting for 1 penny per mile, which basically would be nothing.  

They already know, I am sure, the people worth keeping don't stick around because of low pay and old equipment.  They freely admitted they have a hard time getting people because of the equipment, they should have been honest and included pay in that statement.  

Well whatever. The day isn't growing any shorter, have to leave out of here in 20 minutes, need my coffee, water and sandwiches ready to go.

G'day

 Wednesday 8:55 am

Well, kiss those days off goodbye. I should be sleeping in right now and yes, I'll sleep in until 9 or even 10 am on the rare days where there is no one home, which is the current standing of the house right now. 

I'll be New York democrat politicians are gleeful that Remington is moving an ammunition plant out of their state.  You know, drive even more business out of the state? Kind of like AOC when she rejoiced that Amazon decided against building a sprawling campus in New York, she was happy because - reasons, her version of them.  Oh, yes, it was because they were going to be given huge tax breaks in exchange for all the money the setup was going to dump into the local and state economy.  

Oh, and take a look at California. A near 80 billion dollar budget deficit. Hmmm, guess those ridiculous, overbearing and outrageous tax and regulation policies aren't working out too well for them, either.  They don't learn, either - or they don't care.  I keep hearing "California is the 5th largest economy in the world" garbage, so that apparently gives them right and license to run their state like a socialist sh**hole.  

BTW, Christ didn't command governments to feed and help the needy and poor, He commanded His followers to do all of that.  Which is what a lot of us do even on top of all of this regulation and taxation. That's another blasting that the left rails against the right about, I thought I would set the record straight.  Government is not the end all, it certainly doesn't go out on the streets to find people and talk with them and find out where they're coming from and what they need or what they even want to do.

You'll find that many homeless don't want off the streets.  I learned this decades ago.  

Anyway, another 3 hour, 5 minute drive each way to the Crossett plant today, what fun.  And, of course, the late load. They apparently won't give me the early load, I don't know why and I haven't asked, but if they keep dumping this stuff on me, I'm definitely going to say something.  I dont want to be out til 5, 6, 7 or even 8 or later o'clock at night.  At least mix it up and throw me a bone and give me one earlier load?  Actually, please just get us back on the Gurdon run, I'll be a much happier person.  

I get paid tonight, after midnight.  Just going to see what's in there and make decisions based off of that.  The decision, of course, as to how I am going to pay this property tax.  

Oh, I'm watching Nikki Haley blabbering about how she's not quitting, how the polls are irrelevant, how she will keep going on regardless of what is going to happen in SC. Now, I'm no big fan of polls either, but when the differences are that great - Trump V Haley - I'll give them a little credence and figure that Trump is going to win it and probably every other state of importance and she is going to lose.  I think she thinks that if she stays in it, her popularity is going to increase. Maybe it will, maybe it won't, but I have serious doubts she is going to come anything close to winning the republican nomination and if she does, the party will probably dump her anyway.  

I don't allow politics to take over my entire days, not anymore anyway, but I am keeping up with it.  There is a lot going on, Trump getting fined 355 plus million dollars, an outrageous sum of money that will set a very bad precedent.  A victimless crime whose judge based his rationale on faulty reasoning - I think he's just another Trump hater tbh - the entire thing needs to be overturned.  

Whatever the case, I need to figure out when, exactly, I'm going to be able to mow the grass over there.  It's getting pretty good and long.  People start getting unhappy about it and it doesn't look good.  I won't hire anyone to do it because I'm afraid they will shoot rocks at something, cause damage and then the tenant will come after me for the damages.  From what I've read, that's how it works, the tenant comes after you and you have to go after the contractor.  

However and as regular readers will know, the top priority and thing weighing on my mind is taxes.  I can only hope tomorrow's check is as big as I hope it is going to be - I have definitely been putting in the hours - and if it isn't, I dunno.  I just have to hand it go God as I said the other day.  I can't be stressing that bad over something I don't have a lot of control over.  I think what I will do, anyway, is take the washer/dryer payment and save it towards taxes next year.  I was already paying that and it will come close to paying it.  I know I said other things before about saving, it just isn't in the cards.  Not yet. I need to be able to meter the electric use to significantly increase my income.  

It takes money to make money.

On that note, the newest addition, he's a man that's stayed at my park several times now, was chit chatting with me about this situation. Look at all the land you have, you can just expand!  Yeah, if I had the money for it.  I suggested that interest rates are far too high to do that right now and he immediately agreed and then said, "btw, let me show you something".

His trailer is backed up to the tent lady's trailer.  He takes me over and shows me their sewer line.  It was brand new 5 months ago, now? Flattened from "someone" walking on top of it and had several, very large holes in it.  There was pee and poop on the ground.  Disgusting.

I immediately went to their door and ushered her to the site of the ridiculousness.  She tried to claim that she "didn't know it was leaking".  The valve to empty that holding tank is right there, that is a bold-faced lie. It smelled really bad, which is what got the man going in the first place. He said he sat down to eat dinner and had this smell come wafting into his nose, he went out to investigate, thinking it was his setup. He did not know people were even living in that motor coach. I have it set up so her door faces the doggy park, the opposite side of his trailer so the 2 will not have to encounter each other.

In other words, I bit of privacy.  I flatly told her to not dump the holding tank again until they fix that.  And kept pointing at the line, obviously people have been walking on top of it. The only people that go back there is them. This guy was very kind, he had an extra line and offered it to them.  I told them to take care of it right away. Went and got the water hose and watered it down quite a bit to at least thin it out.  I'm taking bleach over there this morning and get a different smell going there by dumping bleach on it.  

I'm watching the news right now, in the last month they've had 20,000 Chinese nationals illegally crossing the border.  And a bunch from Russia.  

Time to go.

G'day

 The Ennis run is a pain for several reasons, but the biggest is at the plant where the glue is delivered to.  They supply the air pressure in a thin hose that does not pump out enough volume to keep the tank pressured up as it empties out.  In fact, I can pump the tank up to 30 psi before opening the valves, then open the valves and then? It pumps that stuff right out of there but the tank pressure goes all the way down to 8psi.

This wouldn't be a big deal, but at the end, you have to have air pressure to clear out the line.  There ain't nothing left.  Today, I tried building pressure back up. After 5 minutes it had gotten up to 10 pounds.  I'd need more like 30 to clear the line.  So wait half an hour so I can leave?  I end up having to lift this heavy pipe up over my head so it can drain out the residual inside the pipe.  It's hardly 100% effective. There should be a fitting on the outlet of the delivery pipe on the trailer -which there is - but they have it with these knobs on it that make it impossible to put an airline on it.

Otherwise, I could just pump air through that line for a while, clear it out and have no worries. 

It's done but so is my alleged 3 days off.

They cleared all 4 of those Gurdon runs out of there today and put in an Ennis run. Yup.  Just poof and it's gone. "They changed it, I'll look". That was the dispatcher's explanation and that was the last I heard from her.  Communication in this company is trash, I didn't expect to hear anything from her.  I wanted to cut grass tomorrow, beautiful weather right now, perfect day to get out and cut all 14 lawns.  

Looking at the forecast, it's time to plant grass.  I didn't say I have any money for it, I'm just saying now is the time.  If I were to put down grass seed, it has to be done before it gets hot.  Yea, well maybe a miracle will happen somehow.

Oddly, haven't had much overnighters coming through.  I have a 2 week stay coming to take that spot up and before that, a 2 night stay from a person that's been in my park 5 times now.  He has a daughter who is a student at one of the colleges in town.  But I usually get some overnight calls during the week and I have availability. It's why the park is mostly long term, short term was a bust and I found that out quickly.

I intend on being in Crossett around noon tomorrow, which means leaving the park around 9:00 am.  Yeah, I don't have to go to bed early, but then again, it's already 10.  

 Just a short.

Tuesday - mid-morning

My offload time isn't until 4:00 pm, but I am told to arrive at noon if I want to get done earlier for that is usually when the first load is done and out of there.

So yes, I'm leaving in a little while to arrive around noonish, get it over with and have some free time to do what I need to get done.

Amazingly, it's going to get up in to the mid 70's today.  Although I greet such nice weather, it also means something else: weeds will start to grow again.  I never got the front done, I tried but the stuff just wouldn't take off, ie: the whole field on fire.  

And it also means something beyond that: I will have to figure out what to do about summer grass before much longer.  

So here we are, facing a huge property tax bill and wondering how to get summer grass growing without spending thousands of dollars on it.  Uh-huh. Even grass seed is ridiculously expensive.  The rye grass is relatively cheap but the summer grass is way up there in price.  

See, I am getting to the point where I am just not going to obsess over this stuff and constantly worry about it.  If I have the finances, it will get done, if I don't, there is nothing I can do about it and put it into the Lord's hands. I don't really want dirt lots all summer long. That's all.  Green looks so much nicer.  

I need some wisdom and direction from God about all of this.  

So I will be thinking towards that end today while driving and just contemplating.

G'day

 Long days will be over after tomorrow.  

They dumped 4 loads in there today, none of them are the Ennis run, thankfully.  It's all Gurdon and I far prefer that over this nonsense.  

Didn't help that I had to stop at the office for updated paperwork.  I turned in a bunch of runs I had done, the paper version. All of it is turned in electronically, but they still want the paper stuff for backup.  Note that they didn't ask me to bring it in, I had a huge stack and wanted rid of it.  

Instead of thanking me for bringing it in, I was lectured on keeping each run all together instead of having them just piled together.  Yes, they are all together, the only things that might be out of order are the ones where you contacted me and wanted me to resend it.  

She just continued on the same theme, over and over. I eventually said fine, I'll be happy to take that stuff home and make sure it's all in order.  More of her junk.  I repeated it again. More of her junk. I repeated it again. More of her junk, repeated....she went through the entire pile in no time at all, because, as I said to her, it was already in order.  Ridiculous nonsense.  

Then, after making me wait for her to do that and telling me that "corporate wants us to do this" as if someone had asked me to bring the stuff in - which no one had - she finally got into the book with all of the trucks permits and paperwork.  After that, there was the IFTA stickers and the plate sticker.  SHE had to do it, not me.  At that point, I didn't really care, I just wanted to get out of there, but, I had turned my attention to the manager who is much more laid back. This lady isn't a manager but she acts as if she is the CEO.  

The manager said "in regards to your text, there is no forced dispatch here".  If something is going on and you need to deal with it, reject the load and take care of your personal business.  This was in regards to Superbowl Sunday, where so many things happened. The trailer copper tubing broke and I couldn't get the tanker washed out. Send to Lufkin Loves who told me they don't fix such things. Trying to crimp the line in pouring rain with lightning striking all around.  Having text messages sent to me with pictures of hail damage and the power lines down to our house.  Needing to be back to the yard for a new guest coming in. And yes,  a Superbowl party I wanted to go to. The dispatcher had tried to send me to Crossett to drop and hook to a different trailer.

Forced dispatch is when your dispatcher sends you a load and you must take it. You have no choice and if you do refuse a load for whatever reason, well, I don't know, I've never suffered the consequences. I assume getting fired, disciplinary action which would include what, i wouldn't know for I would tell the company to bug off. I will only refuse a load if there is some sort of emergency going on or if I get so sick I simply can't do anything but lay in bed.  I don't tend to put up with a lot at this point from trucking companies, they are a dime a dozen, they all act pretty much the same towards drivers and I don't need it.  I am not their servant and I will not be talked down to.  

I finally got out of there....oh, forgot, there were no mechanics there today.  They have a full shop....the ABS light is on on the trailer and other minor things I wanted, new gaskets, new chemical gloves, etc.  I'll buy my own gloves somewhere and charge it back to the company since I actually tried to get them from them.  

At the plant, they took me in immediately.  There was no waiting at all. I was out of there in something like an hour, which is great.  On the way back, however, there was a broken down truck sitting in the right lane on the 220 bypass and of course, traffic was backed up for miles.  Then, when I was getting close to my exit off of 20, I noticed GPS was telling me to get off at 59. 59? Why not 43?  I looked and saw a 3 mile backup in between 59 and 43.  Nope, not getting caught in another one of those, got off at 59 and just took a longer route to the property. Only by a few miles tho, nothing horrible.

I get home and the house is unusually quiet.  No one in the living rooms, usually the kids are there watching tv. What's going on? Well, the youngest comes flying out of the parents bedroom and gives me a big, happy greeting. Oh, ok, that's where y'all at. No....he says...and goes off on how the older brother got into trouble.  OIC.  Well anyway, the day is done, I don't have to get up early, tho I'd rather do so and get the day over with, my offload time isn't until 4:30. The other driver told me last time everyone on the second run shows up at noon and that's what I'm going to do again. 

And then? 3 days off.  I didn't ask for them and I'd rather have weekend days off, but, the plant is reopening and we are going to go back to loading in Lufkin and delivering in Gurdon. Actually, one day won't be off, I'll have to take this trailer up to either El Dorado or Crossett to exchange for the other kind that is used to haul the red glue.  The stuff I'm hauling now is white.  Anyway, it'll be more like 2 days off, it's 3 hours up and 3 hours back from Crossett, that is a short day, yes but it's still work.  I'll be asking tomorrow about that.  I will likely go up Wednesday for the trailer if it works out to do it that way.  Get up early, like the time the boys get up for school (5:40 am) and get it over with.  

What will I do with the other two days? Probably cut grass at the park at least. It needs mowed, I let it go because of the rains. It isn't bad, but it's getting longish.  I might even install the security system and I'll definitely clean the amenities shed.  What I"m saying is, the park needs some attention. I did the driveway but there is plenty more that needs to be done.  

I'll dig up some gravel from the rear of the driveway and take it up to where that huge pothole was. There is still a dip there and that's a precursor for another huge pothole. And, of course, the driveway needs storm drainage. I don't know how I'm going to do that.  I will have to dig a ditch across the driveway, so for as long as that takes, no one can drive in or out of the park? I have the pipe already....I dunno, it needs to be done.  Wouldn't mind trying to set all those weeds on fire again now that it's dry again and I figure the next couple of days that should all be dried out.  

I was informed today that I need a haircut.  Yup, it's getting long. I hate getting haircuts because most of them basically butcher my hair and it doesn't look good. Once in a while, you get a person that can do it, most of the time it's hair "stylists" that are in a big hurry to get it over with. I tip accordingly.  You butcher my hair in 3 - 4 minutes, I know it's going to look like hell.  You know, I will sit there and tell them it's uneven and they will argue with me. I'm the customer, cut my hair the way I want it done.  Well, once my hair grows out, to go back to the point, the butchering doesn't look so bad. At the same time, it's ridiculous to take care of it. It's rigid and I have to put what amounts to glue in it to get it to hold the way I want it to.

I'll get that done on those days off.  

What else? I dunno, it's not exactly late right now but I'd like to lay down and watch some TV.  I have a movie recorded, Se7en - that is not a typo, stars Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, old movie but I remember it being fairly decent.  Nice to be able to record stuff you don't have time to watch and then, watch it when you do have time. 

 Monday - relatively early.  I am absolutely not looking forward to this nonsense today.  Not only 3 hours up to the plant but also having to stop by the yard.  I will make that stop as fast as possible, I don't have time to be lingering with people who sit behind desks all day long.  I can chit chat with the best of them when I am inclined to do so, I will not be inclined to do so today.  

I just know I won't be getting back until late, this run takes all day long, tomorrow is a little better.  Well, tomorrow is a lot better for it doesn't take as long to get there. An hour and a half less driving round trip from my place to the plant and back.  I don't particularly care for this run simply because of the time consuming factor.  

It's 3 hours and 5 minutes to Crossett, but can add an hour to the trip up there with the stop in El Dorado.  I can take I-20 to Ruston and head north, which takes me up just east of town, so it's not terrible, but it's not great either.  I figure to be at Crossett by 1.  There is no reason to get there earlier with this other guy dawdling and taking his time.  I found out, however, his load time isn't as early as he stated it was originally.  He still shows up 2 plus hours late.  

I apparently will get the late run as long as I'm doing this and that's that.  They've got us delivering on the same day so obviously seniority will get the early run. But why does he want it so badly if he can't show up up there on time? Otherwise, I'd get up there a little early for the first load and get it done and over with.

The only good thing is that it only takes like 45 minutes for them to load the truck.  I was informed by this other driver that they don't force us to wash out the tanks every time, so I don't plan on doing that.  Otherwise, add an additional hour.  Oh and don't forget the fuel stop.  This is trucking, you do lots of things you don't actually get paid for. In my previous job, I didn't care as much for I was making a lot more money.  The tradeoff with this job, of course, is that I get home almost every single day and I do get some weekends off.  I worked many, many weekends, in fact, most of them, with that previous job. I don't ever want to get entangled with any kind of schedule like that again unless I am forced to do so for financial reasons.

As it stands, giving it some thought, it seems the only real way to quit working is to wait until I'm 65 to get on Medicare.  The only way to bypass that is to greatly increase the number of lots in the RV park.  AS I have said a few times now, that just isn't in the cards.  Maybe a new president will drive this country in a different direction  - if Biden doesn't win another term - but if he does win, I suspect these interest rates will stay up there for the foreseeable future. The Fed raised the interest rates far too many times.  No expert here, but the consequences are obvious and palpable, especially when visiting the grocery store. 

And when you try to get a loan.  Especially when you try to get a loan. It's not even worth trying to get one right now. Were these results what these people wanted when they started doing this?  I don't know.  Dependency on the government is the leftist way.  People go to work, go home and do what, exactly, since many now are struggling just to pay the recurring monthly bills or feed their families.  Work to exist.  That is the revelation that finally go through to me after decades of working for corporations and really, having no life beyond work. Work dictates your life, not the other way around. 

Hence spending my retirement on this RV park venture.  Was it a mistake? Dunno.  If I end up selling it for what it's worth, then definitely not a mistake, I will end up with far more money than what I started out with.  I can tell you, if I were to sell that property, it would just be the RV park portion, the front 7-1/2 acres, I would have a real estate lawyer draw up an easement right through the main gas driveway to get to the rear of the property and keep the 15 acres in the back, which have no bearing on the RV park  excepting there are, indeed, people using the walking trails back there now.  At least 2 different people walk their dogs back there.  

Today is a holiday, President's Day to be precise (wasn't this George Washington's birthday?, oh yes, he was a white nationalist that killed a bunch of Indians and held slaves and so on and so forth, so the woke people tell us that is why we shouldn't be celebrating such a horrid person's life) so the boys are home, the granny is leaving with the oldest, probably pretty soon and I'm spending the day on the road.

I won't complain too much, I just had 2 full days off.  3 days until next paycheck, I keep saying this because I both anticipate a larger paycheck with all of this working and also anticipate that I am going to have to spend most or all of it on property taxes.  

Anyway, it is getting close to departure time, must get busy getting ready to leave.

G'day

Saturday - mid morning

I woke up late and thought it grand.  It's cold outside at 38 degrees, my idea of doing anything went out the door and stayed out there.  If it warms up I may go over and get a few things done. Nothing intense or involved, unless I decide to tackle the security system.  I never did install it.  The problem is attempting to install outdoor outlets.  I actually kind of think I should just run a line from the breaker box instead of what I was going to do.

The problem with that?  A lot more wire, wire is quite expensive right now and probably will stay that way. Things have a way of staying up there in price unless demand goes way down.  

Anyway, I'm starting the unenviable task of trying to get the books completely done so I can take a look at taxes for 2023.  Start now, yes.  It's already February and I don't want to wait until the last minute to try and get this stuff done. I will owe money, that's for sure, for I didn't pay taxes on some of the money I took for myself.  I couldn't afford it at the time and I didn't care.  I will, of course, care once I see whatever penalties they assess, but we aren't talking about a lot of money here, hopefully meaning the taxes won't be too great.  

I've at least learned a lot of how to navigate Quickbooks.  It has access to a lot of stuff, including my bank account which is where it matters the most.  

5 days until next paycheck, I'm just hoping with all of this working that I can get a nice paycheck and spend most of it on what else: property taxes.  I'm not going to wait forever, if I have to put some of it on a credit card, I will.  There is no way I'm going to jeopardize the property by having someone else pay the taxes for me and then incur a lot more fees and interest to boot.  

At least I've almost completely stopped using credit cards.  In fact, rarely now and that in extreme situations.  The damage is done, just not going to make it even worse.  

_____________

13 hours later.  I only went out today to do things I needed to do.  Deposit rent money, get a new screensaver and case for my phone.  Went to carwash, not because I needed to but since I have the monthly package and was given the top tier for less than the bottom tier (I made a comment about the carwash on the local facebook gossip page, the owners saw it and rewarded me with such, not even asking my for any of my information, they simply looked my name up on their database and assigned it to me), Hobby Lobby for a piece of felt and then home.  

Home was interesting, there are 7 people here currently - the grandma and the 3rd child - plus 2 more showed up to visit that were here quite a long time. I won't go into details, but I do watch such behavior with entertainment in mind, lol. No, not sexual things, get your mind out of the gutter and nothing illegal.  Just personal stuff.  

And that's that. This day off went by entirely too fast, at least in my mind.  I suspect tomorrow will be the same and Monday is a late load but I'm going to ask the other driver if he's planning on getting up there early, since he doesn't like to get up early, I could beat him up there, get loaded and get out of there and get Monday over with. Plus I have to stop at the yard in El Dorado for IFTA stickers, they are expired on my truck but apparently hold over until March. Yes, March is coming up.  

The yard will take time regardless, it just does. The ABS light is on on the trailer I'm pulling, I'm going to see if they can take a look at it. Usually? Dirt in one of the sensors or one of the sensors failing and needs replaced. Not an elongated repair and their computer should tell them what the specific problem is.  Yes, they use computers on trailers for diagnostics as well.  At least to a limited degree, much of the stuff on trailers is pretty easily diagnosed without anything but your eyes and/or ears.  

It's power trains with all the sensors and electronic junk that you really have to have a computer take the codes that the truck computer is sending out and transfer them into - this is what's wrong with this thing.  

I'm not looking forward to Monday because I have to go to the yard and because this other dude seems to think it's ok to show up 6 hours late for his appointment time. He's a really nice guy and all, but I just have little patience for such things unless there is a legitimate excuse.  Not wanting to get up early is not a legitimate excuse and he should simply ask for the later loading time. 

I was going through some old stuff and found an envelope that was mailed to me - from my Dad. Dad passed away many years ago from Alzheimer's complications. Unfortunately, the note that was in it is gone.  Brought back memories, tho, of his encouraging and uplifting letters he used to send periodically.  I really looked up to him for he was a pastor and he really took his calling seriously. Not a fake Christian acting like something he wasn't, he had his share of problems, don't we all?  The people he served absolutely loved him and that was quite evident at his memorial service where there was a message and then people were asked to get up and speak a word if they wanted to.

A lot of people came to the front and I kind of felt like my input wasn't going to be necessarily that great, but, I felt the nudging inwardly to do it and it did set off a chain of interactions with people afterwards that didn't know who I was, had only heard about his 3 boys but had never met any of us.  So it was very cool and a very good ending, I guess.  His earthly ending was not a great thing and I hate Alzheimer's more than any other disease because it has taken so many relative's lives and because I fear the same thing will hit me.  It's why I started a fasting regimen which allegedly helps with the "brain plague" issue that all Alzheimer's patients have, at least to everything I've read about it and trust me, I've read a lot about it. 

They have apparently started to make some progress in a drug that has shown quite a lot of promise in testing on mice that stops or slows the progress of the disease.  

Well not to dwell on that, I believe my father is in Heaven with the Lord and other relatives and that I have my hope and faith and belief in Christ that I will be with them some day.  

Uhh, well anyway, that's it.  I got what I wanted to get done today: much of nothing. A few small errands with kids in tow - they wanted to come - home and spent the day hanging out with folks. And watching movies. And helping kids playing their games with things they were having difficult getting past.  And cleaning, lots of cleaning in my room, tidying it up. Quickbooks as well, got a good start on that.  I guess I did get some stuff done, it's just that I didn't have to spend the day in a damned truck.  

With that, I bid you a good evening.