Sunday - afternoon

No church for me, but Taylor went again with one of the family friends.  I don't know what is causing her to want to go to church, but it certainly doesn't bother me.  The oldest child has been impacted by the teachings he has been subjected to - voluntarily, they don't have to go to church - and his speech is beginning to reflect it. The younger gives no sh*** about anything (this is how the parents put it and I fully agree) and then only reason he goes there is to play and get the treat at the end of the time in the kids ministry.

So, someone or more than one someone is stealing rolls of toilet paper out of the bathroom.  There are a few options here.  First off, I will start buying the cheap stuff. I was buying the stuff at Lowe's and it definitely isn't cheap.  2cd, I will just leave one or 2 rolls in there at a time and have the rest locked up in one of the outside smaller sheds.  3rd, probably a sign.  I don't want to make everyone that uses it pay for one or a few people's bs, but I am not footing the bill for external toilet paper use.  I mean, it must be more than one person? What does one person need with a dozen rolls of TP?  The sign would read something like ..if this continues, the Park will no longer supply toilet paper.  You are on your own, this is nothing the Park is required to do.

And frankly, the bathroom was built for me, not everyone else.  

The newest tent lady was in there - for several hours - but in the middle of the night. Like 2 am stuff. So, as long as the noise doesn't bother anyone else, I don't really care. 

Someone showed up at the park today wanting a spot. They were talking to the people I will start referring to as the workampers.  That is a term RV parks use for people that exchange work for free lot rent.  The lady seems to have her wits about here, the dude...well he seems to be a nice guy anyway. The lady called, telling a man was here wanting to rent a lot. Sure!  Long story short - very long story short - he is allegedly showing up tomorrow with his trailer. I have zero information on him, so, that remains to be seen.

Getting up early on a Sunday was not much fun, driving in heavy rain even less so.  All the way to the trailer washout facility.  Amazingly, as soon as the guy showed up to do the washout, the rain subsided.  And stayed away until he was done.  Over to the plant, I sat there for a while, showed up 30 minutes before my appointment time. Eventually, a man came up to the truck: someone was supposed to show up at 10 to load trucks, he isn't here. I'm a bit rusty and haven't done it in a while, but I'm going to load your truck.  Thank you!  He was off by a thousand pounds, underweight.  They didn't say they wanted to load more into the trailer so I took it and went to the fueling station. 

It was odd, however. I come up to a stop sign and had to push the brake pedal wayyyyy down to get the truck to stop.  Heavy foot on the brake pedal, what is going on here?  This happens again and I finally pulled on the Johnson bar.  I don't know what they call it now and most newer trucks aren't even equipped with them anymore, it's a lever you pull to apply the trailer brakes only.  I don't know why they got rid of them, I have found over the decades it to be a useful tool in certain situations.  In this case, I pulled the thing alllll the way down.  When you do that, the trailer brakes should be locking up the wheels.  

Instead? Absolutely nothing happened.  I tried again.  I checked the air lines.  Did someone play a trick and stick a quarter in one of the glad hands?  It would stop the air pressure from going into the line on the trailer to apply the brakes.  Careful examination of both of them revealed no blockages.  I followed the lines to the rear, looking for a potential valve somewhere that might be turned off? I have seen them on other trailers, this one doesn't have one, or if it does, it must be invisible.  

This is a head scratcher.  I got under and looked at the break shoes, they were definitely close enough to the drums that some kind of braking action would be had when the brakes are hit.  I'm completely stumped by this one, I have never had this happen before.  

Ok, doing some checking, there is a round container where the airlines all go into, apparently there is a valve in there.  I don't know what else would be causing the entire brake system on the trailer to stop working, that might be the problem. I'm not going to fix it, however, I just wanted to get an idea of what's wrong with it.  Those valves are common on trailers and should  be a simple fix for a repair facility.  

The CVSA Internation Road Check is coming up soon, I want everything working as it should.  But even if it weren't, I wouldn't want to drive this trailer around any longer without a shop fixing it.  I am not fooling with it today, it is Sunday, it is the 6th day in a row working, I am tired and I would probably get rather annoyed by having to deal with Love's personnel or whoever trying to get the thing repaired.  And, they may not have the part and if they have to get one, they probably wouldn't be able to until tomorrow.  I made it home just fine, it just takes a lot more braking action on the tractor to get it to slow down or stop. 

I think I've got 3 more days in the system for working. Tomorrow is offload - it will have to happen so it is likely to be a long day trying to get the trailer fixed and offloading - then Tuesday and Wednesday are late load/unload.  

No, folks, I haven't decided on a tractor, however...my driveway is once again totally trashed. It rained again last night, it's been raining.  If I had my own tractor, I could fix it and just fix it again if it rains some more.  There is no way I'm going to rent a tractor at over $400 to fix the thing and then have it - get screwed up by even more rain that is slated to come.  There is a definitive need for a tractor over there, that's what I can say.  I am getting closer to pulling the trigger on one.  

I wanted the payments to be around $300, looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and be more around $400 if I go through with it.  But there are other things that this could affect. Namely, getting a business loan, if I do, indeed, want to go that route.  I'm not going to discuss all of that right now, I'm too tired to think about all of that.  

I'm thinking maybe sell the SUV once I get the truck, it's worth around 6k private sale value.  Why would I want to do that? Well, to finance building more lots, of course.  

Anyway, there is nothing else today for I am not doing anything else today.  I don't feel like it, it's wet outside even if the rain has stopped and I was up in the middle of the night last night.  I mean, another early day tomorrow, it's Sunday, no good reason to do much of anything unless something comes up.

G'day

 Friday - evening

Guess it's been a couple days since updating.

Uhh, I think 2 trailers pulled out today.  I'm not sure if it's the camera or if they're gone.  

I'll take a look tomorrow.  The family was supposed to leave today, but it sort of looks like the college trailer is gone too. I don't have the camera adjusted to see that well over there, they were there earlier. Just taking a look to see if the family had left. 

I dunno, but if the place empties out, it empties out. I'll fill it back up sooner or later.

I am also losing either one or both of the remaining welders. Had a long conversation with the older guy yesterday. These are the people that have been there since shortly after the park opened last year.  Anyway, he said the work is slowing down around here and they only need one welder to stay, everyone else is going to be sent to New Mexico.  

This guy wants to stay, he likes my park and he likes the area. He said he'd tell me this weekend whatever the company decides to do.  If I lose both of them, I'll have 6 open spots all of a sudden.  It's the nature of the beast, I just will have to run ads until I get at least some of them filled back up.  

But I'm not doing that today.  I want to take some fresh pics over there after I get the big lot freshly mowed and let people see what they are potentially getting.  

Talked with mom a good while today.  I don't know that what's going on with her is an imminent death, apparently it's a "could happen anytime" type of thing but may not happen for years.  She did pop the news that she is giving her property to my oldest brother after she passes.  He bought a property near there about 7 miles away many years ago and built a cabin. I dunno what he's going to do with her property, but whatever, it makes sense that he gets it.  

She says she has everything set up so that it is fair, at least in her view and her view of it is the only view that matters when it comes to her possessions.  I wonder about my middle brother, she says he's really trying to change.  Like, a lifetime of being a total jerkoff kind of takes a while to get rid of.  But, at least he's trying. This is the one that came near death with the covid jab - read that correctly: not Covid itself, but the shot that allegedly helps stop you from getting it.  

Anyway, the tent people are starting to behave.  I had to tell them they can either abide by my rules of leave a couple of times before it got through their thick skulls that I am not playing.  You want to stay here, you are going to follow my rules.  

And I was informed that the guy that's been mowing everything made inappropriate remarks to the newest lady in the park.  Of course he did! Why would anything go smoothly? Lol.  I'll discuss that with him next time I see him, but the husband apparently had some words with him.  The husband is a young guy, beefy, doesn't appear to be the kind of person that takes a lot of ...stuff...from people.  I may not have to do anything except follow up with a conversation. I hope not.  

Work is humming along.  I'm on my third run this week, going up to Gurdon early in the morning to offload.  The load Sunday, unload Monday and I have late load on Tuesday.  The weather has been nice enough in terms of temperature that the truck with the AC problem hasn't been horrible. Not yet anyway.  

I don't know that I'm going to be able to get another septic system with this money my mother gave me.  I will have to pay some money for taxes when I go to register the truck here.  They make you pay a buyer's fee that is based on market value of the truck.  Kelley has it listed around median price of 20k in these parts.  It's a 2008 Tundra, fully loaded, the top of the line truck that was available in that model year.  It only has 55,000 miles on it.  It's in excellent condition, I think she hit the side of the garage at some point, but it's a small dent and is the only thing wrong with the exterior. The interior needs a good detail.  A lot of new/replaced stuff on it including tires.  

But, if it were just to go get the truck, that could wait.  Just want to see mom, visit friends, see my son and then go home.  I'll have to transfer the title to my name so I can get a "90 day drive out" permit, which allows you to drive it out of state to wherever you live. I dunno, hopefully I can apply for the title and get the permit right there as well?  Because I won't have a title to show them since they are going to have to process it?  I'll have to call them about that, perhaps it just requires that the title is signed over to me.  Different states, different rules.

I've made no decision on a tractor. No rush to make the wrong decision.  If I get into a contract, it is what it is.  No getting out of it, I am stuck with it for 7 years.  Hence it taking me a while to think it over, sit on it for a while, make no rush decisions.  If I don't get one after all of this rain is done and over with, I'll just go rent one to fix the driveway yet again.  

The doggie.  I've been working on getting some fat put on his skinny bones.  That dog's flesh was pulled into his ribs when I got him.  He's now starting to look healthy and normal rib cage appearance.  Still skinny, but not so bad that it looks like he's being starved.  He has so much energy, it's ridiculous. He runs around that back yard alllllll day long. Could you just transfer over a little of that energy to me? Please and thank you.

Well, it's getting late.  5:30 wake up calls via alarm going off can be ugly. I was sound asleep this morning when that thing went off and I wasn't feeling it. As in, not wanting to get up and go anywhere, much less to work.  

Oh, the farmers. They must like my place, they don't stay at any one place for long because of their fear of being shot by lasers and especially lasers with radiation.  Lol.  I ain't kicking them out for that, the only odd thing was when he confronted the regular that comes and goes with some frequency, but that guy thought it humorous.  Facing all of these people leaving? I'll definitely get another month out of them and be done with it.  I haven't heard anything from anyone about these people confronting them about lasers since that episode. 

Well, that's it for now.

 Wednesday - night

Washout was crazy, 4 trucks there. I have only seen 1 other truck there when showing up before, this time, there was 1 ahead of me and 2 showed up after.  One of them a Dana truck, I would have been there a long time if I had had to wait behind that one.  Whatever they haul in those tankers, it takes a long time to clean it out of there. 

To the plant, I was in and out of there in less than an hour.  

I noticed a low tire on the trailer so after fueling at Love's, I started looking for air hoses. Inquiring at the fuel desk, they said they only have air at the shop now, people keep running over the setup at the fuel aisle, which they had completely torn out of there. I can believe that. 

I drive over there, there is a lane created next to the shop with giant concrete blocks painted yellow. You are supposed to drive in there to air up your tires. The problem? there was one of their service trucks blocking it.  I went inside, asking about air? There is a service truck in the way. Instead of offering to move it, they commented I should park beside the yellow blocks and the air line "should be able to reach that far".  I was a bit miffed why their lazy asses couldn't move the service truck.  

Well, I did what they said and found out after trying to put air in that the air chuck was broken.  Back in the shop.  The air chuck is broken, before going into the bathroom to wash all the grease off of my hands. Back out, the person behind the counter ignored me. No, they weren't on the phone, no they weren't talking to a customer. They knew what I wanted....

So, I asked for a manager "since you apparently don't want to deal with this". She started shaking her head and asked "what am I supposed to do?".  Uhh, offer to fix the air chuck? "I have only been working here 2 days.." as if that was some sort of excuse to not do anything. Appalling service and attitude for a Love's, I asked to see the manager. "He's not here right now, he went out on a call". 

At this point, I called Love's coporate. No way will Love's tolerate that kind of nonsense.    A long story shorter, I was put on the line with a fill-in manager, the store's general manager was also out. Weird.  I explained to her what had happened, she profusely apologized, I accepted the apology and then she said she would have the GM call when that person returned to work. Thanks!  Oh, forgot to say the corporate person gave me 500 Loves points.  It's only $5 worth of merchandise, but something is better than nothing.  I was more looking for some attention to employee attitudes and told the lady that if I were to treat my customers at my RV park like that, I would not only lose customers, I would get seriously negative Google reviews. She completely agreed.

I never did fill that tire.  It's not flat, it's low.  I can fill it on the way up to Gurdon tomorrow, there  is a Cefco truck stop with air at every fuel lane and they even have gauges on them.  I just didn't feel like waiting for hours at a loves today to get the tired fixed.  

And more foolery with these tent people, the kids specifically, spending 4 straight hours in the laundry room, I contacted the mother and told her that I was done with this. Either get them out of there or y'all can leave by the end of today, I'm not going to continue to ask you to respect my wishes. This was clearly laid out to you before you came in here....after she said "I thought you said we could charge our phones?"  Yes, but it doesn't take 4 hours to charge phones.  I mean, seriously, other people want to use the facilities, my main objection to it.  

Anyway, I am going to work the rest of these loads and then I'm going to ask for probably a week off.  5 days anyway.  1 day over there, a couple days visiting, 2 days back. I could drive all the way back in one drive, but why?  Maybe drive 800 miles the first day and finish the 500 left over the next.  Yup, I'll take 6 days off.  It's just something that has to be done, versus having 5 unwanted days off that I left behind last week.  

Yikes, getting late.  

 Tuesday - night

It's been a very long day, mostly occupied with truck driving stuff.  5:30 am up, out the door at 6:15, off to Gurdon, incredibly long offload time - there is a huge air leak on the line.  I contacted the manager, the truck is done can I come get it? Absolutely.

Not that I wanted to add 3 hours to the day, but the piece of junk I have been driving - that thing needs to be retired to a junk yard or scrap metal.  It's got too many things wrong with it.  So, I got the leak taken care of (I think) on the trailer and the truck was ready, switched my stuff back to the truck and left. 

30 minutes later? Same problem with the AC. Mind you, they had that truck for a week this time.  I texted my manager, I got a call from the head mechanic.  "I replaced everything!".  But after questioning him, he did not replace everything, in fact, he didn't do what he should have done and said he was going to do, which was to tear out everything in the truck to get to the evaporator and take the thing out and inspect it.  

Instead? "I cleaned it out!".  He didn't take the thing out of there, he didn't even get at it, I don't know how he cleaned it out if he didn't get to the thing to begin with. Lame.  Lame. Lame.

That is the third time it's been in there for AC. How many times do I have to take it to the same mechanic before they say, well, we're stumped, take it somewhere else?  Now? He's going to order a new evaporator and install it "next time" I take it there.  So, I will have to through this ordeal yet again. 

I got home at 5:35.  Volunteered to take the older kid to the soccer practice, the younger was being take to his baseball game, they are at different fields at different locations.  Wolfed down some spaghetti and headed out to that.  Done, we went to the baseball game and then done with that? Home at 9:00 pm.  

Oh, the AC. Well, it works for a while, then the evaporator freezes over, then of course it stops working cause the air isn't able to blow through the evaporator, which is where your cool air is generated. I flatly told him on the phone that I wasn't fixing to go through the summer in a hot truck.  I didn't say I would quit, I won't make threats like that anymore, well, I will kind of allude to it but not say it specifically. Today I didn't say anything like that at all. But yes, I will quit a trucking job over that.  I will give them one more chance to get this fixed at their shop, after that? It's going to go to an actual AC repair shop or they can keep their truck.  They can find someone else to drive a boiling hot rig.  Good luck with that. 

If you think I'm joking or not serious or won't quit, you don't know me very well. It takes a while to move me to the Exit sign of any given company, but when I get there, I'm leaving.  It's a PITA to find and get a new job.  It's just a lot of work and I'm not really wanting to have to keep going through that.  Every trucking company has it's version of orientation, it is almost always out of state somewhere, tho usually it's not near as hellish as the orientation this company made me go through is.  

I'm too tried to do this tonight, but tomorrow I will get into my rewards and check out what flights I can get for when. Then, contact management, tell them I am going to Arizona (it will be a request but it's non-negotiable, I'm going regardless) and I will be gone probably 5 days.  Visit mom for 2 or 3 days and then drive home.  If I'm hearing this correctly, this may be the last time I will see her alive.  So yes, there is a sense of urgency about making this trip, even if at last minute.  

Today was the last day to buy a John Deere at the zero interest - well the salesman said "it may go away" to that might have been a pile of lies, who know - and the sale they were having.  The TYM isn't on sale, it's just what they charge, I would end up with about the same payment as the Deere but a lot more tractor in terms of size and horsepower.  

Who is really behind all of this rioting at these universities? That's what I want to know.  I'm watching live footage of a entire busload of people being taken to jail at Columbia University.  Why did they even wait this long?  Ridiculous nonsense. Not the first time I've watched college kids engaging in this kind of thing, it IS the first time I've seen these idiots doing it in the name of a damn terrorist group.  I watched an interview of some young lady at one of these protests with a whiny voice, "Well I don't know why I'm here protesting, but I support them". Them who?  

Yup, all over the place.  It's time to go to bed.  

 I'm going to see my mom within the next 30 days and hopefully not too late.  I dunno if she has a day, week, month, year whatever to live.  She is pushing me to come get the truck, but I think she just wants to see me, as I also want to see her.  Might be the last time I see her in this earthly realm.  She offered the truck a couple of years ago as part of my inheritance after she passes, apparently she wants to take care of that now.  I dunno, it'll be nice to have a pickup, yes, but the means of getting it means another person's demise. 

In this case, her eyesight is going out.  I had no idea, the last time we talked she said she had 20-20 vision from all the stuff the eye doctors did.  I have no idea what happened between then and now, I will just wait to ask her in person.  I just have to figure when.  I'd like to just go on Memorial Day weekend, it would be a one way ticket since I'm driving back, perhaps the ticket won't be quite as expensive?  I dunno, I think I have enough credit card points to cover airfare.  

This isn't really a good time for me in case I'm coming off any other way.  Felt like a gut punch once she started talking the way she was today. It wasn't that she was down or anything, it's just that it's obviously getting close to the end.  She didn't say that the docs gave any timeline, they just told her she needed brain surgery, the bubble would end up doing - something I guess at some point and that would be the end of it.  

My son called her today after I informed him the news of what's going on and he had a good conversation with her as well.  This isn't, however, one of those times where I can put off a visit until the next-of-never, it must happen soon, at least in my thinking.  

These trips aren't particularly expensive if I incline myself to keep it that way.  Airfare covered, I don't have hotel expenses and I don't have travel expenses in town beyond an Uber to her house from the airport and an Uber back.  

Anyway, it's getting late and I am getting up at 5:30 am so I am getting offa here. Just got back a little bit ago from soccer practice, both boys went. The younger just likes to go and find other kids to play with, the older has the practice and the coach is really trying hard to teach them the science of how to win games versus what happened last game on Saturday. They just haven't quite gotten it through their heads that you don't all just bunch up in a group where the ball is traveling, you keep yourselves spread out and once one of your team mates gets the ball, he/she can kick it across field or up ahead to someone waiting.

They just kept getting bunched up last time and the other team took advantage of it.  Now, the other team is in a youth traveling league and it's highly competitive, the kids on our team are all new to the game or maybe have a year of soccer from the last season under their belts.

Well, I just don't feel like writing right now.  

 Well.

When your mother tells you that her health is in a slide, you listen.  She is not one to complain about her ailments and health issues.  She wouldn't even say something about it unless it was something serious.

When she told me today that she is giving me the truck now and that, indeed, her health is in decline, I have no choice but to come to the conclusion that she may be in her final days among the living on this planet.  She's well up there in years.  

So, I'm planning a trip very soon back to AZ.  There is nothing else as important to me in this world than my mother.  I want to see her before she passes on.  She isn't laying on a death bed, she is home and dealing with it, but the writing is on the wall.  I will fly out there, spend a few days visiting and then drive back.  

___________

The new people decided that they were going to take half a dozen trash bags out of the shed today and have nearly used up an entire roll of paper towels. Note that a roll of paper towels in there usually last weeks if not a month, they don't get used that much.  They were also hanging out in there and that's when I said enough and contacted her about it.  They brought back the bags and left the shed post haste.  Sorry, but I gave specific instructions when they first came in and were already pushing it well beyond the line.  

I mean, I'm basically doing them a favor giving them a place to stay, quite cheap, while they figure out what they are going to do, but I have determined I am not going to let them stick around indefinitely.  

I've got one lot available atm and another coming available at the end of the week as the family of 3 have found a house to rent out and yes, they needed to get their space back. It's a pretty small trailer that they've been staying in for quite a long time now.  I don't blame them. Just makes it a challenge to get all of these spots re-rented in such a short period of time.  

I was stuck at the plant today 3-1/2 hours. They again decided to preload a truck at my appointment time.  As in, they started loading it a half hour after I arrived. There was no way to back into the bay where I load for that bay they were using blocks it.  After they finally got it loaded, they were having a problem with a valve so it was another hour plus to get that fixed and then they started loading the trailer.

I just don't appreciate this company I am working for and I've never seen a plant put their trucks ahead of outside trucks that have a set appointment time - all to preload their truck first. Like, that truck isn't even going out anywhere after they load it....

I need to make up my mind about a tractor. Do it or dump it out of my mind, it's been occupying too much space in my mind for some time now, I need to get that dealt with.  

And I don't really have anything else to say right now.  

 Monday semi-early

I do, indeed, have a run today. Well, at least until they tell me something different.  

Pro Hamas protesters around the country on our college campuses, spewing anti-Semitic filth and acting out like idiots.  Colombia university protesters want the university to "divest" from doing any business with Israel at all.  :You look at the information that is coming out now with eyewitnesses that were there when Hamas killed 1,200 innocent Israeli citizens...and raped and tortured even more.  You also find out that some of these protesters have no connection at all with the universities they are protesting at. 

Why are we negotiating with these people?  

Anyway, I don't have a lot of time here, I was writing an entry yesterday and completely spaced it.  The new tent people...the jury is still out.  I took them to the store yesterday, they were hungry, had nothing left to eat and no transportation. That is a big red flag to me.  People without transportation usually start trying to get others in the park to take them places.  My thoughts also tend to gravitate towards the possibility of theft.  I don't think the mother is a thief, the kids? Who knows.

I've been off work for 5 days and that's hopefully over for a while? Yea, who knows with this company.  If I don't get a good 8 days in a row of work going here I'm going to have to start talking again.   I was waiting this thing out to see what would happen after the pay raise.  However, the plant is up and running and loads are being picked up and delivered to it.  

I don't have to go to the washout today, hence I'm still sitting here and got up later than normal on purpose.  

I guess I best be getting out of here, tho, it's a quarter after 7 and I want to be in Lufkin at around 9:30 am. 

G'day

 Saturday - Noon

Got up late, was going to go with the folks to the soccer game but, they left far too early for me to even get going.  To the point that I got up, shaved/showered, drank coffee, went and got fuel after they left and still got there on time, lol.

I have a bit of a juggling act to accommodate for everyone, however, the next 3 day stay are tent campers with a tent "van" thing.  I am just going to put them out back - but - I am also going to warn them that it's going to be raining, if the forecast is correct, the entire time they are there.  I've camped out in the rain, it's not particularly pleasant.  Not much to do if you don't want to get soaking wet and you are likely to get wet anyway.  I'll leave that up to them.

The TYM place emailed back.  For all of that equipment it's over $500 per month.  Not even close to my intended budget.  I wrote back and told them a lessor HP tractor would work and eliminate the hoe attachment and that should bring it well down into my budget, maybe.  We'll see.  With John Deere being the only player in town, this TYM dealer is the next closest, or competing with the Kubota dealer in terms of distance which is probably a few miles further away in a different town. 

I gladly give up the convenience of having everything near you in big cities to the wonder of living out in the country, owning your own property and breathing clean, fresh air.  

It just seems to me that everyone is pretty much near everyone else - tho I will wait and see if a lower HP unit with TYM will bring down the price significantly.  The other places are quoting for much less HP and I can probably get away with it.  I just don't think it's prudent to get into such high payments at this time.  Especially with a 7 year long payment plan.  

Anyway, sitting on the sideline today with the folks, I commented on how well the goalie was doing keeping the opposing team from scoring, he was stopping everything.  I hear a voice behind me say something like "I would appreciate it if you would keep your comments to yourself, my son just started playing soccer this year and ...blah blah blah".  I had to think about that for a minute.  I didn't negatively comment on anyone, so I was at a loss.  I sat there and asked: "are you talking to me?". Yes sir.  

So, this lady's son was goalie before this latino kid took his place, the coach was moving them around a lot.  She apparently thought that I was somehow disrespecting her child that was the last goalie that was in the position.  I decided to bite my tongue rather than engage a Karen.  I made a compliment about a kid's performance and this person is addressing me about her child that had nothing to do with the conversation we were having?

And why was she sticking her nose into other people's conversations? Why was she standing directly behind me? I didn't even know she was there until she said something.  It took something for me not to say anything.  Just rude and really none of her business.  I finally said "I wasn't disparaging anyone".  She said nothing back.  I never turned to look at her, I figured that would just escalate the situation that shouldn't have started in the first place. 

The game over, I stood up and looked, she was glaring at me.  Again, better to just keep my mouth shut but I had to ask everyone else I was with if they thought I said anything disrespectful to or about any players? No, not at all.  They heard the whole thing and agreed she was out of line.  Yea, I did youth sports in the role of board member, umpire and coach, among other titles, I never once thought about talking about a kid's "bad" performance. They're out their learning, you compliment them when they do something well and try to build them up, not tear them down. That's not even in my nature, to start tearing down kids.  

I'm keeping my video recorder ready to turn on at future practices or games.  It is highly likely that someone that feels the need to interject herself like that? Will do it again, even if I"m saying nothing at all.  This is classic Karenism, regardless of skin color.  I've learned that it's better to simply call the police and let them deal with it.  Things like that can escalate quickly, I want no part of it.  Maybe if I see her again I will just offer a friendly hello and tell her how great her kid is doing and see if that helps at all. Or, just ignore her and mind my own business, as I was doing in the first place.

Whatever the case, I went over to the Park afterwards and collected rent from the new people.  Had a long conversation with them, I try to feel people out and potentially see how they are going to interact with others. They said they already had and everyone seemed like nice people. Good, that's what I like to hear.  

Noted the 4 day stay and decided to charge their card when i got home. However, the card wasn't stored in the file in such a way that I could just charge it and end of story. I had to go into the history, find where they paid and pull up the "save customer profile".  I can't do that, however, without the card holder's permission, so I emailed them and hopefully hear back soon. That, or go back and collect the money in person.

I just spaced it when I was there, I really don't feel like going back.  The entire park is currently full, but as I've been saying, there are people fixing to leave soon.  I have no idea whether the crazy farmers are staying, the dog lady moved her stuff out but her trailer is still there. Upon asking, she said she'd either have it out before rent is due or she will pay me.  Fine.  Then there is the 1 month stay, they are good until the 1st, when I expect them to be leaving, at least from what they told me when they first came in. 

Next month, I would assume the college kids are leaving.  This is why I took these people in, I know more people are on their way out and I can cover the reservations I have.  Lot 1 is now the "new" overnight space, probably the best spot in the park.  I am trying to hold it for the long time guy that wanted it but whose slide out on his new trailer isn't working.  

____________

Had to go over to the park to welcome in a lady that wanted to tent camp.

The problem?  She didn't tell me about the teenagers.  She made it sound like she just wanted to enjoy the outdoors and tent camp overnight.  She didn't have to tell me, it became obvious they are not welcome wherever they were staying - family in Louisiana - and the grandpa had brought them over and dropped them off.  I dunno.  Seem like decent people, I just didn't know we were talking a family without a father.  The kids seemed ok, but you just never know.  Could be huge troublemakers for all I know, it's hard to tell.  You can't just look at a person and say: they are trailer trash! Or, they are cool! Or whatever.  

I'll be keeping an eye on them.  The price is right at $10 per night, it's more of an offering to the community for anyone that wants to tent camp and doesn't want to travel hundreds of miles to do so than it is to really help people out.  I don't mind helping people out, as long as they are respectful of my property and everything I have there, including the RV guests.  It'll motivate me to take daily walks with the dog to check the area in the back.  I have cameras on the amenities shed, they will obviously be using that.  

One thing that won't happen is any of these people moving into my motor coach.  I have definitely determined to gut it and start over on most of it, but, I'm trying to get James to help me out. Not for free, of course, I will pay him. He has been doing his side work at the same property for months now, no idea if they are ever going to end that or if they are just going to keep using his services.  The motor coach can wait until he can get to it.  

I actually think I would end up paying more in labor to fix that thing up than the parts and supplies themselves. The AC is replaced, that's the most expensive thing on probably any RV.  

 Friday late-morning

Typical morning when there is no work.  It was, I should say, until the new guy called.  "There's nothing wrong with your park or anything." Obviously having trouble getting to the point of his call, he eventually asks if I have a jack?  Flat tire, his jack is missing out of his truck, couldn't find anyone in the park, can you help?  This guy is just starting a new job, didn't really want to have him starting out on the wrong foot so I ran over there, we got the tire off, took it to a shop, got a plug in it and he's good to go.

Then the 4 day stay called. "We're coming in today but I have a couple of questions for you". Sure. "Forecast rain the next several days, how is your drainage there?".  Obviously never been to my park before. The pads are elevated probably 6 inches off the ground.  Storm drainage is good and I only have an issue when the entrance to the pipes get clogged up. It takes 10 seconds to fix.  

In other words, no, I do not have drainage issues, well the driveway but that won't affect them or anyone else for that matter, it just makes the driveway a mess and needs attention.  Whatever.  I do what I can do, I won't fix the driveway until after all this rain is over and done with. It will stop eventually.  

After that, the next door neighbor after I got home.  Discussing a falling, dead vine. These are 2 inch thick vines and occasionally fall from the trees. After that, she was asking if I know anyone that could install electrical outlets? Sure, James can. Actually, I can, but I'm not crawling through people's roof crawl spaces running wiring, no thank you.

Now?  I dunno.  The rain stopped me from even thinking about doing the trenching for the underground line, at the same time, it's not raining!  

As for work canceling, I dunno about that either.  My plans are being delayed or even stopped by this constant work nonsense.   They give me the work, I'll do it whether I want to or not.  I don't complain about it tho I have said something about giving me late loads and now finding out they're giving those loads to the new guy. That doesn't work in my world.  The point is there are so many cancellations and I'm finding out others are not having their loads canceled. 

In other words, I'm the dude with an RV park with secondary income, my work is expendable. That's what I'm getting out of it and I'm going to have to start forcing the issue.  A pay raise is worthless if you don't have the work to turn in to be paid for.  I can't even imagine what my next check will be, abysmal I'm sure.  Like no better than what it was before the pay raise or even worse.  How does this help me? 

Constant conundrums, it seems.  Still waiting for pricing on tractors from TYM.  I dunno what to expect, I was just informed they have better pricing, more bang for your buck.  I mean, if it's the same price as everyone else but comes with more attachments, that's something to consider, attachments are expensive and I need a variety of them. 

That's it for now. I'm going to get something to eat and get some stuff done around here.

 A rep from the local TYM dealer got back to me via email, so we communicated back and forth. They are going to work up quotes for various packages and get back to me, presumably tomorrow since it's almost 8 pm already.  

5 days off work and not having worked that much the week leading up to it isn't going to play out too well on my next paycheck.  I will be forced to take an owner's draw from the business account, unfortunately. I don't want to eat into the money my mom gave me.  I haven't taken much from that account this year, however and hope to keep it down quite a bit.  

I was speaking with the new people, the man is doing all kinds of work at the park.  He was contacted by a former employer asking him when he's coming back to work? He was working a golf course in Oklahoma somewhere, they lay him and others off during the winter season.  Not much of a job if you have to go find a new one every winter, but that's just my view of it. 

They are stuck here.  They have their trailer and receive a bit of money every month from a rental house they have somewhere, or so they say.  Real nice people, the man is far from lazy, I will give them free lot rent as long as they stay if the work keeps up.  I also gave them permission to take the refrigerator out of the motorcoach if they want it.  I warned them of rats and cockroaches in the unit, but I am pretty sure it still works and yes, the inside of the thing is disgusting, sorry.  I mean, this guy is the kind of person I have been looking for and I didn't even know they were interested in working around the park until after they moved in. 

I need the help, frankly.  

___________

Interlude.  Text message informing me the washing machine won't accept quarters. That thing filled up quick!  I ran over there and emptied the bins on both machines, quite the haul.  And, finally remembered to measure the blades on the riding mower, however, I took a pic of the model number of the machine so I would get the correct parts the first time.  

Those have been ordered and here between the 28th and May 2.  It was the fastest shipping I could find for the kit, everything else was going to take even longer.  Shrugs shoulders.  It will be repaired next week providing it arrives and it's all the correct stuff.  One of the things that hooks up to the pulley on the top to make the blade turn on the bottom was broken and wasn't working at all.  The blades were completely trashed. 

I knew the blades were trashed, I didn't know why the mower wasn't cutting. Taking off that deck wasn't the easiest thing in the world but it wasn't terribly difficult either.  It's that part about laying on your side, removing the pins to drop the thing off of there.  Once you get that accomplished, it just slides right out and you can put it up on it's side to inspect the bottom.  I thought about ordering a new deck - until I saw the price tag at almost $350 and said no thanks.  We'll just hope this will do it, if there are more parts needed, then so beit.  

And another 4 night stay just booked on the second lot I am using for overnighters, coming in tomorrow.  This would be great if I could get enough business on the 2 lots to keep them overnight/short stay lots.  My daily rate is the lowest in the area.  Not by too much, but enough to attract those that are staying here for local attractions or usually, something to do with one of the 3 colleges in town. Oh. Well the second overnight lot is temporary - but if it could fill up with enough reservations I would make it permanent or at least keep it open for a few months.  

I don't like charging less, but it's the only thing that has worked to get the business in there.  My reputation is slowly growing.  I still only have 10 google reviews that, that kind of sucks.  After all of these people coming and going and a number of them saying how much they like it, it would be great if they could express that to the world and let people know it's a good overnight stop or long term location. 

I'm trying to craft a path forward here.  In regards to expanding the park. It must be done and I don't want to wait forever.  I'm 60 years old, my energy is slowly dissipating and my stamina as well.  I can still work and get stuff done on the physical labor side, but it's not the same as it was 10 years ago even.  It would have been nice to have started this endeavor 10 years ago, I would be sitting pretty right now.  

I just know that I don't have until the second of never to move along with this.  30 spots total is the next goal, maybe 45 after that.  What do I need? Money of course.  But, specifically, I need septic system.  I get another one of those in the ground and I'm going to be pushing ahead to get the rest of it done.  

I can pay cash for the septic system - if I get a tractor.  If I don't get a tractor, then it's going to be difficult but  not impossible to go ahead and get this situation rolling without getting a loan. 

I have been giving this whole thing considerable thought.  Waiting for a few years to expand is not the greatest idea.  At the rate I'm going, however, that's how long it would take to save up enough money for a sizeable down payment for the loan I would need to get this all done by a contractor versus doing it myself.  

Doing it myself means I can just do 3, 4 or 5 lots at first and then just add as I can afford it.  

It's getting late and my brain is fried right now. Far too much thinking today, lots of things came at me and it was a lot to take in.  Plus the daily grind of people wanting this and that, the new people needing a refrigerator, my mother, tractor inquiries, etc.  

 Thursday mid-morning

No point leaving here until around 10:00 am.  The load time is 1 and I can show up maybe an hour early without them getting cranky about it.  I don't need to wash out the trailer, that's already been done.  Saves me quite a bit of time, actually.  I'm hoping tomorrow they will have my truck done and I can pick it up on the way back from Gurdon.  

So, out of all the replies to my inquiry about tractors and what does anyone use for their RV park, one of them stood out after I did a little research.  I've never heard of TYM tractors and I don't really know the quality of the brand, but the pricing is definitely good.  You get far more tractor for the same price as everything else that is much smaller and limited usability comparatively speaking.  So, I put in an inquiry to the nearest dealer, which is in Carthage, some 25-30 miles away.  

The only dealer in town is John Deere and frankly, I am not hearing the greatest news about them, especially when it comes to implements and the idea you can't use aftermarket stuff on them. The guy quoted 12k for a hoe attachment which is double everything else I'm seeing online.  Double. The only upside is that they are local and any issues would be much easier to deal with in taking the thing to a local store instead of driving out of town. 

One down side to a larger tractor is that I won't be able to pull it on a trailer with my SUV. Too much weight.  I can pull the smaller ones, I know that because I have done it already with renting a tractor, a bobcat and a mini-ex at the local rental store.  It's not that I want to take the tractor anywhere, but if it needs repairs, unless TYM has mobile repair truck, I'm going to face having someone to pay someone to haul it. 

Yes, I'm still about this tractor business, it's hard to get around it.  If I had one, I could just fix the driveway right now and then come back and fix it again if the next round of rain messes it up again.  I could start dirt work on the south side of the rv park getting it leveled and cleared out.  Just before a bunch of trees grow back...

And more people are lauding the virtues of the TYM brand.  I've got my request in, they are going to call some time today.  

The lady that moved out of lot 1 and just dumped all that trash around the dumpster wants to come back for her mail.  She never sent the money she said she would for the cleanup costs. My thoughts were to send her mail back to the sender, but, I dunno. I haven't replied to her yet.  I saw her buying tacos and drinks the other day at the festival - after her claims that she's completely broke.  If you're broke, you're not going to festivals spending the money it costs on food at festivals, it's not exactly low cost eating.  It's like ballpark style pricing and it sort of set me off.  

Anyway, work called a few minutes ago and informed me my load has cancelled as well as several other loads.  I figured this would happen, I didn't figure my manager would know nothing about it.  The plant had shut down, the cleanup they were doing was extensive, the tanks were almost full when I was offloading, so yes, it's not shocking they can't take product right now.  It's just that it sort of throws my entire day off.  I would be leaving here in about 15 minutes. Now? I may just do laundry all day long, there is plenty of stuff I'd like to get washed such as bedding and dog bed and stuff like that.

Meanwhile, I called my mother after finding out my load cancelled, she had some things she wanted to tell me.  Basically, her health is starting to decline.  She's almost 90 years old.  I won't go into specific details, she wouldn't want me saying such things on the internet so I won't go there.  She's got some issues, some of them sound rather serious to me, quite serious.  She is taking it with a grain of salt. 
She's at that age, she's ready to go whenever it's time.  I understand where she's coming from but it certainly isn't easy to hear such information about your own mother. 

What's next?  I dunno.  I'm sort of sitting here taking all of this in.  I'm also listening to arguments from Trump's lawyer to the Supreme Court.  They are broadcasting it on the news, interestingly enough. This is the situation with Presidential immunity and whether it applies to Trump. Actually, the SCOTUS will have to wade into unknown waters with this hearing.  It will be interesting to see how they rule on this.  But, I don't think I've ever listened to arguments being brought before the SCOTUS.  

Trump is in New York court, where the judge there said he couldn't attend the SCOTUS hearing under threat of arrest.  Would they actually arrest a former President?  I think these leftist/activist judges would, indeed, do that.  To the point I was reading in the news yesterday that Secret Service is preparing for a potential scenario where he actually is thrown in jail and how they would handle it.  I love these leftist politicians wanting to add a bill saying that any president found guilty of a felony - or whatever the wording of it is - will lose Secret Service protection.  In other words, they want this President killed. I find no other way to interpret it, they hate Trump and if you listen to some of these people, they'd rather he be dead.  It's a pathetic view of a political opponent you don't like, kill them!  Unbelievable.  

Anyway, not to get into politics too much, but what we are witnessing now is unprecedented.  

_______

I'm off work until next week. If it wasn't slated to rain 4 out of the next 5 days, I'd be getting the tractor rental and doing the driveway.  TYM tractor called back, some person that barely speaks English wanting information and then a recorded announcement: THIS CALL IS BEING RECORDED.  No thank you. I don't know if this person is actually with TYM and why do you need to record me?  They then texted me after I told them I'm not interested in being recorded (nor was I interested in "talking" with a person whose first language is clearly not English and sounds like they are IN that other country).  I'm pretty much solidified on my views of scams being so rampant, you really have to question anyone that calls or texts you when it comes to a business soliciting you for sales/work and whether they actually represent that business or if it's something a bit on the darker side of things. 

I will call the local TYM dealer and find out about financing directly.  

I decided to start laundry, at least for now. My manager just called back, the load I was going to take tomorrow is also cancelled, I wont be working until next week.  

 Wednesday - mid morning

As I said, I have today off and I am in no hurry to do anything.  Like, sit here, drink coffee, muse about different things, decide what I'm going to do and do it.  I will probably try to get the deck off the riding mower, pull it out from underneath it, turn it upside down and find out what the problem is - and hope I can find parts locally.  I know it needs new blades, but there is something else going on underneath there. 

And, it looks like it will be a PITA to get that thing off of there, I have no choice. Either do it myself or take it somewhere and pay considerably more to have it fixed.  I'll try myself, I have fixed several other things on it, only taking it to a shop for a cable that I didn't want to fool with. 

If the forecast is right, we have a lot more rain coming.  To the point I wonder if I shouldn't be trying the grass seed again.  I don't know what happened to the last stuff. It's possible I put it down too early, ie: several days before it was going to rain and perhaps the seed got moist but then didn't stay moist.  Perhaps put the seed down the day of the rain.  This is the time of year to do it, that's all I can say about it.  Free water from the sky without the hassle of sprinklers having to be set up everywhere....

The one month stay is due to leave today before noon.  Yup, I'll be going over there to check. The dog lady that was always claiming she was cleaning up dog poop was moving her stuff out of her trailer yesterday, I am assuming she is having that thing pulled out of there. She hasn't communicated with me in probably a month now.  Don't really care, others have said she is angry with everyone and one of them thought "money has gone to her head".  She received a large settlement from the state on cash payments for disability.  Plus a decent check that has started being deposited into her account every month.

She's so disabled, she can walk all over the place, throwing toys in the doggy park for her dog and basically getting around just fine.  I don't know how some of these people get on disability and live the "high" life, so to speak, for free.  Some people should get it, for sure, I am not saying throw everyone out to the wolves, but there are many people I have observed in my lifetime getting "free" government money that don't appear to have anything wrong with them at all.  If you can walk and pick things up and move around normally, unless your disability is a mental one, I don't see how you should be getting this free money. Retired, obviously, is the other one I fully agree with.

If you are retired and you paid into the system, I do not considering it an "entitlement".  I am entitled to the money I dumped in there that funded a bunch of other people's retirements.  Very disconcerting that in 9 years, if they don't do anything which they probably won't, SS payments will be reduced to you only getting 75% of what you are owed.  Republicans have wild ideas of doing away with it altogether, all well and fine, I wouldn't be opposed to that, as long as it is graduated.  Meaning, if you are retired, you get whatever you are already getting. If you are close to retirement, same.  In fact, a whole new system would have to affect the younger generation.  I am for having personal accounts you dump your money into that isn't government controlled and doesn't have penalties for taking it out "early".  I paid a hefty chunk of change to cash out my 401k's. I don't regret it tho.  

The park is worth far more than the money I took out for retirement.  At least 3 times the amount.  I've got 400 to 500k worth of property/business.  I'm just going on what other parks are being valued at around the country and more specifically near my park.  I do wonder if the one that is being sold for almost 2 million ever sold. It's an old behemoth.  I also wonder what kind of profit margins that new park is making.  

I put an ad boost on Facebook, the ad shows on my business facebook account and then is boosted from there.  Some guy got on there saying "great price" followed by another dude who said: "no it isn't" He went off on how so many RV parks are being built and "shop around". The first guy countered that the average is around $500.  Nah, this dude says, condemning my ad and my park.  I would have found it amusing,  the guy is clueless, I have done my homework.   Instead, I didn't feel the need to have some dude sh******* on my parade, so I deleted his comments and blocked him. This is my business, not a political debate group.  Another posted a stupid meme, apparently Facebook targeted people that aren't into RV's or have any use for an ad that is irrevelant to them.  He posted the meme and then blocked me, lol.  I deleted that as well.

Still, the ad has garnered over 100 likes and several shares.  And still yet, I have only had one person come out of that ad. But, for $35, I won't complain too much.  Especially since the dude is working at a local college and hopefully will be sticking around for a while.  

Next infusion of money to come in on the 28th. 

Electric bill $900.  That's only $100 more than last month.  It'd be nice to get another month of reprieve from high electric bills.  

Well enough of this.  My lazy time is over.  Just not feeling it this morning, meaning not really wanting to do much of anything.  But, I need to get over there and at least see who's still there and what's available.  I will look at the mower and decide whether I want to get involved with that or not, lol.

And finally, there is rain slated to begin Friday and going through Tuesday.  It's why I didn't rent the tractor today, there is no reason to spend $400 and have the driveway get completely trashed all over again 2 days later.  I do hope the forecast is wrong....

G'day

 So I drive up to Gurdon, unload, leave, make the 1-1/2 hour drive to Eldo, pull in the yard.  I had already spoken with the manager a little while earlier and he had sent me the trailer and truck number I was to use while my truck is being fixed. 

Good deal.  I pull around, park the truck, get out, walk all over the place looking for this other truck, finally find the thing, fire it up, air it up, move it over next to my truck.  I open the doors and start moving stuff.  It isn't going to be a lot, I wasn't about to move everything, just everything I would need.  

Let's back up a minute. It was after 4 and everyone had gone home.  But, as usual, there was a truck in the parking lot sitting there idling with a driver sitting in the driver's seat. I thought nothing of it, it's quite normal to see drivers in there taking rest breaks or having to have come in for repair work, whatever.  

Well, I'm moving my stuff and this dude come right up to me, gets in my face and starts barking orders at me.  He wanted the trailer.  Why? I wondered, it was brought here to have an inspection.  He was taking it to the washout 45 minutes away.  Ok, well I'm moving my stuff, I'll be done in a minute and I'll drop the trailer. 

That wasn't good enough for him, he got right in my face and started telling me I need to do it right now!

I looked him square in the eye and said this isn't even going to take 5 minutes.  He started getting angry.  I just kept moving my stuff.  If he had wanted me to drop the trailer, he should have gotten my attention as soon as I stopped, not after I had parked, walked to get the other truck, pulled it up beside it and start moving things already.  If I had been that dude, I would have just said, ok, that's cool, I'll crank the landing gear down and unhook the air lines and pull the 5th wheel pin for ya.  

That is exactly what I would have done. Him? "I'm just trying to help you out".  I was highly annoyed by this "man" at this point, especially after he started calling me "boy" and talking to me like I was a child.  You can only push a person so far.  It was about the time he threatened to kick my @$$ that I dropped what I was doing and walked towards him.  What are you doing, he asks?  You're going to kick my @$$, do it right now.  He kept mouthing off like an idiot, but, he walked back to his truck and got into it.  

I went back to moving stuff and then, of course, he got back out. I was almost done at this point, it had taken maybe 5 minutes.  Where's the bills? What bills?  The BOL (bill of lading).  I have it here, what do you want it for?  You don't need a BOL for an empty trailer.  You're going to have to go over there and make a copy.  Again, this guy gets in my face, starts barking orders and telling me what to do.  I ignored him, was done moving and went around to crank the landing gear down.  He follows me over there.

I can say that at this point, I was starting to get angry.  This man starting all this s*** over nothing.  Just an a-hole, a total a-hole, looking for trouble and starting it with the wrong person, I was definitely not in the mood.  I wasn't in a bad mood before I came in there, I was just a man on a mission to get this day over with, get everything done and get home.  I had no idea that there was going to be a person waiting there for me.  Communication in this company isn't too good.  I still had a 2-1/2 hour drive home after everything I had already done.

After listening to him cussing me out even, more, enough was enough. Get the HELL out of my face, RIGHT NOW.  SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH WHILE YOU'RE AT IT.  He started walking away and I started following him. I was tempted to knock the teeth out of his mouth and didn't care the consequences, he was harassing me, not the other way around.  I stopped, however, decided that wasn't a good idea and went back to dropping the trailer and pulling the truck up to the shop.  No one was there, I just wanted it where they could easily find it in the morning, to hopefully get started on it right away.  Their trucks are all junk, I am used to this one, I don't want to start over in another pile of junk.  

He had backed his truck under the trailer, I again ignored him, got in the "new" truck, backed it under the trailer on the other side of the yard, started doing a pre-trip inspection.  Note that this truck and this trailer had been inspected by the mechanics and given a green light to go.  The trailer had a half flat tire and the truck had a broken hood latch. There are only 2 latches holding those huge hoods on there.  I ignored both, the shop was closed and I wasn't about to have to wait for someone to come over, if they would even do that, or worse, wait until the morning.  No thank you.  I just hoped the tire would hold since there was no weight on the trailer (no load/glue) and it did have some air pressure in it, but it was obviously quite low. No, there wasn't an air chuck available outside the shop, I checked for that.

NOW, this person comes back again.  I knew what he wanted and I didn't want to be around him, I was afraid I would react very badly to any further harassment and I would do whatever it took to make him get out of my face, stop the threats and stop cussing me out.  So I just said, yes, I'll go get a copy. Except, I realized that no one is in the office, it is locked and you can't access the copier, he expressed the same thing. No worries, I said, I'll deal with it and you can have this copy. 

No, we will have to call the manager. No, we won't. you can have this copy of the BOL, I don't need it.  Again, I don't need a BOL for an empty trailer, I don't know where he got his information and I don't care.  I got the tablet out, took pics and uploaded them to the system for processing, then took a pic of the BOL so I could reprint it at home. I do need a copy for records and I doubt he was going to bring it back to them.  While I was doing that, he walked back to his truck yet again, thankfully.  I got done uploading everything and walked half way over to his truck.  Waved the paper at him. I was pissed at this point and his stupid @$$ could get out of his truck and walk over and get it, or, he can leave without it, at that point I didn't care. 

What did he do? You guessed it, started mouthing off again.  I handed him the paper, he started chiding me and calling me boy and "next time I tell you to do something you better jump on it BOYYY, or I'll..." ENOUGH.  I walked at him again, this time I was angry.  I don't care what anyone else thinks, this is one of those 'you would have had to been there' type of deals where you hear the inflection and tone of his voice, the body language, his facial expressions, the vulgarity coming out of his mouth and the threats.  Especially the threats.  

What are you doing? I didn't say anything, I just started walking faster.  He ran to his truck, got in it and I turned around a walked off.  I don't know what is wrong with that person, I just know he apparently has either never had his @$$ kicked or it's been too long for him to be going around threatening people and mouthing off to them like that. I was literally minding my own damn business before he started in on me. 

He left quickly.  I still had pre trip to finish on the trailer.

The drive back was uneventful. The hood was shaking quite a bit for that broken mount, but the other one is good so I knew the hood wouldn't just fly off of there and I kept a watch on the side view mirror to ensure that tire was staying on there.  It made it back, I didn't feel like talking to anyone so I got out of that park quickly.  I noticed the man had done quite a bit more mowing, tho, it looks nice over there. 

What will I do about the hood? Probably nothing.  As long as the other one holds, it's good and I am hoping they can have my truck done in the next 3 days so I can do all of this over again and pick my truck up.  Tomorrow I have off, then late load Thursday and late offload Friday - and the hopefully get the truck.  They have me off this weekend, didn't ask for it off in fact I asked to work.  

However.... the plant was a disaster today.  I walked in to the main production floor and there was glue all over the everything.  Like some kind of disaster had occurred.  The conveyer chains that move the plywood did have sheets of plywood on them, but they had piles of sludge on each one of them. It was like a disaster zone, obviously the production line had been shut down but why? Well, that was answered: they were doing a clean up of everything.  I didn't ask for details, like why is there glue all over the floors? I mean a couple of inches thick worth.  I dunno, I guess maybe they have to disconnect glue lines to get at the machinery they were cleaning out?  

And, the new driver pulled up shortly after I had parked at the unloading bay.  I wondered what he was doing there so late? He apparently was the early load and that kind of got me going a little, they were supposed to be giving him the late loads.  I went up and introduced myself, he had gotten hung up at a Love's to get the truck inspected.  They made him wait so long that he ended up leaving, they kept putting him off and telling him it would be longer and then 4 hours.  Yup, sounds just like Love's.  

I looked at the tank levels before I left and wondered how they were going to fit another truckload in there? I guess he could offload half into one and half into the other. I dunno, not my problem and he was the late party, not me.  He wasn't complaining tho.  

And that's my day. Got home just in time for the boys to go to bed and made myself a philly cheese steak sandwich, what they had for dinner. I added peppers and onions to mine, put the thing in the oven, baked it for 10 minutes and then broiled it for several more. Delicious.  

The latest episode of Shogun is available to watch on Hulu. It's a pretty interesting show, lots of drama, Japanese themed and a lot of story line, don't feel like explaining any of that right now as I'm getting off of here, get a drink of something and then lay down and watch it.  

  

 Tuesday mid-morning

My expensive office chair that is only like 3 years old is done.  Hydraulic pressure leaks out and the seat sinks to the bottom most position.  For a person with long legs, that doesn't work.  I dunno if these chairs can be fixed, it was an almost $400 chair.  

Anyway, I decided leaving early was a waste of time and probably made the plant manager upset.  So, I intend on leaving at around 10:30 am and get to Gurdon around 12:50 pm.  It is what it is, shrugs shoulders, deal with it, move on.  It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to go to the yard after that and waste many more hours in today's ordeal. 

The Kubota dealer is bugging me about buying a tractor even tho I flatly told him his prices were worse than the John Deere store just down the road from me.  These stores are all firm on their prices and won't budge.  I'm needing a tractor, yes, Im not needing more debt slavery.  I just don't know if I want to get into those kinds of payments, therefore, I'm just sitting on it until I can make a decision.  

Swepco says may average bill is "$536", I was looking at their averaged monthly payment plan.  The problem? It goes back the previous 12 months, averages it out and then that's what your payment is.  Yeah, This time last year the park wasn't full.  However, the summer months were wild in terms of high prices so it's kind of strange it came up to that amount.  I would love to have that kind of payment every month!  In fact, the smallest bill I'll incur is during the spring months but if full, that bill is still going to be in the $800 range.  Guess I need to go through another year with the park full/nearly full to get a real averaging, until then, I'm just going to remain on whatever the current bill is.  

I'd just like to spread it out over the months and not have $2,500 in July while it's $800 in April.  

We must be slowing down for some reason for my loads are not that many.  I have today to finish this run, off tomorrow, another late run Thursday and Friday, off the weekend (which I didn't ask for, in fact, I said I would be happy to work this coming weekend) and then working Monday.  

The guys at the washout said the new guy is working his butt off, in there all the time.  I'm going to ask them again if he's still coming in there every other day, if he is, we're going to have issues.  Getting a pay raise but subsequently getting a work reduction isn't going to work for me.  Yes, I don't want to work, that's a given, I need  to work and was fully set on that idea.  Now they have this new guy and they'll just hand him the runs since he's working for lessor pay?  I could be wrong, of course, so I will wait and see what the washout people say on Thursday.  

That's only 2 runs in this week starting Monday, that doesn't pay the bills. It doesn't keep me where I can just live off the trucking money and keep the business account money IN the business account.  The best laid plans of men.....On the other hand, Thursday's run is the only run that day, according to dispatch.  So, maybe I'm actually getting more work than this new dude and these people at the washout are just saying that because he worked the weekend.  That or dispatch is lying to me.  I'll just stick with not lying, they don't seem to be that kind of people that work the office. Pretty much down to earth and honest, I do believe.

I guess the good news is that in the next 2 weeks, there will be a lot of money in that business account, if I need some of it, it's there.  

My mother is sending another 5k.  It's in the account, it's just pending. Remember, I am still sitting on the last money she sent.  With this extra money, I can easily install a septic system and get the electrical setup done.  There would still be dirt work, pad creation, trenching and installing pipe and electrical and gravel to go.  The plan would be to get 5 more spots in there.  

However.  If I just sit on this money as well and if  can save up enough money in the business account, I could just apply for a loan with the required 20% down and get all 15 lots done at once.  That doesn't pay for a pool, tho, so I guess I would have to save up 30k. I'm dead set on a pool because I am 100% sure it would not only draw people in, it would also enable me to increase my rent rates.  Or, charge a monthly fee for long term pool users and have a coded entry door to it - and a camera.  Well that's lame! I can hear the non--payers saying.  It would be open to any overnight guests and any long term guests that pay the extra fee.  It's just a gimmick to keep a park full and get more money out of the park.  

My current finances? I am getting close to half the money down I would need.  I do wonder if I put up collateral and that down money that I currently have if I could get the loan anyway?  I have the paperwork to fill out for the local bank.  Fill it out and find out.  This RV park business is going to get to where i want it, somehow, some way. This truck driving crap is for the birds, and I'm quite sure the birds don't like it either.  You get me double the income I have now and I can live off of that.  Doesn't mean I would quit my trucking job right away, just means that I would have a lot more income to then invest in amenities.  Besides a pool, a clubhouse  - not too large but big enough for small events to rent it out - would be nice as well as a pavillion.  And other things.

It's just a plain, basic park right now, hence I don't charge as much as other places to in order to get people to move in there.  

So, I have more pondering to do now.  Like, getting into a tractor loan would probably not be good for trying to get a business collateral loan with down payment.  If I really wanted to go crazy, add a house construction loan to it.  If I ever do that, it would likely be by splitting up the property into 2 - one being the 7ish acres of the RV park and the other the rest of the property in the rear.  It would take a real estate lawyer to draw that up for not only would the properties need to be legally separated into 2, the driveway easement would have to be written into it for permanent access to the rear of the property through that driveway. Otherwise, if I ever sold the RV park but wanted to keep the rear property, they could just nix my access and there would be no way in there excepting through gas line easements and that simply wouldn't work.  You aren't actually entitled to gas line easements on other people's property. 

As I always say, lots of things swirling around inside my head.

The main thing going on in there right now? 

It's time to get some coffee made, in the thermos and get out of here.  I am guessing I'll be lucky to be home by 7 or 8 tonight.

G'day

 My plans to get home at a reasonable hour tomorrow have been dashed.  We were going back and forth in texting about the schedule and then I said I'd be coming up before offloading to switch out trucks.  The dispatcher made some convoluted comment that made no sense so I had to ask for clarification. After several back and forths, I was finally able to come to the understanding that the trailer has to be empty as well for they want to do an inspection on it.  

I don't mind this at all, actually, even if it adds hours to the day. The reason is because the trailer I have now unloads painfully slow. Even on the best of days it takes it much longer than other trailers I've had to get all the glue out of it.  

This is probably the worst part of this job: anytime I have to go to the yard, it adds at least 2 hours and usually 3 to the day.  

Whatever. I knew tomorrow would be a long day.  

Then we get to Thursday load. They had sent me it last week, and it was early load. I noticed in my tablet today there was another load in there, so I clicked on it. Another load for the same day? And late loading? This is what I get when they don't communicate with me, it turns out the first load had canceled so they gave me second load.  They just aren't going through product up there as fast as we are bringing it.  They need to keep us, the dedicated drivers, busy with it and keep the OTR people out of it when it gets like that.  

Collected rent from the new guy and then got an odd call this evening from the college kid.  He had to take his truck into the shop, he claimed, so he only had $300 but could come up with the other $100 on the 6th.  He then started going off into a tangent about how he might be able to come up with the other money before then, but I cut him off: the 6th is fine, I have no problem with it. They've been at my park the entire school year, why get upset over $100 one time? He then asked if there was any work he could do? No, I have a new guy to do that, but please don't worry about the $100, pay it when you get it, it's no big deal.

Apparently this was stressing him wayyyyyy more than me, for 2 minutes later, I got the $100 payment. Lol, ok?  He texted: I didn't want to hold you up on rent and a friend loaned me the $100.  ?? Ok.  I'm not going to complain about getting my money, but I really did not have a problem with waiting and tried to convey that to him.  

Whatever the case, I collected $800 today and more to come.  

The new people - the dude was doing a lot more mowing today.  I'm fine with that, I'm fine with giving them up to $300 off on their rent. They aren't occupying a regular lot and tho the electricity will cost me this summer, it's still a good trade off in my mind.  The riding mower isn't working, something wrong with the deck, I need to take it off of there and find out what's wrong and fix it.  He's just using the new push mower on everything and doing a lot of it. 

I'm trying not to let this dude get chummy with me. Mark did that and tho I didn't want it, in fact I told him to his face I really didn't want his help with anything, he still decided to force his way into my business and then, well you know the story/ies if you were reading this blog during that time. Mark is a truly forgettable person and I don't want to dwell on him.  I don't mind being friends with people - as long as they aren't trying to take advantage of the situation.  It's trying to figure out their intent, that takes time.  Unless they blab something out that reveals their motive.  

I actually had no idea they were wanting to work for rent.  I wouldn't have agreed to it, people are lazy and just want to take advantage of you. I've been down that road enough times. However, once I saw that he is actually getting some stuff done, I'm good with it - as long as he keeps it up. 

Anyway, it's been a long day, for I had the late load and I didn't get back til late afternoon and then eat dinner and then off to the youngest' baseball game.  They were brutalized by that other team who blew them away. But, it turns out, that other team is a tournament league team that sticks together. I really have a problem with a youth baseball association allowing that to come into what is otherwise mostly a bunch of players that know nothing about the game and are just getting started.  They'll easily win the league and it's not even real competition for them.  So what's the point? Kids getting lessons in humility and losing?  I mean, yes, they should get a dose of that, but a team that way outclasses every other team doesn't really even belong in that league - or - they should split ;them up between the teams to give everyone a fighting chance.  

That's just me and take on the younger kids in baseball. Once they start getting older, sure, they can go for the throat and it becomes highly competitive. Or at this age, these kids and their parents all into it that they are basically playing ball year round.  I did youth sports - baseball - for 10 years in a Little League and I was on the board, coaching, umpiring, crowd control, you name it.  I'm pretty well versed in this stuff.  Not like it just went out of memory banks.  

The one month stay people should be leaving in 2 days.  I have one lot available right now, but I'm going to have that other one available as well and probably a couple more in a short period of time.  My Facebook ad is still running, I got this new guy in here and unless he gets unhappy with the park, he's there for a while. He took a job at TXTC (state university in town here) and I am the closest park to his job.  Much closer, in fact.  But it's not enough. I really try to keep the park full and a few bucks spent on ads is worth it to me.  

I also kind of think I'm spinning my wheels trying to fill up 15 more spots? Without the amenities to get them in there?  I dunno about that.  Namely, a swimming pool. Yes, I know I have discussed this subject at length and I'm not going to go into great depth here, but I really think if I want to get higher rates and more spots filled especially with overnighters, a pool is the way to go.  If I really want to find a loan for something, maybe a pool loan is what I really should be looking for.  I can raise my rates and pay for the pool payments, maintenance and then some.  

I just throw things around in my head, all the time, folks.  I was looking today at how I would want to create more lots. Seems like moving the doggy park is going to have to happen, that or have to create another huge entrance, wasting a lot of space where I could put more pads.  But then I thought, I sometimes struggle getting enough people in here. Not all the time, but there are instances where numerous people are all leaving at around the same time. Not because they are unhappy with my park, a lot of these people are temp workers who get moved around all over the place.  

And frankly, if I could attract more overnighters, I would make a lot more money.  That's just the nuts and bolts of it. Expenses would go down as well, namely: electricity.  You free a space up at noon and the next people don't come in until 5, 6 or later?  That's all those hot afternoon hours during the summer when no one is there and not using electricity.  It was my goal from the get-go to do mostly overnighters. My fantasies were dashed with reality, when I realized that your name has to "get out there" for awhile and you have to build a good reputation that slowly and over time gets spread out across the country.  I have people stopping in from all over the country. Not just Texas or neighboring states.  

BTW. I have 74 likes on my latest boosted ad. Amazing that has only translated into one person showing up.  I don't know who all of those people are, lol.  

Well enough of this.  My business account is going to start looking pretty nice with far more money coming in than going out - the next electric bill hasn't posted yet but I doubt it's going to be much more than the previous month. Maybe a few hundred dollars difference.  And I"ll be collecting another 4 grand before then.  It's all nice fine and dandy until you realize high electric bills are coming and then the end of the year will come once again and taxes and insurance due - once again.  

 Monday - 8:00 am

I mean, it's a 1:00 pm load and they don't like people showing up too early at the plant, so I'm just sitting here biding my time until I figure I can leave, get the trailer washed out and show up there at the plant maybe an hour early.  Or less, actually, maybe leave here at 9:30 am and then I'll only be maybe a half hour early.  They pulled that stunt a while back on the second load where they made me wait an hour and half after my appointment time, I just don't need a repeat of that.  Might as well just sit at home and drink coffee.

Tomorrow is the much longer day with not only a late load, but having to stop at the yard and switch trucks.  Since I have the late load, I will just leave here early, go to the yard first, switch out and then go to Gurdon.  It's 2-1/2 hours to El Dorado, actually more like 2 hours 45 minutes even tho it's a shorter distance than going to Gurdon.  Half hour at least at the yard switching out and then almost 2 more hours up to Gurdon? I'm just leaving here at my normal time for the early load and that should have me in Gurdon after noon.  

Meanwhile, I'm watching these anti-Israel protestors.  Their premise is absurd, their reasoning is based on propaganda.  Hamas is the target, a terrorist group that has done nothing but murder innocent people since it's inception. They have no loyalty to the Palestinians.  Israel is not targeting Palestinians but these people are calling it genocide.  They completely ignore the atrocity Hamas committed against Israel in killing innocent civilians inside Israel territory, they don't care that Hamas used and uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, they are right!  

But, we've seen such protests at universities through the decades of my existence, I just think this takes it to the next level, but on a religious perspective.  Israel is the apple of God's eye and coming against it may be setting yourself on dangerous territory. At the same time, the Bible tells us that the "beast" will rise up in Jerusalem at the holy temple itself and tells the Jews to run to the hills when they see the signs of this occurring.  It would not surprise me in the least if we were at the verge of the end times.  

And we have this sham of a trial against Trump going on today in federal court. Sorry, but I don't believe this and the rest of the charges being brought against him are anything but a political hit job.  The left fears Trump being elected into his second term as President and they are and have been willing to do anything to stop him.  There is a long list of things they have already tried, this is just the next cog in the wheel of a two-tiered justice system.  

Whatever. I just shake my head in disgust at the way politics and politicians are acting out right now, along with the DOJ and other prosecutors who have a mission to stop him from becoming President. Let the people decide at the ballot box.  I believe these trials are turning Trump into a political martyr and will have the opposite effect that these people believe it will have.  Even the polls are showing that people that are undecided on who to vote for are saying that these charges are politically motivated.

I guess I'm a bit more interested in the Middle East tho, because of the potential for what the Israel-Palestine-Hamas-Iran situation could turn into.  

My latest paycheck wasn't as good as the previous one. I expected that, however, for I was off too many days. In fact, they still haven't updated the tablet, I have no idea what days I will be working this coming week, which is a bit unusual for this company that normally loads the thing up with work going on 10 days in advance.  

I keep watching CreditKarma for they are the best source of loans that I have found - anywhere.  So far, the best offer is 17.9% on a 5 year loan for 20k.  That is actually much better than any of the other offers available.  I've got offers in there for 32k loans that have you end up paying 28k in interest.  So, yeah, no.  The feds have indicated they aren't convinced about inflation and that they aren't yet ready to start lowering interest rates again.  What a jacked up system.  Make us pay!  I wonder why the federal government should have that much control over  the monetary system to begin with.  

This nonsense all started with COVID, people getting ridiculous amounts of "free money" and spending trillions of dollars in "covid relief" stimulus.  The government spends ridiculous, unbelievable amounts of money we don't have on a crisis that didn't need that much money thrown at it, tells people to stay home while they're at it and then...we have the mess going on now.  Oh, it's the best economy in 40 years! ...they tell us, while completely ignoring the fact that interest rates have skyrocketed, the cost of groceries are forcing people to use credit cards, the cost of energy has also skyrocketed....etc....ad-infinitum.  

I'll get off of that soapbox, I am watching the news and most of it is forgettable but there are snippets of the Israel protesters are universities, cops being killed and the Trump trial going on. OH! and let's not forget giving Ukraine 6i1 BILLION dollars!  Zelensky is NO friend of the US, btw.  

Anyway, what's up now?  Meh.  Collect money from the new guy, check my book to see who owes what and see if I can find the other new guy/wife and discuss what's next for them.  The amount that is deducted from their rent relies solely on the amount of work he will do.  

I haven't seen any signs, whatsoever, that the grass seed I put down is coming up. At all and anywhere.  I will be inspected the entire area again, but it appears that $83 is down the drain.  Ahh, so yeah. 

So, I may take the John Deere tractor offer. Maybe.  I need to see when that shed is going to be paid off.  That payment being redirected towards a tractor payment would cover about 2/3rd's of the monthly payment and coming up with the rest would be relatively easy.  I'm waiting for the next statement to come in from the loan company for the shed, I throw those things in the trash as soon as I get them and didn't check what the payoff date is the last one that showed up.  I think it's getting close, like 5 or 6 months.  

The fact of the matter is: I need some kind of earth moving equipment out there.  Endless renting may work, I guess, I'm still weighing the advantages and disadvantages.  If I could get a tractor with a backhoe attachment, this would help greatly.  Trenching becomes readily available without renting a machine every time.  

Honestly, to, I'd rather get a new vehicle.  Not new new, but something a little closer to the year we are currently in. That thing is 13 years old, a gas guzzler and tho it's been pretty reliable, the the seats and the carpet is getting bad and if I'm going to keep it, I'm going to have to have it reupholstered.  The exterior is still in great condition, a few small dings from people opening their car doors against it.....

A tractor payment would come out of the business account, but a car payment would be personal finances.  It's not really in the cards right now, I'm just dreaming I guess.  

I really just need another 15 lots out there.  And a swimming pool to draw people in there.  

And with that, it's getting close to departure time.

G'day

 A fun day.

Church was good and the message really got me to thinking about my relationship with the Lord and also the end times.  He didn't specifically say or intone that we are in the last times, I have had my own thoughts about that tho.  Really, what it boils down to is, whether Christ returns in our lifetimes or not, are we prepared to meet our Maker?  Because it's going to happen regardless.  I pretty much got lost in thought and had to resurface to take in more of the message.  

After that, to Applebee's.  It took about 30 minutes to get our food. For that place and considering the place was nearly full (which is miraculous in itself), I was pretty happy about it. Our waitress was attentive and returned often enough to check on us but not too often, if you understand that.  It is actually just as irritating to have a server coming back too often as it is one that doesn't come back often enough.  This was the bartender serving us tho, even tho we were nowhere near the bar.  Either they were short handed or the GM was just making sure we were getting half decent service - yes she was there.

At the end, I did tell the waitress that I wanted the comp meal. She gave a weird look on her face, comp meal? Yes, this meal is free, just ask the GM, she knows about it.  Maybe 5 minutes later she came back with a receipt, it was $70 which is actually more than we usually spend there.  I tipped the bartender more than 20%, I'm not going to stiff her simply because this was supposed to be a free meal.  I really don't stiff servers at all unless it's really, really, reeeeaaaalllllyyyyy bad service.  And if it's that bad, the management is going to be called over, which I rarely ever do either, excepting in this case where I spent an hour and forty five minutes waiting for my food - which never arrived.  

I think most people would agree waiting almost 2 hours for food, being told 3 times during that wait that it's "done" and still not arriving, that you would probably walk out of the place and you would have a beef with whoever is responsible for it.  Or not, we are all different and we don't all have the same gearing in our reactions to things. 

After that, we went to the "Touch A Truck" festival. It's where businesses and government entities bring their trucks and rigs.  Fire trucks, ambulances, school busses, all kinds of police vehicles, hearses, other kinds of rigs and all kinds of tent booths set up giving kids free fidget toys and candy.  We stayed there for 3 plus hours going to every single booth and truck. My legs gave out on me and the boys were finally getting tired at the end as well. We had found a large area in the grass where they had wands that you dip into 5 gallon buckets filled with water and liquid dish soap to make floating bubbles.  They did that for quite a while along with dozens of other kids before they finally got tired of it and agreed, yes, it's time to go home.

Didn't matter, they were all tearing everything down and leaving anyway. 

Home.  Watched a few movies, kept getting asked to watch kids playing video games, so attention divided between the 2 and now? 9 pm, going to bed in an hour or so.  I don't have to get up particularly early since I have the late load and the plant is none too keen on people arriving there too early, they'll just make you wait.  I figure to show up there after noon, maybe around 12:30 or even a little later.  So, yes, I don't need to get up early for that. It's an hour and a half to the washout, usually around 30-40 minutes to get that done, 35 minutes to the plant from there.  

Oh, and yes, that dude did indeed show up to the park today, trailer in tow and parked at lot - 4 I think. Doesn't really matter, just didn't want him at lot 1.  I never went over there today, no need to and was too busy taking it easy. This week, I have no idea beyond Monday and Tuesday, unless they have updated the tablet, one moment please.....play some Jeopardy music.....oh my, I left the thing in the car. I guess I'll have to go out and get it, I always check it the night before and the morning of any run.  They change it too often and don't give a head's up.  I do want to work tomorrow, well, I don't want to work, I need to work, let's clarify that. 

I definitely didn't want the late load. Oh well.  

Reservations keep coming in for 1, 2, 4 day stays.  This is great. Almost tempted to leave 2 spots open for short term stuff.  We'll see.  If the demand picks up, I will leave 2 spaces empty, excepting now. If another person wants to come for long term, I'm giving the other available spot out, for I know more people are leaving soon and I will need the people in there.  

Which reminds me, I guess I need to get that tractor back over there and do the driveway yet again.  Hands are tied on that one, can't leave it like that. So, $800 about to get removed from the account for earth moving equipment rental. The tractor and the mini ex.  I'm just going to wait until they do, for unknown reasons, not give me anything for trucking for 2 or more days and get that stuff done.  I might be able to get that new guy to help me with the underground wire installation.  

Enough. Going to bed soon.