Wednesday - evening

Long day.  It's 2 hours and 40 minutes up there and the same back.  Tho that's a  little bit, the problem was they wanted to go through the whole truck.  I got in there and they told me at least 3 hours and that was with 2 of them working on it - but also included taking an hour lunch break.  It was 4 hours before I left there. 

I took the company van to a local restaurant, it was an old, wooden, passenger rail car that had been turned into a cafe, tho I tend to call such things diners.  Whatever it was, the food was quite good.  Amazingly good, in fact.  Spartan crowd, friendly people.  I was only gone maybe an hour and then I still had 3 hours to burn, so I just went into the driver's lounge - no one in there, muted the noisy tv and took a couple of naps, actually.

I had wished I had taken my laptop this morning, I didn't even think about it.  Maybe next time I go up there I'll remember.

Anyway, I am not scheduled to load until Friday morning.  I picked up a different trailer, this one is actually in good condition and they just replaced all of the brake components - slack adjusters, brake shoes, bearing, hardware and even the caps with windows that go over the hubs.  They put windows in there to be able to check that there is oil in the axles.  

Typically, it's a much longer day going up there and today was no different, tho I hoped it would be lol.  

Still no bites on any of my ads.  I hate to run a Google ad for much more money and get nothing out of it, but I'm sort of stuck here with 6 empty lots and I really need to get some of them filled. This is the time of year where you are making more money because the electric bill goes down for lack of hot weather.  I've run free facebook and a couple of pay facebook boosts and tho I'm getting some overnight traffic, no long term has appeared.  

Tomorrow might be a good day to get all of that wood off of my trailer and get it ready to go find a hot tub somewhere, or carry stuff back to the park to build a carport or whatever.  That wood has been sitting on that trailer for months, I'm tired of it stopping me from access to my trailer.   It's not my doings but if I want the use of my trailer back, I apparently am going to have to offload it.    

 Wednesday - early

Didn't sleep all that great, but I feel fine anyway.  Today will be a relatively easy day with no loading or unloading, but still going to take at least the same amount of time as doing either.  4-1/2 hours of driving total, if I'm lucky and unknown amount of time at the yard doing this and that.  I dunno, but it's why I'm up early.  Get it done and get the day over with as early as possible, I can take a nap when I get home.  

Temps have taken a turn for the better, currently 49 degrees outside, I'm done with summer, thanks.  Over the next few weeks, the highest it will get is 86 degrees and the lowest is 41.  This is all very good for me. The only thing not so great is that there is very little chance of rain in the next 15 days.  I need a good week's worth of light rain to throw some winter grass seed down everywhere including the freshly cleaned out front and get some nice looking rye grass growing. 

The stuff is so easy to grow, one wonders why they can't "invent" see that is the same for summer grass.  

I did fire up the truck yesterday, no, the day before, and let it warm up a bit and air up the tanks and air bags to ensure I didn't have any issues.  It did just fine, thankfully and so I'm hopeful they just will want to do the oil change, try to get them to fix the windshield wiper fluid motor and rotate some tires.  I have no idea about the trailer I"m picking up excepting that it's "just been through the shop" so it's "fine".  I've been told this many times over in the past only to find minor and even serious issues with them.  It will be one of the first things I do when I get up there, do a thorough inspection and make sure I don't see bad tires and such. 

I haven't been finding too much information on hurricane Helene victims, on many "news" outlets, the story has disappeared. Scroll down 40, 50 posts and nothing.  Weird.  Don't see much about these drones that have been hovering over military bases and - what are we doing about that? Or near them, I don't remember the story precisely, just know it was on or near bases.  Why aren't we shooting the things down?  

We're getting quite close to the election day where we'll get this nonsense over with and get the next President determined and move on with our lives.  

 I ended up getting a Lyft to the airport, found it in the same condition as I left it excepting a half flat tire and a paint scratch that definitely wasn't there before.  I filled the tire back up and of course no one leaves a message telling you they are sorry they dinged your vehicle.  

The ride was funny tho.  It was a black lady who was talking up a storm to her black friend (I am only saying the race because they thought it important to iterate it).  We got into this long conversation: the driver, her friend on speaker phone and me about life in general and then the proposal hit: I'm a young, beautiful black woman, single and I need a man!

Lmao! Ok?  I am not looking for a woman.  You've just been getting the wrong peoples!  I blew it off pretty quick, this lady on the phone was serious. I am definitely not looking for a woman and certainly not in some random encounter where I can't even see what she looks like.  

Today is the last day of vacation. It actually should have been over as of yesterday morning, but if my manager doesn't contact me and I am not feeling it, I won't call him.  But, I did contact him this morning, let him know I'm ready to come to work and he is having me come up there to get a trailer, get whatever needs to be done with the truck, get some paperwork and turn in papers.  I'm leaving the same time the kids do, which is typically when I leave for either direction on a run if I'm the first load.  

The truck needs an oil change the windshield wiper fluid motor isn't working.  It's the only things I can think of wrong with it beyond the AC which I have gotten used to and now we're going to be entering "winter" months, temps coming down.  Oh, there is a drive axle tire that is wearing funny for some reason, need to switch it to another position.  Save the tire from ruin before the rest of the tires wear down.  I figure to be there a couple of hours - at most.  I don't like going there for several reasons, but since it's the only thing I'm doing - not loading or delivering - not quite so bad. Plus, they have an empty trailer there so I don't have to drive clear over to the Crocket washout to get one. That adds at least 2 hours.  I was very happy to hear that.

That trailer should be washed out as well, so I won't even have to go to a washout.  

______________

Many hours later.  I wasn't going to leave the truck over at the park, I'd rather leave the SUV over there, but I never made it back over there and I don't have anything pressing to go over there for.  I've run endless ads and not making any progress for long term. I get calls but they don't convert into anyone showing up.  It's a bit disconcerting.  I have ideas for possibly bringing people in, but if I spend the money and nothing happens, then what? 

I've wasted money on a non-starter.  I don't want to throw money at this place and get no results.  I feel like I need to take a different direction with it but those directions are pricey.  Mobile homes, tiny homes, cabins.  In other words, also offering the housing.  When you are working with limited money, whatever decisions you make, you are stuck with them.  If they work, great, if they don't?  Not so great.  

I have the old motor coach the needs to be refurbished inside. The lady isn't going to do it. If she was, it would have been done by now.  It's too late anyway, she had the surgery done on her arm and that is going to stop her from doing much of anything for a while.  I don't think I'm much of a "refurbisher",  but I guess I could give it a try.  Tear out the carpet, tear out the entire kitchen setup, tear out the shower stall and replace with whatever I can find.  House type stuff, not RV stuff.  Much cheaper and just as easy to integrate.  

I may very well do that myself since I'm having no luck. It's really where I need to direct my attention I suppose, now that I think of it.  I could spend a couple thousand on it and hope that I can find a decent renter.  It will also need a new bed.  Or a very good used one anyway.  I think it's going to be a lot of work trying to figure out how to integrate a new shower in there.  It will be a lot of work to put in a new kitchen but I don't think that will be as difficult.  The toilet also needs to be replaced.  

Toilet - $150

Shower stall - small - $229

Kitchen counter stuff - around $300

New cooktop or stove with burners?  Now that will be a dilemma.  Do I put in propane or electric?  If I put in electric, will there be enough power in that thing to power it and the rest of everything else? Probably not.  I would likely have to go with propane.

Then you have to have a propane water heater.  Look, a lot of RV stuff is run off of propane. It's only a 30 amp setup, it has to have stuff running that isn't drawing off of that.  It can be a pain to have to get propane, but if you want to cook or have hot water? That's how it has to be.  

Some of this stuff could be found used and in good condition and I don't mind going that route to save money.  

I'm thinking carpet for everything but the kitchen area, which had carpet but kind of dumb I think to have that where you're cooking.  I'll be glad to get rid of that kitchen set up, it's old, bad condition and ugly.  I think that's it. That should be the next direction, that or installing at least one covered parking and well, everyone is all over the idea of a hot tub, even in the winter.  I'd have to have a concrete slab poured, get the hot tub and buy a cover kit to have it covered.  Not enclosed, just covered.  

These are the things I can do.  They're within reach and frankly, to bring new people in for the lots, the hot tub isn't going to cost that much and - who knows?  Maybe it will draw people in, maybe it won't?  I figure a grand for the slab, whatever for the hot tub - I may end up driving a longer distance to get a cheap one from the Dallas area - and a $300 soft top gazebo.  

I"m looking at a new gazebo for $258, 13X11 dimensions which is enough room for the hot tub and a table and a few chairs next to it.  I guess I'll have to put up a fence and a padlock door around it now that I think of it, that will add to the cost unfortunately.  I rarely get kids over there but it only takes one tragedy to ruin everything.  Well, even that isn't terribly expensive for enough to surround it with a gated entry.  

But, the gate has to be a self-closing type so the people who don't care whether the gate is left open or not won't cause someone else to have something happen. Honestly, the boys here are the only kids over there right now, that and one of the ladies bring her baby granddaughter over to watch while her daughter is working.  Still, for safety's sake, gotta do it. 

"There is a way which seems right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death".  Seems like a ghastly scripture to apply to such a situation, but I always think, hmm, it sounds good to me, but what does God have to say about this?  Is my thinking astray? What do I do to get the park filled again and keep it that way?  How do I get the people in there?  Good thing I have a job right now.....otherwise I might be in panic mode.  I'm just saying, what does the Lord have to say about any of this? Do I pull the trigger on any of this stuff or do I just sit patiently and wait until I see some definitive sign that I know it's the Lord showing his will? Or has He already done that and I've been blind to it? Or is my thinking about some of these things right on and His blessing would be upon it? 

I could go on like that for a while.  "Fools think they are right, but the wise listen to advice".  I haven't had any advice on this matter from anyone.  I'm certainly open to other's opinions, even if I think they are wrong I still hear people out to see if there is something to glean from what they are saying, especially in situations where I feel like I am groping in the dark. 

The book of Proverbs speaks about fools, sluggards, lazy people.  I think I will read that entire book again before I make any decisions. There is a lot of wisdom in that book and there might be something that speaks to my heart.  I feel like I am losing out on perhaps some input from church members who are also business men/women who could give me some direction.  I haven't gotten involved with the church - yet - after all the time I've been there. There are plenty of venues.  Wednesday morning bible study, Sunday morning adult groups, the Lord's Supper twice a week....they do it differently than most churches, they actually have a meal and then drink the blood/wine.  Well I doubt they are serving wine, that's sort of a Catholic thing moreso than in protestant churches.  

So there it is.  I've come up with some path to find wisdom.  Here's my thing: I am not a seasoned businessman.  I have spent a lot of time researching, and things have gone reasonably well until recently. People that were only staying temporarily - a month, 2 months, whatever, left town and left my park.  And people? Haven't been coming in their place.  I've only had overnighters since the last long term left.  That's been a while now. I looked at this new dude's place, he's been running ads all over the place and so far, he's gotten 5 or 6 people in there.  There isn't a large pool of RV'ers to draw from.  Not with all the RV parks in my immediate area and all the new parks going up all over the place.

That is sort of a confirmation in and of itself that I either need to be offering housing or I need to get amenities in there that no one else has - or potentially better: both.  I don't think a single RV park in my area is offering a hot tub.  Many of them have trees for shade, I don't have that.  Hence the thought of covered parking which appears to be highly popular anywhere I see it offered. But see, just because it's popular at a park 90 miles away, does that mean it will be popular enough to draw people into place?  

Again, if that was my only source of income, I would be in panic mode right now.  

Which reminds me, I have to get up early and the hour is growing late. Late for an early rise anyway.  I have been going to sleep pretty early this entire time I've been off anyway, not much of a transition excepting forcing my @$$ out of bed at 5:30 am.  

Enough.  I throw myself into a conundrum of thought attempting to sort out what I should do and at the end of it, I just come up with: I need wisdom.  Wisdom coming from those that are experienced in making business decisions.  People who have no vested interest, but want to see others succeed.  This is where I have been stuck at for a while now.  Without wisdom and clear instruction, it's kind of hard to proceed in any direction - all of them require spending money and I am just not willing to go there atm without decisive direction.

BTW, God uses people for such things in many cases.  This is why I am open to whoever, wherever that might have something to say that I am just not seeing. A person might say something that confirms to another person the direction they should go and the person saying it might not even realize that what they are saying is akin to revelation to the person hearing it. 

 Tuesday - late morning

I haven't been posting - I get started on an entry and then get distracted by things and don't get back to the blog.  

I left off at the 700 mile mark in Odessa, spending the night there at the Marriott Residence Inn.  It was a good night's sleep and I ate a wonderful breakfast - they have a huge breakfast bar at all of them and it includes meat, potatoes, cereals, waffles, scrambled eggs, etc.  I didn't eat too much meat but they were serving egg white scrambled so I scooped up a bunch of that.

The rest of the drive home was uneventful even if full of stupid people who have no business having a driver license.  Ridiculous nonsense.  

The truck ran perfectly, never a single hiccup.  It gets almost 18 mpg which is good for that thing, I have subsequently found out looking it up online.  My SUV only gets 15 on the highway, I was already used to gas hogs. In fact, the SUV is still at the airport and I am trying to find a ride over there. Taylor doesn't have to go over there all the time anymore and by the time she goes back, I will be on the road and won't be able to take advantage of hitching a ride.  

So, I am likely going to have to pay for a ride. I dunno if I can get an Uber or Lyft over here but I'm going to try.  The SUV can be parked at the property for now, it needs work and tho I want to do it, it's not high on the priority list.  Front brakes and rotors, rear ac not working and a bushing.  I'm guessing a grand need be dumped into it, but I will likely replace the brakes/rotors myself and save a ton of money.  

Anyway, I stayed at a local La Quinta the day I returned for reasons I won't get into here, unpleasantries I will label it as. It was the first really good night's sleep I had had since the Sunday I had left. Marriott was good sleep, but not great.  I forgot about the part where someone was stomping up and down the hallway at 5:00 am-ish, I was planning on sleeping in until 7 - 7:30.  The noise went on so long that I was tempted to get up, get dressed and go out there and confront whoever.  I didn't do that, but still.

La Quinta was great sleep - but.... it's also the "Dog Inn" where people are allowed to bring their dogs in for stays as well.  Not a problem, except....I realized my bed was full of fleas too late.  My arms, chest and back were bitten all over and I have the bumps and red marks to prove it.  I have spent the last 2 days in itching hell and took a Benadryl at 3:00 am last night.  I went to sleep, yes, but now I have having trouble waking up, that stuff will knock you out.

That was the point of taking it, I just have things I'd like to get done today. I am not back at work, the manager hasn't contacted me and frankly, didn't really want to go back to work right away.  I am thinking of contacting him later  on today and working out getting back to work tomorrow. I'll need a trailer to start with, which is why I'm dreading going back to work. It is highly unlikely I'll get the trailer I have been using for many months and I'll have to start back at ground zero with whatever issues some other trialer - WILL - have because they always have problems and drivers don't get the stuff fixed. 

The truck needs a complete cleaning, I will say that. Dog hair and it just needs wiped down good and get that dog smell out of there.  I might do that today.  The city has forced a water limitation on everyone and the car washes were shut down. They had a main valve bust and they have to have one manufactured.  This city has a very old water transmission system that needs to be completely replaced.  They piecemeal everything together and constantly fixing water leaks.  Apparently, one of the local washes got permission to open back up, I'd like to get it washed and then spend quality time vacuuming out the interior.  

However, I am going to go to the park in a bit and see if I can get an uber from there to the airport.  I have heard Uber is up and running here again, I will try it. It will be an expensive ride but I can't leave my vehicle sitting there forever.  I don't want to bring the SUV back here, too many vehicles here as it stands I have one, the folks have 2 and a motorcycle.  

I just texted the manager the dreaded text: ready to go back to work tomorrow or whenever such is available.  I can't stay off work forever and trust me, if I'm not forced back into it and I get into "that" mindset, I will just sit it out for as long as I can get away with it.  Lol.  It's been long enough, I think the flea bites are starting to heal sufficiently but if it isn't oh well, deal with it.  

It's really bad on my fingers.  I didn't realize what was happening until too late. Started itching my fingers and cranking on them without thinking about it.  By the time I realized what I was doing?  Too late.  Have these giant bumps all over.  

And was on hold with the Texas State Comptroller. Required filing every year, I sent it off months ago and now they are threatening to take away my business license because I didn't file?  I sent it off to them via snail mail.  No clue there, but I intend on getting to the bottom of it for I need that license to operate my business.  

Whatever else?  I just talked with the manager. He wants me to come up and pick up a trailer, plus do whatever service the mechanics deem necessary and I have paperwork to turn in as well as hazmat paperwork that needs renewed.  I'm not hauling hazmat atm, but if the situation arises, need to be legal for it.  I'm going to leave early in the morning so I don't have to waste an entire day doing that nonsense.  Like, out of the house by 6:30 am, out of the park by 7 and up there around 9:30. It's only 136 miles but it takes 2-1/2 hours to get up there, probably spend a few hours there and the same amount of time back.  Gets me home no later than...2:30 we'll give some extra time there. 

I don't know what else. Still running ads and not getting a lot of hits.  I'm being undercut by other parks so I have advertised $200 off, given out over a 3 month period. I'm not giving $200 off the first month, it's long term and if they want the discount, they'll have to stay 3 months to get all of it. The new guy has meters so he's advertising much less and disclosed in fine print that the power is extra.  People will figure it out after they stay there a while, it isn't the bargain they think it is.  

However, I could install some meters on some lots for fairly cheap and try it.  Just take the profit in the rent and the guest can eat the electric bill.  I'm still about these covered parking setups and I'm going to have one installed, or do it myself because they will probably charge a fortune to install it.  Just rent an auger machine, dig out the post holes, put the posts in, cement them, etc.  I kind of want to build a woodens structure, they don't look tacky such as their metal ones do.  I have seen several parks with the metal versions I just don't like the way it looks.  I don't know if anyone else cares, but I am about nature and the metal isn't about nature.  

Shrugs shoulders, obviously my "old" way of getting people in isn't working I have to reinvent the park.  That only happens with additional amenities.  

Oh, and Lyft is actually available here.  $38, it's 40 miles there so that's not really a bad price. Get my vehicle back and have that issue taken care of. 

In fact, I'm going to finish getting dressed, head over to the park and order the ride.  

G'day

 Friday - night

I started early today.  Got up, sat down with mom at the kitchen table, chatted a bit, drank some coffee. I knew this was going to be hard, but it was time to go.  I took her second and last vehicle.  I didn't ask for this vehicle, btw, I didn't even know she was considering that until she asked me if I wanted it.  A truck with 53,000 on it that's loaded for it's year and is in excellent condition? For free? And knowing it's mom's truck. She loves this thing - loved.  I feel so bad for her.  I know she's very old and it was very responsible for her to give up her driving privileges knowing that she basically was posing a threat to other motorists with her vision problems - but in our currently reality? 

Not having the freedom to go wherever you want to when you want to after living a life of doing so is a hard thing to digest. The flip side is Uber/Lyft are quite abundant out there. But yes, you give up a freedom that you might take for granted until it's gone. Seeing that truck - it was really something to her - backing out of that driveway and seeing her face? I started crying. She's my mom.  It's one of the few reasons I want to live there, I would be over there all the time asking what she wants, what she needs, do you need to go anywhere? 

I knew this would be hard but knowing it didn't make it any easier.  I have mom's truck she's had it since she bought it new in 2008 and I will never sell it. It's in excellent condition, as noted driving it 700 miles today and it will be around a long time before it's ready to be smelted and made into something else.  I lost everything I had in a house fire in 2004, things from my grandma that are absolutely irreplaceable, things I wish I still had.  You get mom's truck? You aren't getting rid of it. Sentimental value, memories, things that are irreplaceable.  

So it was a bit of an emotional departure this morning.  

Anyway, I got 700 miles covered and I called this right.  I reserved the room at this Residence Inn yesterday figuring I would want to stop at the 700 mile mark and I was definitely right about that. I was more than ready to stop driving when I got here.  And I was very glad that the points actually worked, my name was in their system and I didn't have to show them anything beyond giving a credit card for "incidentals".  

I just want to go back again, not a year from now, but during winter.  It was just unbearable for me.  I don't care how hot it is outside as long as you can go inside and cool off.  I don't even know if it's going to be better at her place in the winter, she probably turns the heat on when the heat is not called for?  But there is a remedy for that. Close the outlet on the ceiling and open the window. 

It was a sign for me that I did the right thing when I booked this room: I walked in here and the thermostat was set at 65 degrees. I probably could have driven the other 500 miles out, miserable, get it over with, blah blah blah type of mentality, screw that.  

I didn't sleep well last night. I haven't slept well since I got there. I am not trying to find fault with mom, I just can't sleep in conditions that resemble being outside in blazing heat.  And she really needs to replace her bed mattress. I do not want her bedroom  but she always insists I take it.  She's a very wonderful person and no one could ever tell me differently.  I sent her flowers after I left : )  

I have had people telling me I should just stay at a hotel when I come to town. And do what?  Offend my mom?  Her place isn't good enough for me? She lives for family.  I'll lie in coals before I do that. I might say something about it on my blog but in real life, I would just deal with it.  

She sent me off with a cooler full of food. Sandwiches, oranges, a plastic baggies full of banana nut biscuits - do you understand?  She is very precious to me and I do not want to offend her and I definitely ate a lot of that food today.  So, as long as she is among the living, I will stay there when I come and even tho there won't be a vehicle to drive, it will be good.  Uber/Lyft. They are abundant out there.  

I'm tired.  It's getting late. I'm going to bed. 

 Thursday - afternoon

Less than 24 hours and I'm out of here.  It's just so hot here, it really took me by surprise that it's still as hot as it is.  Most people that live here are also not happy about it, lol.  October and it's still 110, 108, 106?

We went to the Dollar Tree a bit ago and mom stocked up on whatever she wanted.  Her second and only remaining vehicle is leaving here tomorrow morning, I am sympathetic to her continued verbiage of having lost her freedom.  Can't hop into a vehicle and take off anymore.  I did offer if some miracle happens and her vision comes back, she can have her truck back.  I know that's unlikely, but through Christ all things are possible....

Last night I spent 5 hours at a pub in Florence with one of my buddies.  I did have a couple of beers but I stopped drinking long before I had to leave, no sense taking risks when you have a CDL.  He wants to meet again tonight, he's pretty much pouring out his heart - his wife died during covid because of covid, the connection is that I knew her wife from high school days.  I knew him as well, tho we didn't hang out much.  

Today I'm visiting with my son at Texas Roadhouse followed by a couple more hours at a different bar, I guess, with the old friend.  I'm going there to visit him, that is his place of consolation apparently. Can't judge the man, he's in a psychological hell losing the lady of his life, I think they were married something like 40 years.  I'm not staying late there, however, I want to get up early and head out.  Drive about 10 hours, stop for the night probably in Odessa and then finish out the trip on Saturday.  

Credit card rewards paid for the trip out here, the Texas Roadhouse adventure tonight (I have the gift card in my email and ready to go) and hopefully, a hotel for tomorrow night. I was going to use BofA points, they do it differently.  You purchase whatever is approved and then you get reimbursed for it later.  So, I just redeemed all of that, some $400 plus and it's going to be deducted from my current balance.  

I am now going back to Chase to see what I have left there, I didn't have much Wells Fargo rewards because I had used them previously on an expensive desk chair for my room and then for the Texas Roadhouse thing.  

Ahh yes, enough for a nice night's stay at the Marriott Residence Inn.  Haven't been to one since...Oh, we stayed at one of their properties in Dallas area when we went to 6 Flags.  I had my own room because I sleep better without other snorers around, lmao.  

I've driven the truck around town quite a bit, a gas guzzler like my SUV, oh well. Once I get it back it will be driven around a very small town for the most part.  I've had my SUV for 6 years and put maybe 50,000 miles on it, that's including driving to previous work several times a week which was 32 miles each way. None of that now, I will not rack up the miles on the odometer.  It would be many, many years before it gets up to 100k miles.  

I'm just happy that a vast portion of this trip was paid for with rewards that I have had sitting in there for quite a while.  I wondered if there are expiration dates to them so yes, I have cashed most of it in.  

I was watching the hurricane devastation.  Over 3 million people without power, a terrible amount of property damage and 5 people confirmed dead so far. It's the tornadoes that really got to me, tornadoes are "evil" in nature, popping out of the sky and completely unpredictable in their path.  Not like a hurricane which people can see well in advance and can plan on whether they need to leave or not. 

I think a Sheriff said one county alone had had 17 of them.  

But the real tragedy is Kamala Harris attempting to make a political issue out of it.  DeSantis rightfully stated she has no role in it whatsoever and openly discussed his conversations with both Biden and the head of FEMA.  It sounds like Biden and DeSantis have remained on good terms with each other in order to deal as best as the government can with the aftermath.  

I'll be glad when this election comes and is done and over with. The ads here in AZ about both local politicians' campaigns and national are unbelievable.  

I've heard no complaints from the park.  One person wanted to pay me cash, I told them I'd collect it when I return. The park host people - the mom is there now - said there was no 2 stroke oil so I had some delivered yesterday to cut the excuses for not doing anything out.  I have a 4 night stay coming in today, plus the 2 1-week stays and a couple of overnighters coming in tomorrow, at least I've got something going on with the available lots. I've had several inquiries about long term, but they hear my price and balk at it.  Yeah, wait til you go to the competitors.  In fact, stay with them awhile, get charged the extra for electricity and then I'll see you in a month or two, lol.  

I think that's it for now. It's 11:30 am and still many hours before I leave to meet my son and have a little adventure. 

 Well that's over with.  We got there and the guy was saying they can't just put the title over in my name, they have to register it as well.  Well dang.  I was thinking a lot of money because the truck is worth a bit, 16-18k on the market.  We stood there discussing this back and forth and I just said well let's see how much it's going to cost to register it in my name?  The thing is, they had trouble doing it with my brother and the car she gave him last week.  

But, this guy made it much easier than what they went through last week.  The end of the story is that I have the truck registered and titled in Arizona in my name at my house and they are going to send all of the stuff to the house in Texas.  For $40.  Yeah, I was almost shocked, I really thought a lot more. Much easier to just transfer a title already in my name than one in another name that also has a living trust attached to it.  That was the point, bypass the living trust stuff.  So, I don't think it was wasteful in that regard to go ahead and do it here only to have to do it all over again in Texas.  

It gives me 30 days to figure out how much that's going to cost me, but the thing is, it said it was almost a thousand dollars.  Crazy.  A 15 year old vehicle costing me that much because it's a new-to-me vehicle so they are going to charge tax on it.  

Anyway, it's good to have that over with and I already put insurance on it, don't want to be driving it around without insurance obviously. The truck needs a good interior cleaning but otherwise it's in good shape.  

Arizona is a swing state. I've been sitting here watching the smear tactic ads coming from both sides against the other. It's absolutely brutal.  I've seen nothing like these ads in Texas but that's because we aren't really a swing state.  I wouldn't say Texas is a solid red state what with Houston, Dallas, Austin and other towns but it's more so red than blue.  I just sitting here in awe the viciousness of the attacks. I'm assuming these are coming from super pacs.  

Well, mom wants to go eat, I'll have to get back to this later.  

_________________

Good taste in food, Mexican food more specifically.  

Meanwhile just sitting here watching all of the news and reels and videos of people in dilemmas of what to do.  I mean, if we're talking a Cat 5 hurricane, I'm outta there.  Helene was bad enough and those people haven't really even cleaned up after the first one.  They're predicting landfall Wednesday night.  I think if I lived in Florida - and I don't because of things like this and house sized mosquitoes - I would have a pile of plywood and screws readily available in a shed, on-property, to deal with this stuff last minute notice and then get the heck out of there.

Yes, it will likely downsize, but a Cat 3 can wreak horrible damage.  Not like it turns into a puff of wind and then it's gone.  I feel for those people, definitely, but again, I don't live in Florida for a reason and it's been a long, long time since I've been down there.  I remember getting stuck in Miami once long ago when I took a truckload of stuff down there but they couldn't find anything to get me back out of there. After something like 5 days I told the company they either get me out or I'm just driving out of there regardless.  I wasn't getting paid at all. 

Oh, I'm thinking I'll just drive 10 to 20 for the route back. I kinda need to make up my mind soon because using those credit card points for hotels, you kind of need to do it in advance.  I was thinking make it to Odessa the first day and finish it out after.  

It is very warm in this house.  It's still hot here and she just doesn't like it too cool.  I'm actually mildly sweating sitting here.  Which when you are in that all day long....Grin and bear it.  2-1/2 days and I'm out of here.  Plus I'm going to see a friend either tonight or tomorrow, I'm waiting on him to tell me when and Thursday will be dining with my son and spending some time together.  I wouldn't mind driving around and seeing all the changes here since I've moved out of this place.  

There seems to be a helluva lot of people either changing their minds about voting for Kamala and therefore voting for Trump or not voting for Kamala as they were going to but not voting for Trump either. Either way, Trump picks up gains.  I don't believe these polls.  I just don't.  There are 3 or more historically democrat supporting unions that have decided they aren't going to support either party.  That's a win.  

I dunno, I haven't looked at the metrics of any of these polls, I might start doing that again. Find out what sampling they took of each party.  I saw so many in the 2016 polls that were sampling more democrats than republicans even the parties have pretty much the same percentage of eligible voters.  Many of the polls are run by leftists.....

I get calls once in a while to do a survey, they find out I'm conservative and then it ends, lol.  

 Tuesday - mid morning

I can't say either flight was uneventful. Both flights, kids were seated behind me. Very young and very, very loud with the screaming and crying.  On the main flight, the mom had fully 4 children with her and no one else to help her out.  I don't want to judge too harshly, but please.  If you are going to have more than you can handle, you really should consider bringing someone with you to deal with it. Normally, I would have said something but I did have a little sympathy, even with the kid kicking my seat off and on the entire trip. 

I will say here that once I got to Dallas, I ate lunch and yes, had a couple beers. Figured I could just go to sleep on the second/main flight.  There was no sleeping, I can assure you of that.  When we finally got to Phoenix, I got to the baggage area, got my bag and then went and just sat down.  Take a minute to compose myself after such a dreadful flight. It would have been nice if the flight attendants would have at least tried to help the mom....

In about 50 minutes, we are heading to the MVD to get the title over into my name. She already did this with my brother with giving him her car so I figure this should go relatively easy.  

And it figures I would get people calling me for spots while I'm gone.  It also took quite a while to figure out why my laptop wouldn't connect with my personal hotspot on my phone.  It was bringing up an old iphone credential, I finally figured out, with a different hotspot password on it, changed that and it finally connected. I had to see if I had any spots available. I've had 2 people come in for 1 week stays, these people wanted to come in on Saturday.  I said yes, that's fine after finally getting connected to the campground software, but I only have back in spots available. So she decided to go ahead and book a back in spot.

Unfortunately, my T Mobile doesn't have the greatest signal strength here, which is pretty odd. Phoenix is the 6th largest city in the nation, granted I'm out east of there but you would think they would ensure good signal strength everywhere in highly populated areas.  I ended up switch off 5g and connecting LTE which works much better.

I have no great plans for today beyond the MVD trip. I think mom wants to go shopping but after that?  No idea.  I always show up here during the week which is a mistake.  I don't know why I didn't think of that, people are off on weekends, not weekdays excepting my son who has Thursday off. Oh well, lol, 3 days including today and I will be off.  

GPS isn't even giving me the option for taking I-40 from here, it just goes straight heading east on the Superstition 60, into the mountains and eventually connecting to I-10.  Hmm, Google maps lets you alter the route.  I dunno, maybe I'll just go I-10, it seems like it's being forced on me lol. 

Well, it's almost time to leave.  Having a nice visit, house a bit warm but that's the way she likes it.  

 I may be a bit of a chatterbox going on here.

But, I successfully checked in both flights, signed up for text alerts about those flights and paid the baggage fee up front, saving me $5.  AA charges $40 for first checked bag.  If I were getting a deal on the flight, I could see that, but the flight was $350 or around there, I think it was, for a one way ticket. That's hardly a deal.  Then again, I didn't pay anything for it by using Credit Card points but still.  

I then had the thought that my trip to Texas Roadhouse with my son could be made through credit card points and sure enough, BofA has the option of electronic delivery.  Chase didn't but oh well.  So, hopefully that arrives before or on Thursday and that dining experience will cost me nothing more than I've already paid to the CC company. 

I'm not sure about hotels, I'd like to decide where I want to stop for the night meaning which route I'll take home and get that on there. It takes up to 24 hours for them to process it, we found out the hard way.  This will greatly reduce my expenses on this trip.  So far I've only paid for one way baggage.  I have an Uber trip to mom's house which will probably cost around $40 - it's quite the distance - and then whatever activities I may get involved with, but nothing spectacular.  Mostly just hanging out.  One thing I don't have to do this time and that is stay until Friday if I feel like I've visited enough and want to leave.  

I dunno, really depends on mom since I'm staying at her house.  If my staying too long is going to cause her problems I will just leave - no I can't leave on Thursday, I am meeting up with my son Thursday evening. Well, I guess I could leave Thursday night but why bother.  Might as well just get up Friday morning, bid my farewells to mom and head home.  It's probably the only thing that I miss about living there is being close to mom and son. I'd definitely be over to her house once a week to help her with anything and to go stores and such.  She apparently has a list of things she wants me to do as it stands.  

Ok, well, it's 9:00 am I just checked and time to be off to the bank and Krogers. 

___________

Bank deposit made, electric bill for park paid, Kroger's done, battery pack on camera almost charged.  Oops, guess it takes more than 3 hours, it's a huge battery pack. Hopefully it will last the week, I didn't have time or desire to put it back on the charger and go back there yet again before leaving.  New weed eater delivered to the shed, toilet paper put in the dispenser the rest of the pack in the outside shed, fuel tank filled up, gas station coffee bought, clothes in the dryer - I wanted to wash a last-minute set of clothing - and now I'm pretty much set to go.  

Oh, and Allen contacted yet again. The boy only mowed the dog park, he did not mow behind the shed and pick up the blocks James -- former tenant who left without paying 2 months worth of rent, tho the second month was currently due, not well past due at least - left behind.  Nice blocks actually. Not mine, but he left them so now they are.  Told Allen he needs to do that today along with spraying the grass killer I have repeatedly asked to have done.

A little less than 2 hours before I leave here. I'm going to show up well in advance. It's a boring airport, very small, but they tell you to arrive early and I take their advice always to just show up early in case there are issues.  I'll have my laptop and my phones and chargers so at least I'll have something to do while waiting. 

If there is something else, I"m at the shrugs shoulders stage.  I'm checked in early with the scan code to show at the airport along with the baggage.  What else is there? Probably something, there is always something I forget.  Oh, yes.

Snakes. Have devoured most of my Koi and goldfish.  And just ordered the bait and about to order the trap.  If I catch the thing/s, I will probably just relocate it versus killing them. Although I am sure I will be tempted to kill them since they have devoured literally hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of Koi fish.  I only have small goldfish left and maybe 2 small Koi that I bought not terribly long ago.  I buy them small and just let them grow throughout the years.  The bigger Koi were around 8 inches long.  Just pisses me off and yes, I am going to get rid of them one way or the other.  

Pretty sad, actually, not like those Koi can defend themselves.  There are hiding places but I don't think those work against snakes, they work against birds or raccoons and such.  Watersnakes will simply go underwater to catch their prey.  

_________

Departure time fast approaching. For some reason, I don't really want to go. If it weren't for my mom and son, I definitely wouldn't go.  My family doesn't make any attempt to reach out to me beyond those two, it was the same when I lived there.  Show up for Christmas and sometimes Thanksgiving and that was about the extent of family get togethers that often-times ended in arguments and people storming out.  I don't miss that nonsense at all.  

It's a lot of effort, lost time at work, money, etc to take a trip like this is all I'm saying and frankly, I like my own bed.  It sounds selfish and maybe it is, mom isn't getting any  younger, no idea how much longer she'll be with us so there is a sense of urgency to spend a few days with her.  Other than that, I really would just say screw it, stay home.  The traveling is sort of fun, I would pay for an upgrade but the only seats left available on the aircraft are middle seats.  Still, I'll ask when I get to the boarding gate at DFW if there are going to be any no shows, I'd pay some extra money for extra leg room.  By the time one of these flights is over with, my knees are hurting badly from being cramped in such a position.  I do have a window seat so I can sort of turn sideways which usually helps.  And so far? There is no one taking the middle seat next to me.  That would be grand if it stayed that way....

It already changed. The middle seat next to me is now taken.  There are only 2 seats left on the aircraft at the very back and both middle seats.  I just refuse to sit in middle seats, it's bad enough sitting on the row or next to the windows......

Closing this one out.  Next update will be DFW, tho I'll probably just do a Facebook update for that.

 Monday - early

I don't have to leave here until noonish, but I have stuff to get done and I was already about it.  I got up, took a shower and immediately headed over to the park.  The outside camera needs recharged and I wanted to wait until just before leaving so I can hopefully have it charged enough to last the entire week. It usually lasts at least that long with a full charge. Also took the new weedeater over there and put it in the closet in the shed next to the shower.  I dont want it left outside and I was hesitant to even bring it over in the first place. 

The kid, no idea. He's 31 years old so not exactly a child, but that's the way he acts. Spoiled and immature.  I haven't been keeping track of him since the ultimatum except that day when I made it, he worked that day, has he since then? I can look at the camera once I get to Dallas and sitting there for 2-1/2 hours twiddling my thumbs.

I still have to go to the bank and deposit cash and go get some TP for the shed.  I have to go back over after 3 hours or so anyway, might as well take the toilet tissue over there as well. I don't much care to keep it stocked, people take advantage of it and go through it quickly. I suspect some are still sneaking rolls of it out for their trailers.  It's a convenience, yes, but people use it constantly versus using the bathroom in their trailers.  And lots of people take showers in there.  I get that, those older trailers have 5 gallon water heaters in them and you might take a 3 minute shower or something like that and then it's done.  No more hot water.  

I also still have to pack, but that won't take but 10 minutes and that will be done.  

Nice clear flying weather today. No storms between here and AZ, 1 stop at DFW, nice day to fly.  No red eye flights, I chose this afternoon flying on purpose.  I used to do the red eyes to save money, but what a hassle.  I also used to drive to either Love's field or DFW to save money.  And tho the savings can be significant, you have to factor in driving over there, so gas spent and then paying exorbitant amount of money per day to park your vehicle.  

The savings disappear when you take the whole picture into consideration.  A lot less hassle. It's a very small airport over at GGG, same security measures to get into the secured areas but after that, there is no more.  Yes, my license has the gold star for RealID compliance, I just checked lol.  That is a requirement now, or I guess if you have a passport.  

Alright, quick break, I want to get packed so I have that done and over with...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Okay, that was easy. But, I like to pack it, sit down, think about it for a while and try to remember anything I should be taking with me.  I probably should take a copy of my insurance with me to show for getting that truck into my name, however, it's just going to be title, not registration, really shouldn't need it.  We have an appointment for Tuesday I think she said to sit down and deal with it, under a living trust and apparently that makes it difficult for anyone to do anything different than what's in it already.

My friend I was going to visit over there is still going through hellish times mentally and emotionally, I'd love to visit him but it appears he's not in any mood to entertain friends.  I dunno, play it by ear as the old saying goes.  I figure time spent with mom, taking her wherever she needs to go, spend an evening with my son and if I don't see anyone else, the purpose of the trip has been made.  Taking the pickup home is an extra added benefit but it also marks a sad day that her vehicles are now gone - she gave her other vehicle to one of my brothers already - and that she has to depend on Uber to go anywhere.  

The upside is my oldest brother still takes her up to her mountain getaway and taking an Uber isn't the end of the world.  Plan your trips and make them infrequent, she doesn't go out that much anyway.  Still, I can imagine losing the freedom of being able to drive has to hit hard. This was all voluntary on her part, btw, the state didn't revoke her license.  

I feel like eating something, like going to IHOP, but I decided to wait until I get to DFW and have a nice meal at one of the restaurants there. A bit pricey, but the food is good and a good time to eat as soon as I get there and have time to digest food and any bathroom needs taken care of before boarding the A320 for Phoenix.  Yes, I checked the type of aircraft, I do not want to get on a 737 Max under any circumstances.  They stand right up there with the MD-11in my mind and they can keep it.  It took 2 crashes killing everyone on board both flights if I recall correctly before the FAA did anything about it.

And now you see lots of near misses with aircraft taxing on runways - with clearance - and aircraft landing at the same time.  Ridiculous.  I probably watch too much Mentour Pilot, VASAviation and Mayday Aircrash Investigation episodes. Not to get into fear of flying, but the fascination of learning about commercial jetliners - which listening to Mentour Pilot you can learn a lot about how such aircraft fly and the nuances of it - to see what happened and what they ended up doing about it.

There was a particular aircraft that had a cargo door blowout and took out a part of the floor of the main cabin.  I think the first time it happened the people were lucky and the second time? Not so lucky as a couple of rows of seats were sucked out with it.  I have no fear of flying per se, but taking off sort of ruffles my feathers.  I don't much care for it.  

I"m watching more footage of the Helene aftermath.  Many areas now have food and water but no power, running water or communications.  Starlink coming in, people shipping in generators and I've seen gas tankers pumping fuel fight off the tanker.  I have a problem with them charging $10 per gallon, however, that has the appearance of price gouging and taking advantage of desperate people.  They are predicting it will take years to rebuild and I would have to agree. I also wonder about insurance companies and how difficult they are going to make it to get payouts.  

But they're going to have to fix the roads to get into some of those places and there are still reports of remote areas that still don't have anything.  Horses and pack mules are headed into those areas if they aren't there already.  The worst thing that could happen right now is another storm and here we go with Hurricane Milton.  

Well that's enough for now.  I have many more hours to burn before I have to leave here. Off to Kroger's for toilet paper for the shed and deposit cash into the business account.

G'day

 Sunday - mid morning

Kids just left with grandma. I was hoping to take them to church but that plan was foiled when grandma showed up a day early to leave this morning.  Not the end of the world, they are also now going to Wednesday kid service which is 2 hours long.

I dunno, but I'm off work until 2 Mondays from now.  I actually don't want to be off of work that long, I was already off 2 weeks not long ago and still trying to get caught up from that.  My park isn't full, either, so not normal income coming in there.  Nothing I can do about it and if anyone wants to move in while I"m going, not sure how I"m going to handle it.

You see, I gave the son of the dad that was the park host an ultimatum yesterday: either give me the agreed upon hours of work or leave the park by today.  I'm just not going to tolerate lazy people taking advantage of my good graces.  Get out your @$$ out of bed, get busy and stop complaining.

He was telling his mom that the doggy park didn't need mowed and everything I was saying was apparently a lie.  Allen, the father, didn't frame it that way but that was my takeaway from it. I was supposed to show proof via pics that the grass needed mowed again. Say what? I told Allen if he's going to complain about it, he can just leave, it don't want to deal with it.  When I got back from the final trip before leaving - tomorrow afternoon - he was out there mowing the doggy park.  I wanted a verbal commitment, I didn't get that but him working out there is good enough.  

But - only if he's going to keep it up.  I'm only asking 8 hours a week worth of work. He wanted to just get by with whatever he thinks looks good? Who does this guy think he is, dictating to me what work and how much of it he's going to do? This is why I gave the ultimatum yesterday and I was dead serious about it. I also told Allen that if he's that unhappy, he may be spreading that poison to tenants and then they might leave.  I don't need it.  I can tell ya, if I find out he's been speaking anything negative about me, he's going straight down the driveway and out.  

Anyway, I am going to get ready to leave today.  Just pack my bag and triple check I have everything.  

So, my manager decided to have the trailer taken out of the park for use while I'm gone.  I have no problem with that, if it sets too long, the glue dries up and it costs a lot of money to get it cleaned out. I told him to tell the driver to take the trailer to the end of the property to turn around.

So what does this dude do? He backs up then used the loop entrance to the RV park to leave.  People. 

And now, one of the people I wanted to visit is down in the dumps and not speaking to anyone.  His wife died during Covid and his life has been upside down ever since.  I am not judging him at all, I knew the lady from high school, we used to hang out a lot at parties.  We were close all the way up until she passed away, so I do have a connection with the guy in that manner.  But, he turned to heavy drinking to try and kill the pain and tho that works temporarily, it's not a long term solution.

Still, I get what he's going through and he has some pretty rough days.  But I expect not to see him on this trip.  I mostly planned to spend it with mom anyway, take her around town to do some shopping, see my son and probably visit some other friends.  Or not.  

I probably should have made this trip for next month tho.  It's still pretty warm in AZ and she doesn't run the AC much. Just enough to keep it - warm in my estimation.  I was thinking to go there when nigh time temps drop so I can at least sleep.  I'd rather stay in a hotel, honestly, than have sleepless night in a hot house.  This was my issue last time, I dunno why I was thinking October the temps would be good enough, they aren't, November would have been better.  

Well, almost time to leave for church. My clothes are all cleaned, I really don't have much to have to do before leaving tomorrow afternoon. It's a relatively short flight. I've got near 2-1/2 hour wait at DFW.  Typical for the type of trip I'm taking, where I'm flying in from a regional airport to connect with the flight to AZ.  It's a 1 way air trip.  I like the flying experience, I don't like being crammed into those seats.  My legs are long and they start hurting after a while.  

Whatever happens, I hope to have a good trip.

As for now? Off to church. 

G'day

 I've decided to get up at 4 am, get over to the park and get rolling out of there no later than 5 am.  That gets me to the washout at 6:30, out of there around 7-7:15 and then to the plant at 7:45.  Providing that other driver doesn't somehow cut me again, I will be back by 10:45 am.  

I haven't tried on my new jeans yet, I want to wash them first. Considering my current jeans of the same size are literally falling off my @$$ if I don't have a belt on, safe to assume they will all fit.  Amazing what cutting out fat - most of it anyway, seems like most things have at least a little fat in it - does for losing weight. And eating endless salads.  

I'm not sure about this trip.  I don't feel like I want to break away from this too much. But I am going to meet up with my son at Texas Roadhouse and I am just going to splurge on the eating.  Steak, dinner rolls and whatever else I feel like eating.  I do think I will remain on cholesterol conscious diet the rest of the time, tho.  

They say you should consume no more than 300 milligrams per day but if you have "risk factors", keep it no more than 200.  I can tell you that on a typical day I am coming nowhere even close to 200 per day.  I have been closely watching the cholesterol and fat content of literally everything I eat.  

I am either going to get a planet fitness membership - it's cheap - or wait until cooler weather. Walking around in the woods in this heat isn't particularly fun.  Temps came down for a little bit but now the day time temps are back up there.  Daytime highs don't go down to mid 80's until next week.  I don't much care for treadmills, I think I will just wait until I get back to restart the walking regime.  

I finally had a person say they are coming in a couple of weeks to stay long term.  They have to actually show up of course, but it's a little bit of good news.  I've had several people inquire but nothing about actually moving in.  The $200 off has definitely garnered some interest.  It's the time of year where offering that kind of deal is ok because my electric bills are coming down substantially.  

I still have no definitive answer as to what to do next.  I have this "feeling" that if I build a covered lot, someone will come quickly to take it.  

 I was looking at the 2 routes home.  The miles aren't that much different but there is over an extra hour taking I-40.  What I was really looking at is places to stop and what hotels are available. If I go 10 to 20, I'd likely stop in Odessa and there is a Marriott Residence Inn there and my points on another card will cover it.  It would leave something like 500 miles to go after driving over 700.  I could spend a nice evening at a nice hotel.  Get up whenever I feel like it in the morning and drive out the rest of the miles.  

I know without looking where I would stop on 40, Amarillo. It's a little over 500 miles from there to home.  I know this because my previous job and making numerous trips to the yard there.  Oh, that's a job a definitely do not miss.  That company is not doing well and drivers are not making much money there now.  I know this because I am still in a facebook group with them and they complain about it all the time.  They aren't getting the dispatches they used to. Sometimes, you look back on things and think, well that happened for a reason.  

I have 3 days of work left and then I'll be off 8 days.  I don't really want quite that much time off and it wouldn't have to be if I didn't have to drive back. Or plan on staying there for 3 full days plus 2 partial.  I could leave a day early, I suppose. Driving back, I really only need the permit and get the insurance covering the vehicle.  

Well insurance is easy, just went through all of that on the website, got it listed and saved for when I want to implement it. Probably going to downgrade the current vehicle to minimum liability for I don't want a huge insurance payment every month, it's already big enough with that accident and subsequent ticket on there.  I will probably shop around again once I get the thing registered in my name and see if I can find a better deal somewhere.  

I'm not sure what I want to do with the Ford - keep it or sell it or give it away. Probably not give it away, a person must have a source of income to drive a vehicle like that, it's a true gas hog.  I just haven't decided on that, I could use the funds tho.  I still like the thing is my problem.  I never liked Fords until I ended up with that.  It's loaded with options and it's still in decent shape excepting the driver's seat which needs reupholstered. 

I thought about why I am losing weight today and that came pretty quickly. I have eaten 2 salads today, a small bowl of taco soup and a peanut butter spoon.  That isn't a lot of food and that is likely all I'm going to eat.  The taco soup is delicious, but it's loaded with ground beef and cream cheese, hence it's on the "nay nay" list as John Pinnette would say (comedian, passed).  I can eat small portions of probably anything, but you know, when you are facing a serious side effect to high cholesterol, well, you're going to have to decide whether you want to live or die.  I'd like to live a while longer, I have something to live for and there is some purpose to my life.  I'd like to expand that, but at the moment, it's not bad.  

My jeans showed up.  I figure if I ever get back down to 34's, it's going to be quite a while at the rate I'm going and so new jeans were in order. These are not designer jeans, I'm really not into designer clothing. I balk at the price tags of fancy jeans, shirts and so on.  But, I do think I'll buy a more acceptable outfit for outings.  Just that for now, what I have is good enough for this trip. 

I did, indeed, pray over the business today.  Will keep praying until some sort of breakthrough or sign shows up, however that might happen and if the Lord so chooses.  Right now, that business is stalled, it seems anyway.  Of course, I've been through this before with lots empty and going quite a while before anyone shows up and then all of a sudden, 3 people show up.  I would love for that to happen soon.

I really gave thought about a hot tub.  I just don't see a down side to it for the cost.  But I should wait, I think, until I see where I should go with this.  What, exactly, am I looking for? God has ways of making his will known if you seek Him about it.  It may be very subtle, it may be glaring and in your face, but if you're looking for it, you will see it.  

I also don't see a downside to building a canopy over a single lot.  Well, I guess the down side would be building it and not getting what I want out of it for lot rent or even renting it at all.  ? See? What do I do?  I don't have the answers, I just have ideas.  I hate to be in a hurry to do the wrong thing.  I am always mindful of that element of any aspect of lift where you want to get something done but....you know you should wait.  

Right now, what I do know is that I only have a $440 per month payment on that property.  That's it.  I have utilities and wifi and such, but if I were to shut down the park and just empty it out, I'd just have minimal payments.  No, I am not considering doing that, just looking at the good side of not getting another loan.  Another loan means the property is added on to it plus the amount needed for the loan. Instead of $440 per month, it would likely be thousands.  

The thing I am absolutely sure of here is this: I have very few amenities.  Not in comparison to other RV parks.  I don't have a covered area for people to gather together, a BBQ pit, a game area, whatever other places have. I don't even have an office.  

Oh, the dude I have been talking about not paying his rent? He disappeared. His trailer was gone and he's gone, not answering messages and basically I am screwed once again out of lot rent for a person using ample amounts of electricity - on my dime.  

It uhh, is what, 4 of these types now? Him, the tent lady, the work kamper and the tent people. Well, the tent people did pay, they just took advantage of everything to the nth degree.  The tent lady owes me thousands of dollars that I'll never see, of course.  The workamper I just threw out because they weren't doing anything but mowing the doggy park and this dude.  

This is going to happen again. Some person is going to go in there under false pretenses, make claims and then they are going to try to screw me. The only thing I can say now?  That "poverty lot" I'm now going to call it? People are going to hear up front that if they are 1 day late on rent, they can expect a vacate notice replete with a trespassing notice, as prescribed by the rules that state has made for RV parks.  

I informed the washout place this morning that I was going to be calling early on Friday.  The conversation went to the dude that is ahead of me now but will be behind me on Friday. Oh, he comes in between 4 and 6 am at least once a week.  What?!!  Here I am thinking of showing up at the washout at 7:00 am and that may be too late?  It will not be anything close to his time slot but I can see him being there.  I was even thinking of leaving the Park at 4:30 am to be at the washout at 6:00 am. That may be too late? Weird.  

It has become glaringly obvious the manager doesn't want to hear the complaints.  I don't rightly care, tbh, but at the same time, I also don't want to be stuck on the late load forever.  I dunno, I'll decide when to get up tomorrow night.  If the man beats me, there is nothing I can do about it and the manager doesn't give a s***.  He has no control over his drivers, that's another glaringly obvious fact.  

I will likely get up very early and get that day done early.  I could be home by 10:00 am if I get there early enough and I don't run into this other driver.  

Enough of that nonsense.  It's irritating and I don't like to dwell on it too much.  The man claims to be a Christian on top of everything else.  He goes to church and ... what good is that doing him?  

The kids are leaving Sunday. Fall break, they call it, a week off. Grandma was going to stay for the time Taylor was out but that has changed.  The grandpa wants to see them.  I mean, the kids just spent half the summer up there, not like he hasn't spent any time with them...

I was going to offer to take them up to Gurdon and the grandparents can meet me there and save many, many hours of driving.  However, I'd like to take them to church on Sunday so I haven't made that offer - yet.  Not to mention they'd have to show up pretty early to get them, I don't want to have to wait on them.  It's 3 hour round trip to Gurdon and back for them, it's about 8 hours round trip coming all the way down here. They are driving down here and turning around and driving right back, hence the grandpa is coming so the driving duties can be shared. Grandma doesn't like to make the entire trip in the same day.  

Grocery stores are already out or running out of toilet paper. Not just here, either. One of my guests today said the Kroger's in Hot Springs where his family lives had one package of tp left when they went in there last.  Bad taste left in people's mouths from Covid and supplies running out, tp was the first to go.  This is panic buying.  There is no need, yet anyway, to run stores out of anything.  I mean, because everyone else is doing, it, it leaves us no choice? If we want to be able to clean ourselves after sitting on the toilet, what are you going to do? Just say no, we aren't going to stock up and risk it? That question was answered yesterday after they bought a 30 pack of tp and a 10 pack of paper towels.  I don't blame them and even considering now that people are just running it out of stores to get more if it's available.  No shelf life that I know of to toilet paper.  

Enough of this. Just got back from church, the boys got 2 solid hours there, which is good because I dunno if they're going on Sunday. Depends on when the grands show up.

 Wednesday 7:20 am

The beginning of another late load starting in a few.  

Fact checking the fact checkers - the moderator was wrong and Vance actually did post the proof of his statement about migrants - especially illegals - driving up housing prices because of a limited available market of housing.  I mean, I'm reading where people are calling Vance a liar, yada blah blah yada ho ho.  

Whatever.  The driver trainer asked which route I am going to take coming back from AZ, 10 or 40? 

40 is the scenic route and by far more interesting driving, but it adds a lot of miles to the trip. 10 is the desert route and very boring driving.  I don't like driving anyways, but boring driving is the worst.  Especially alone.  I do believe my objective will be to get back as fast as possible and get it over with, however, so I will probably take the 10 route.  I've done both routes.  I went 40 that one trip over there to participate in dad's memorial service and then up to see mom in the mountains.  It only made sense to leave the mountains going north up to 40 and heading east.  

But from the Phoenix area?  It's much fast and shorter to go I-10.  There's even stretches that have 80 mph speed limits. 

I dunno, but my new jeans are coming in today, at least according to a text from the supplier.  My prep work for leaving is mostly just get my clothes in order.  We are making an appointment if possible to show up at the AZ DMV to have the title transferred over into my name.  The reason we want to do this is because she has it in a living trust, which are "inviolable" I guess you'd call it, everyone involved has to give their approval.  

However, the DMV told me on the phone I need only have the title signed over to me, I don't have to transfer it officially, to get a travel permit.  Sounds like it's going to be a hassle, lol.

My business finances aren't overflowing atm because of numerous empty lots.  I dunno what to say about it.  I've done my best to run ads and give discounts and that's that. I'm not going to stress over it, my expenses there are not that great.  Less trailers, less electricity being used, smaller bill. I've got a $1,600 bill due by the 10th and then next month's will probably be up there as well and then? It will go down as the temps go down.  

Guess I best let the washout know this morning that I will be calling them early on Friday to come wash out the trailer.  I'm guessing between 6 and 6:30 am.  Just depends on when I decide to get out of bed.  

I'm losing weight and not really even trying.  It's all this fat free junk and not eating as much because of it.  Fat free food is a major shift in eating. I used to eat like that long ago, now I'm being forced back into it. That or clogged arteries and die I guess.  I'm down to 217 now. Yup, it's still heavy but not as bad as when it was in the 220's.  

I'm going to spend some time praying over the business today and see if I can hear anything from the Lord.  No, I don't mean the audible voice of the Lord, unbelievers see Christians saying stuff like this and think we are psycho because we think God talks to us like we would to anyone in person, face to face. No, the Bible says to listen for the still, small voice of the Lord. In your heart.  I don't have the answers here, He does.  What His guidance might be? I have no idea yet.  I've prayed over it but I just need pray more.  

Where do I go with this business? What do I do next? How do I get people to come in now that there is so much competition in the region?  It's not just the new park that opened up, there are parks opening up all over the place. The one next to highway 59 in Domino, TX?  It isn't done yet but it's got concrete pads and asphalt driveways.  I can't compete with that.  People stop wherever they find that is cheap, yes, but also has to be nice.  I guess one thing that would help is if I could get more reviews. I ask people to post them, they say they will and they ---- don't.  Even if I send them a link.  

It's perplexing, perhaps I should have started a different kind of business. Not too late for that, actually, but it costs a lot of money. That is the type of business where you are not only offering the land but you are offering the housing as well.  There are no cheap options to that. Even building my own cabins would be pricey.  

I think I could do it, I just don't have the money for that.   But should I get into a loan right now?  I am second-guessing myself what with having 5 and today 6 empty spaces and not that much inquiry from interested renters.  I was thinking to run a Google ad. They are more pricey but they do have more reach.  The yurt tents is not totally out of the picture and I do have a place to put one.  That would still cost around 5 grand for the finished product and I wonder if it would actually produce enough guests to make any money off of it?  

I just don't know and I feel like I'm at a cross roads and I really need God's guidance on what to do next.  If a loan is needed, it's needed.  If not, then what? Nothing?  Just stay at 16 spaces and call it good?  Certainly not enough to live off of, I would have to work for many more years to come.   That is not my goal, my goal is to get out of working for anyone but myself.  I need "opportunity" to come my way and I trust in the Lord to make that happen if it's within His will.  His will be done, that's the end all of any scenario.  I don't want to do things He doesn't want me to do or isn't leading me to do.  

Opportunity could be anything.  Housing offered via payments?  Building cabins?  Some sort of small apartment structure?  Yurt tents?  Mobile homes?  I'm not above that, that was my original plan anyway.  

This is my dilemma right now. What to do next.  I haven't received the quote from the contractor. I wonder if that's a sign in  and of itself - don't do it.  I still think a hot tub is on the table. It's a relatively small investment for potential returns.  If it doesn't work, it doesn't work.  I have the place to put it.  

Well, it's time to get my stuff and get out of here.

G'day

 As stated yesterday, I had the late run this time and late run the next run.  I wasn't about to take a 3rd one, but that's exactly what the manager tried to do to me.  Nope.  I politely texted him asking him to give me the early load, I will have already done 2 in a row.  I am glad it didn't have to go any further than that, but as I suspected, the reason he wants to dump 2cd runs on me is because I get irritated with these people showing up early and he obviously doesn't want to hear it. 

Yup, well I don't want to be cut, either.  The reason I can say this is because he mentioned me showing up early so the "knucklehead" won't get away with his antics.  I mean, if you are a manager and your employees are doing whatever they heck they please....you can fill in the blank after that.

I had already planned on showing up early anyway, it will be a short time before I leave for AZ and I want time to get some stuff done.  So I told him I would show up a couple hours early both days at both ends.  He was all over that.  OK?  I can do that from now on, I thought. Save me the grief and get done with the work day at 11 am or even earlier.  

Now then, the VP debate. It starts in 8 minutes and I am definitely going to watch as much of it as my stomach can handle.  I thought I'd have to watch it on CBS - Communist Broadcast System - but apparently they are allowing it to be simulstreamed everywhere, including Fox.  I'm actually watching it for the entertainment value, if there will be any, and see if CBS stands by it's word.  They have promised no fact checking, at least on air.  The mics won't be muted and the nominees can fact check each other.  

Well I'm getting distracted, a lot of speculation about this debate starting in a few minutes.  But, I am just waiting for this thing to start and see how this plays out.  

___________________

I'm a Trump supporter so my opinion is going to be a bit swayed, but Walz was nervous, committed word salads, lied, made up stories, did not have a convincing argument and I can't see most undecideds seeing him as the winner of this debate. Vance did a far better job debating the positions that Trump has then Trump did in the first debate.  Much better speaker than Trump, Trump gets tripped up on his ego and anyone saying anything to him that maligns him he can't help himself but to fire back.  

Vance interrupted the moderators - who had agreed to no fact checking - after they fact checked him. They ended up cutting off his microphone.  I think they cut off both microphones. CBS will be endlessly blasted for this, but it wasn't near as bad as the first debate.  

It's over and I'm toast.  

But...

I have second load again tomorrow.  It's the same thing as the last 2 days - if I can sleep in, I will.  If I can't, I'll just let it go as far as these drivers showing up to butt in before me. As far as I'm concerned, I have, in writing, permission to show up as early as I want. I don't want to get up at 4 am but I will to get my day over with. I can always take a nap when I get home and I can nap both at the loading plant and the delivery plant.  

Well, at the delivery plant I have to get out of the truck every so often to check the air pressure going into the tanker.  You can't get it too high or seals will start blowing out.  But I do take short naps up there sometimes. Today was not one of those days. For whatever reason, the product was blasting through the outlet line and I was done offloading in 42 minutes. That's a record for me.  I was busy the entire time and got out of there and got home at a still-decent time. Not good enough to get stuff done I wanted to, but enough that I didn't feel like I had blown the entire day away with the 2cd load.

I'm running ads, I'm giving $200 off first month's rent, besides adding more amenities such as building the canopies over the lots, I really don't know what else I can do.  There is a lot of competition, that's what I can say.  I've had several inquiries through Facebook messaging, nothing that has converted to a person actually moving in.  

 Tuesday - 7:55 am

I woke up early - way too early - and decided I was sleeping in today. If I have late load I might as well enjoy the time to sleep in if I am able.  Sometimes- many times - I try to sleep in and I am laying there awake. That didn't happen either today or yesterday and I'll take all the sleep I can get when I can get it. 

VP debate tonight, anchored by CBS News.  I used to respect CBS news long ago, but once they got involved with propaganda and Russian Collusion, ignoring the Hunter laptop story when it came out and determining it was "fake news", etc, I lost all respect for them.  

I do not expect any less hostile landscape from their biased moderators than what we saw in the Trump-Harris debate.  Many leftist outlets are saying, finally, that the moderators in that debate were extremely biased and were hostile towards Trump while they were soft on Harris.  Of course they were, it was glaringly obvious.  

I'm going to watch the debate regardless for I believe Vance is a much more accomplished speaker than Walz.  There is allegedly going to be no fact-checking.  Trump claims they had agreed before the Trump-Harris debate that there would be no fact checking.  We obviously know that isn't true and that the only person being fact-checked was Trump. Harris spoke some real "big fish stories", not even exaggerations, just bold-faced lies.  I don't see any use for Trump to engage in any more debates, he will be treated the same way unless the Harris campaign would agree to unbiased moderators that aren't from any news media outlet.  

Yeah, that's not going to happen.  We all know that and Harris can call Trump a coward/chicken/whatever all she wants, it just makes her look childish. 

That's where we're at in this campaign.  Leftists are engaging in extremely immature behavior, some of it is unbelievable.  Leftists putting up a 40 plus foot tall, naked Trump effigy near a Harris rally in Vegas.  

Meanwhile, 36 ports from Maine to Texas are shut down.  The union workers went on strike as promised.  Uhh, y'all/we all might want to go out and get stuff you need, because if this strike goes on long enough, there are going to be shortages of everything.  I don't know what, exactly, at this point, but I'm going to stock up on paper goods immediately just in case.  We went through Covid and lack of toilet paper and other paper goods, I am not going to be caught in that position again, going around town looking for ANY toilet paper.  

I eventually found a 4 pack at Walgreens.  I also found single rolls of TP at truckstops for sale. Outrageously priced but you'll take anything once you get to the desperation mode.

We have a war going on in Lebanon now and we have the devastation of the Helene storm.

The world is always in turmoil to some extent, we're looking at some extreme stuff going on right now.  

Now then, if I can get up early enough tomorrow..no I'm not going to try and bypass whoever is loading, I have second load yet again.  No, I'd like to go the 7:00 am bible study. It only goes on an hour and I don't typically leave for the 2cd load slot until around 9:00 am.  Big if, but I'm at least going to try. I don't even know if "outsiders" are invited to this thing.  They mention it once in a while, but not in the context of anyone can come.  I guess if I were disinvited showing up - yeah - I'd leave that church in a hurry.  

That's enough for now.  I need to make lunch for the road and get some more coffee.

G'day

 Monday - 7:45 am

I was going to do it. Get up early and just play their game against them.  I didn't even have to have an alarm wake me up, 4:45 am I woke up out of a dream and thought about getting up.  Then I thought how nice it would be to sleep in and so I said screw it.  

I'm referring to simply showing up at the plant whenever I damn well please like these other drivers do without any repercussions.  One driver got a scolding, or so I'm told, other than that? They aren't going to stop this nonsense.  The drivers don't care and management does little or nothing to stop it.  It greatly irritates me, that's all I can say and until I do anything about it beyond saying something to management - who basically do nothing - I guess I'll just have to eat it.

Nooo, bro, I'm not eating it lmao.  This s*** is going to come to a head and I'm going to force it there.  When I feel like getting up early on a day that I don't need to for loading or delivery? I'll be there at a time when I'm not supposed to be.  

It seems relatively straight forward.  Building a wood-structured canopy, that is.  16 foot tall 4X4's, 8 of them and 2X6 for the outside structure and I think it's 1X2 or maybe 1X4 for the cross ties.  No, 10 4x4's.  So, $250 worth of 4x4's, $90 worth of 2x6x10's, I'm not sure how wide, but shooting for 14 feet so another $40 worth of end side beams...

Well the cross ties apparently are going to also have to be 2x4x16 to make 14 wide.  I don't know how many so I'll guess 10, there's another $110. What do we have for a total so far....$490.  Add 4 more pieces of lumber for support beams, $50, $250 for the canopy to drape over the top....$790 and then screws, lag bolts and thin wood strips to wrap the ends of the canvas around and staple them to the wood.  So around $850 to build one.  Canvas probably has to be replaced every few years I'm guessing.  I think a wood structure that is stained and put the acrylic finish on it would look far better than these ugly metal things.  

Oh, forgot the cement for the poles in the ground.  Let's say $900 to build one. Incredible that lumber costs that much nowadays.  I think 5 years ago it would cost half of that.  Have to be realistic about it, but it's still thousands of dollars less than the metal structures that come as a kit. 

__________

Yes, I'll be doing that sooner or later, probably sooner than later.  One of them and see what happens when I advertise it.  This way, I don't waste a lot of money on something that might not work.  Or might be an instant hit? Who knows.  

Meanwhile, I've been watching a lot of footage of the devastation that storm did. Chimney Rock, a small town I think in NC, is almost completely leveled.  It's just a pile of wood and belongings now with some structures on the sides.  A man was on the news that lives in that area and said there is almost no gas, power, water and very little food.  This is where the government should step in, not opposed to that at all. But you can be rest assured Red Cross either will be there or likely is already there. And other Christian ministries will be bring in truckloads of needed goods for the people to survive.  It's an amazing amount of destruction in an area where that kind of flooding was never expected.  

The reports of dams breaking were wrong tho.  No dams broke, they are opened up wide and letting a tremendous amount of water out but they are all holding so far.  That's good news in a situation where there isn't much good news at all.  

Not much else on my front. I ordered new jeans for my trip, I don't have much "good" clothing right now and I don't want to go traipsing across the country to visit people in clothing that isn't quite in good condition. I do have a few pairs of jeans, I just needed some. I was waiting to see if I would go down to the next size down. Weight has been fluctuating but it does seems to be slowly inching down, I'm a ways off from the next waist size down.  

The 2 weeks off did a number on my finances, admittedly and unfortunately. It doesn't help having unwanted days off.  I really If I had my way, I'd work the next 6 days including today and get Sunday off to not only go to church but to get ready for the trip.  It starts Monday and hopefully home by Saturday.  I called AZ MVD and it's simply a matter of showing up with a signed title, I don't have to register the vehicle or get an AZ title in my name and I can get a 30 day out of state pass that gets me back to Texas legally.  I need to call the insurance company now and see what that will entail.

Beyond that, it's just getting clothing ready and mentally prepared.  I was hoping for a bit cooler weather in AZ, my mother keeps the house at 80 and I can't sleep in that warm of a situation.  It's still in the 100's there and down in the 70's at night.  Bearable maybe, not ideal.  I'm used to sleeping in a house that is between 68 and 70 degrees - tho that is done to keep the humidity at bay. Almost no humidity in AZ desert, it might be ok.  I worry about it because I need my sleep. Last visit there was just too much.  80 degree house is like an oven to me.  At least for sleeping. Even during the day time it was so warm in there I was mildly sweating.

She likes it like that, it's not a matter of money for paying electric bills. 

Anyway, it's almost time to go. Get my coffee going, a glass of ice water and get out of here.

G'day

 Sunday - afternoon

Yesterday, when I arrived at the loading plant, another driver was already there. He was many hours early for his appointment time.  I said nothing to the manager about it, but I contemplated starting the search for another job again.  Today?  I left early, got up there around 8:50 am and guess who was there?  Of course. The driver had showed up at 8:20 am, so he still had quite a while to go before he was going to be done. 

I got fairly pissed at this point and texted the manager about it.  I texted him again and said: "I assume at this point that since Johnny, Phillip and now Jerome can show up whenever they want, I can now start showing up when I please".  

Yeah, he never directly addressed that.  He did call me right after that second text.  I did not get a "no" from him on that second text at all. Instead, he said the driver was supposed to be at the plant at 7:00 am this morning and out of your way.  The manager also acknowledged that he knew that other driver had been at the other plant yesterday at the same time I was supposed to be there.  I mean, from my perch, that just means he not only knows about it, he condones it or at the very least, doesn't say anything to anyone about it.  

You see, tomorrow I have late load. So what happens if I just go out there at  6:20 am, fire up the truck and just head down south? What's he going to say to me?  I'll quit before I get chewed out about something that is going on with fully 3 other drivers who couldn't care less.  I dunno if I'll do it or not, but I'm seriously considering it. Like, get up even earlier, around 4:45 am, get out the door by 5:30 am, out of the park by 5:45 am and down to the washout around 7:15.  8:30 ish to the plant, load and leave and if anyone else shows up, who cares?  Right?  

I'm sure I would hear about it and I'm sure I would dish it right back.  Would he fire me? Anyone can be fired for no reason at all in "at will employment" state where you have no obligation to work for them and they have no obligation to keep you hired.  In other words, no unions.  Well, there are definitely unions in Texas, but I am not a part of the Teamsters and have no desire to be.  I doubt there are Teamster style jobs around here anyway.  Legitimately, he couldn't fire me because everyone else does it and he knows all about it.  But I wouldn't count on it as a given of course and finding another job right now.....yuck.

They go through employees like the changing time of day - not because people are fired, but because drivers quit.  They are constantly hiring for our positions for they know they will need someone to replace someone else who quits.  

Enough of that. It's pretty irritating and I"m a bit agitated right now.  It happens far too often. If it was just once in a while I could deal with it.  

The poverty case still hasn't paid his rent. He claims he still hasn't received his check from the state. I'm giving him until the 1st and then he'll get a 3 day notice replete with trespassing notice and then he will leave my park.  I'm not footing the bill for his AC and everything else he's doing in there that is consuming my resources.  

I'm down 5 guests and about to lose yet another one. Another short term worker, he was here 3 months but is leaving on another assignment.  I don't have any negative reviews and I've been running ads yet I am only getting a little bit of interest here and there. Some guy that doesn't speak english showed up today, but wouldn't come down the driveway.  So how are we supposed to receive him into the park if he won't enter it?  I eventually gave up on him, whatever his deal was, I don't have time for it.  

I have no idea what to do to get people in.  Oh wait, yes I do! I was looking up RV carports today and finally found a video where man had built his own.  Just used 4x4s and then 2x6's on the top and some supporting braces.  He says it cost him under $700.  It looked decent too. Not all gawdy and yucky looking as those metal contraptions. You buy a 40 foot long sheet of shade canopy online after you construct the frame, staple it on there and walaah.  For home made, it looked pretty good and I could do that kind of project pretty easily. Time consuming, but the saving over 5 k and up shade systems would be substantial.  

It would be worth the try to build one and see what happens.  For that much cheaper construction price, I wouldn't have to jack up my lot rent price that much to pay for it.  

How do I know for sure it would attract a new renter? I don't, but for $700 I would definitely risk it.