Friday - late afternoon

Today - work wise - went by quickly. Was at the washout by 7:50 am and was at the plant at 8:55 am.  I was out of there and back to the park by 12:35 pm.  The only real delay was very elongated wait for highway construction.  15 minutes there and then this lady driving the pilot truck was going 10 mph.  

I have been through here multiple times, they typically go between 30 and 40 - the one lane temporary road is like 5 miles long.  She kept pulling up on the freshly paved asphalt and trying to signal me to come up there, but there were traffic cones nearly in the center of it, I couldn't go up there.  

She finally stopped in the middle of the highway, came up and started telling me that I needed to get behind her. I asked her why she is going so slow? I was also recording it to protect myself in case she tried to say I said "something" - whatever.  She ignored my question so I just asked it again. She then said "you have my permission to video me" to which I replied I don't need your permission.  She went on and on and I finally said let's GO, NOW.  Her lips started moving again - LET's GO, PLEASE! 

Senseless people attempting to tell me how to drive a truck, I was having none of it. I would have been nicer to her but she was quite crass albeit with a big smile on her face.  She also tried to tell me " you can't drive on this portion of the road because your big trucks will ruin the surface".  I had had enough - we have been driving on this stuff for a month since your crews put it down, please just get in  your truck and start driving or I'm going to start calling your company.  

There were literally at least 50 vehicles behind us, we had waited quite a while, it was beyond ridiculous her trying to pull all of this.  

Anyway, up early tomorrow morning and I will deliver this load of glue and then off for the rest of however much is left of Saturday and all of Sunday. I am going to church for the first time in over a month now.  I didn't want to work Saturday either, but that's what they gave me and I just kept my mouth shut about it, Sunday was the important thing. 

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Bedtime.  I was wondering if the pool party was this weekend and my wondering was over with  "Are you going to the pool party tonight?"  Oh yes.  Lots of fun celebrating an 8 turned 9 kid with their family and really most of the group was there.  That's 5 families worth.  Someone rented a pool, not sure who, but there is an app called Swimify and you can rent the use of a pool from a homeowner. Don't know how much it costs.  The people at this place were home but they didn't bother us at all. In fact, I never saw them.  

The only drawback was the water was very, very warm. It was more like a hot tub than a cool swimming pool, but we just went with it.  I would love to have a pool at my property and someday I probably will get one built.  But, I want a lot more lots to help pay for it and enough of them to charge and extra premium for those that want to use it. It's not going to be free or included in the price of the lot rent, that's an extra that whoever wants to use it will pay an extra $50 per month (at least) fee for.  

So, if I were to have 56 lots and 20 of them pay the fee, that pretty much pays for the pool's upkeep.  It won't be rented out to any outside parties but there will be occasions where I will block it off for friends/family.  Or, they can just come and use it with everyone else.  

I'm not talking every day or even every week, just every so often.  

Anyway, I don't need to get off on that subject, it is on the goal list, but so is a large building with a full kitchen, office, laundry room, bathrooms with showers and lounge.  I won't even consider getting into that kind of debt until I get everything else done and see what kind of income I am generating first.  Brick and mortar maybe, probably a large - giant - metal building amply insulated and fully decked out with everything listed above.  Still talking some serious money and also the property taxes going up.  But it's the point where I would start charging higher monthly rate - or - charging for electricity separately. 

There's a lot I'd love to do with that business, but it all boils down to money.  

I asked junior to remove the box blade and put the bush hog attachment on the tractor. I didn't even realize he had hauled it off somewhere to do side work.  He asked me if he could use my trailer - of course you can!  

Well that's enough. I need to get to bed. I went to bed WAY too late last night, didn't sleep well and I paid for it today.  Enough of that! 

Thursday - evening

I had the second load today.  Turned out there were actually 3 loads going up there, I didn't know that until a little while ago.  Their system was half full, I can see them wanting more but then again,, they really haven't been ordering as much resin as they need to be to keep it full. 

Anyway, I got pulled into the weigh/inspection station on the Texas side on the way up. This old trooper comes out and says, hold up.  He's on an elevated porch, they can see down into your cab. Best have everything good long before you go in there, lol.  He goes down the steps, starts looking at tires, kicks one of them, comes back up on the porch, tells me I have a low tire, Loves' is the next stop.  

He didn't write me up or even pull me in, just let me go.  I figured I best stop at the Loves' and see what's going on.  Sure enough, the tire was basically flat, just hadn't unsealed from the rim.  2 hour ordeal just getting one tire repaired, but it had to be done.  You get a full load on a bad tire and that tire is going to fail at some point.  And then, you are stuck on the side of the highway instead of at a tire shop.  

It was brutal hot today. Unloading that truck was wicked.  The humidity was soaring and the real feel was 109.  It's not just unloading, the ac in the truck itself doesn't keep blowing cold, you have to shut it off for 15 minutes. I have this down to a science now.  15 minutes no ac, 35 minutes ac. 15/35/15 etc until you get back.  I would complain about it but it forces me to get used to this stifling heat.  

I was looking for a dozer today and found one for rent, actually.  The rental rate isn't terrible at $450 per day, the delivery is $500.  That's drop off and pick up.  I said fine but the dude said well have you contacted so and so? I have no idea who that is.  He sent me his contact info.  I haven't called yet. I realized coming back today I have some work to do before getting a dozer over there. Namely, whacking down some weeds and cutting down some of the sweet gum trees.  Sunday is my next day off and I can guarantee you I won't want to work on Sunday, so I dunno when I'll get it done.  

Oh, and just like that.  People paid for the large lot - the big one I decided to rent instead of keeping for overnighters and another person called from some company saying they are sending their employee tomorrow.  Hopefully the employee takes the back in lot which will leave a regular pull thru open.  I'm probably going to rent that too, tho, I won't intentionally keep it open, it's just losing money. Which reminds me ... there, processed.

I tried to run a stored card a few days ago and it came back declined. The cardholder always says " I don't keep that much in there" and whatever else he goes into.  Yes, but you know you owe rent and you know when it's due, I think but don't say, not trying to start trouble but it gets a bit ridiculous. And another card I tried to run, I just texted that dude and asking him to rectify the situation.  These people are making abundant amounts of money, trust me, they are.  

It's the people that pay without having to even ask that make me happy.  Fighting with people for money gets old and I may change my policy.  Pay up when it's due or face late charges.  

I get back to the park today and the 10 year old calls. Well where are you?  I just got back, what's up? Oh, well we're going to InJapan, are you coming?  I guess?  Am I invited? I shouldn't need to be, I thought, but let's see where this goes. So, he asks his grandma, who is standing there and she tells him no.  "we aren't going to get to see you for 3 months" and on and on.  Which has nothing to do with going out to eat at a restaurant.  He got mad at her.  Later on, just a few minutes ago actually, i was out back installing a new pump on the pond and he comes up: Do you not like grandma?  

He's only 10 years old, so I had to limit my thoughts on an old hag that hates that I have a closer relationship with that kid than she does.  Not my problem and I wouldn't have an issue if it was the other way around.  "That's her issue, not mine, she is the one that doesn't like me, talk to her".  Her actions towards me are how you build resentment in kids.  He loves her, yes, but he isn't near as close to her as he is to me.  

Shrugged shoulders, went to Applebee's alone. 

It is not an impossible thought that I may get the park developed and eventually sell it and leave this area entirely.  I can't have this shit going on forever.  She comes, the whole house is upended, the folks here didn't stop her from saying that shit to the 10 year old regarding me, it's kind of messed up.  They are indebted to her - she paid for a 20k ac unit to be installed and helps them financially in other areas.  I pay for a lot of stuff around here, however and that's because I live here. I pay half the groceries and all of the utility bills along with satellite and internet.  That's gas, electric, water, satellite, internet, groceries and help with other stuff as well. Not like I'm on a free ride here, never wanted to be, I don't live like that.  

But it is grinding on me, getting on my nerves and making me unhappy;. She comes, she takes over, we have clashed several times and I feel like another clashing is just around the corner after this shit today.  Those kids spent 3 weeks with her not long ago.  Not like she doesn't get to see them.  I don't want to have issues with inlaws/relatives of theirs, I don't try to make her unhappy, she's just a miserable person.  She used to say she can't wait for her relative to die off so she can be done with that person.  WTH.  And a lot of other stuff just like that. 

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Much later.  Time to go to bed. Early load tomorrow morning.  Ok, I probably said the "eventually sell it and leave this area entirely" thing out of frustration.  I'm just tired of the treatment, not deserved and I don't treat them like this at all.  

 Monday - evening

It was as high as 115 real feel here today - and it certainly felt like it.  

However, I didn't spend much time outdoors so no biggies.  That's because I didn't even bother to get out of bed until 10:30 am.  The kids weren't out of bed until after 9 am so there is that.  They are going to have to start getting used to getting up early for school coming up soon here. Summer is almost over and I can't wait.  They will have to get up at 5:40 am, spend the day in school and things return to normal. It's been a weird summer as it stands.  I'm ready for it to be over even tho I know hot weather is going to be around for a while.  

I took the kids to the movies to see the new Jurassic World.  It was half boring and half entertaining. Far too many slow spots in it, it didn't have the same feel in many respects to the older versions.  But, it was fun and the day was over rather quickly as I took one of the kids to the guitar practice and then eat dinner and then - nothing. I don't work tomorrow either and I suspect I won't be getting up early tomorrow morning, either.  

I think I'm going to have to find another dozer operator, they are just too busy and tho I prefer to wait, I don't want to wait until the 2cd of never.  I'm not in a huge hurry, tho i do have someone allegedly moving into one of the newly vacated spots on Wednesday. These are the people that have driven through several times, according to them anyway and like my place and want to live there. This is semi-permanent type of thing, retired folks.  It will happen that I will get a lot of calls in a short period of time and I won't have anything for them to move into.  Unless I get with the program. 

Still, I'd like to do this right and if it takes more time, so beit.  I just got my paycheck for the pay period where I was on vacation for 12 days and somehow I managed to get near what I normally get paid.  I mean, I'm not going to complain, I have noticed that my paychecks have been pretty near each other even on pay periods where I didn't work as much.  Regardless, I do not want to go out working in this heat. I'll leave that to younger generations, I will wait for cooler weather if I have to, even if that means a few months down the road. I got the hard part over with: getting that septic installed.  Actually I need to at least get the electricity going to the meter pedestal done now that I think of it. That way I'm ready to go whenever we get to that point. 

No, I'm just going to enjoy a few days off after working what I deem to be an excessive amount of days.  I expect - doi't know for sure-  but expect they will have me working 4 days in a row after this is done and then Sunday off. I will be getting Sunday off regardless, that's really not in question, at least not for me.  They know this as well. 

Besides the mess in AZ  there is nothing much new going on.  The mess is the excessive water bill and Mark continuously saying the city is "lying" and blah blah blah.  No, I don't think so. He's got something screwed up and the only way I am apparently going to fix it is to go back to AZ.  He has changed something or something is broken or not operating right or there is a leak somewhere and he just doesn't know it. I've been through this with him on other things before, he'll adamantly claim something and I come to find out his is 100% wrong. 

Why would the city lie?  Such a scandal would make the news and they would be dragged over the coals for it. He claims they aren't reading the meter right. I had the city come out and check it.  Physically, manually check it.  I paid $28 for the privilege and they said he's probably using too much water.  I don't know what to do, but I'll tell ya that I'm tired of dealing with it and would like to just sell it and get it out of my hair forever.  I am not returning to AZ to live and even if I did, I would not return to that neighborhood.  I would still want to sell the house and move into the suburbs.  I don't miss that place at all and I only concern myself with returning for visits to family.

That's about it for now. I'm going to play a few games, watch a movie and eventually go to sleep.   

 Sunday - late night

Why late night? Because it is, lol.  I dunno, I'm about to go to bed but my stomach is churning, indigestion. 

Anyway, just finished another entire weekend of working and today, I was really hating it.  I haven't been to church in what, a month?  The kids haven't been to church in at least 2 months and we need to get back into that.  The manager said he couldn't get anyone to fill this weekend's position, a truck broken down, people sick, his same old excuses.  

In other words, someone wanted to do something and they are taking the weekend off.  Great, but this was the second weekend in a row and the entire weekend spent working.  No thanks.  They will not be having me working this next coming Sunday, that is a fact. The only way I could see that happening is if they give me double pay.  Yes, that is what I would ask for.  I'm not spending my life driving a damn truck and missing everything.  

There is a small silver lining here. I have Monday and Tuesday off. I don't have to get up for work in the morning nor Tuesday.  I guess they think I will then work Wednesday - Saturday.  They are probably guessing right.  I need these 2 days off, I have been grinding every day for the last 12 day save one.  I don't care what company I am working for, when I take a vacation, they make you pay for it afterwards.  Well, I PAID now, thanks.  I will absolutely refuse to work next Sunday unless substantial extra pay is offered. That's the only thing that would motivate me and even that is lacking in lieu of going to church.  

There isn't much else going on, well there is I just don't want to go into everything.  One dude left the park without notice, turns out he moved in with a friend so he moved his trailer out.  I just want to know about it, that's all I ask.  I was turning people away left and right.  Then another dude that is working at the hospital also left without notice.  I don't require a notice per se, it's an rv park, that's what happens. But if you're  long term I really would like the courtesy of a text or something to tell me hey by the way, I am leaving.  No hard feelings from me, it arms me with the info that if someone calls, yes I am going to have another space available. 

Anyway, these people called yesterday and today. They told me they have driven through my park several times and they want to move  in on  Wednesday.  I'm fine with that, I will hold the lot for you.  Turns out, these people are staying at the park where I have been referring people to and they didn't have nice things to say about it.  Well, the lady informed me, there are so many problems, I wanted to speak with the owner and ask him to fix things.  But, the park manager won't tell us who the owner is. 

Oh, I know who he is.  I have his name. She went on to say the lots are so uneven, you have to jack up the wheels really high to get the trailer evened out and then, your trailer rocks and tilts when you are moving around inside of it.  

I see how that dude is doing it now.  As far as opening up all of these parks, he's really cheap.  He isn't even putting gravel down, it's just grass and dirt. When it rains at that particular park, the driveway turns into mud and I've heard that from 2 separate people now.  He has his own equipment so really, it's just buying the land and installing basic utilities.  Gravel is expensive folks, but you can't get away with putting nothing at all down. People will not like it at all.  

Anyway, I drive down my driveway every day and look at that beautiful, unused septic system just sitting there, doing nothing.  I can't force things faster along than what it takes to get things done. Right now, I'm waiting on the contractor to give me a day when he can spare his dozer operator.  He figures a good day should do it. Yes, I agree.  I'll wait a week or two, if he can't swing it I'm going to have to find someone else.  There's plenty around, but if you're going to spend that kind of money, you want to know that you are getting one of the best in the business.

I'm really tired and this writing is making me so sleepy, but I guess that was the point.  Sit down, write a bit and get myself so tired that I just zonk out as soon as my head hits the pillow type of thing. 

Still, it's intriguing that this dude I've been sending people to is running his operations so cheaply.  I don't think I will be recommending anyone from now on.  I don't know of any place around here that I would say, yes, that's the place, go there!  I feel like I would be steering people to places that they aren't going to like and I don't want them holding that against me.  

I can't really think of anything else right now, my mind is telling me "TIME TO GO TO BED!".  I'm going to listen to it and my body and do just that.  

Wednesday - earlyish morning

Wrote the below 3 paragraphs Monday, picking up from there....

I dodged a bullet today.  Lol.  I couldn't take that skid steer back until after work - it was due back this morning.  What was I supposed to do? I just hoped I could talk my way out of  it - not like it was being used today at all. Got back from Lufkin early, around noon actually.  Got that thing loaded onto the trailer and got it back to their place.  Did everything, went into their shop and I was lucky the manager was in. I didn't ask for a manager, but if he's not there, the workers will just adamantly state I owe such and such and tough s***. 

So the dude is like, you know this machine was due back no later than 9 this morning?  Well, no one actually said that to me. In fact, they didn't even tell me it was due back this morning at all. I just knew that from previous rentals.  I just said sorry and he let it go, but for future reference.....

I didn't cost them money at least, there were 2 more skid steers out there.  It would have cost me another $450 if they were to have tried to force me to pay another day.  But then I was asking about renting a mini-ex.  They're expensive, nothing I can do about that.  I have to dig a ditch 3-1/2 feet deep for a few hundred feet for the first 

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A roach problem in the bathroom.  Who knows.  Going to have it treated and be done with it.  First day off after 6 straight days of working including the previous entire weekend.  I actually didn't want today off, I would have rather worked through Saturday and have Sunday off.  What are their plans now? Well, if I'm going to guess, I'm going to guess more drivers than work available and they know I'll opt out of the weekend if I'm given the choice.  They've transferred drivers to other routes and brought in 2 new drivers.  

The company has a retention issue and it's obvious why if you've read this blog at all.  

Anyway, I'm going to have to get out there and see if I can finish the job on the dirt work with the tractor of if I'm going to have to spend the 2 grand and have it done - right.  I'm leaning towards the dozer work.  Just because I know the dude that will be out there will do it right and I won't have to worry about it any more at all.  

I haven't a lot to do today but I am going to get some things done. That probably doesn't include tractor work. I'm tired, I want to rest.  I don't like working as much as I have to with this company. It's up early every day, the alternative is up later but get done later.  Which is better? Well, that depends on my mood, lol.  

 Sunday - afternoon

Got up early, drove up to Gurdon, unloaded and went home. Traffic wasn't terrible and not to many idiotic occurrences on the road,  a good day I think. 

Back to the park, the boy hadn't done anything. He said he would "when I get back", whatever that means. I need some more hours out of him on that thing, but, if he doesn't, oh well.  I figure he will tho, he's pretty good at keeping his word about things. 

No church today, obviously, but the boys wanted to go to Applebee's, or weekly ritual after church.  They did not, however, ask their dad who was home and mom wasn't, he was serving lunch when I came in.  Yup, no Applebee's today not that I needed it but then again, I haven't gone out to eat this week anywhere. Even the drive back from Colorado I only bought some deli stuff, no sit down and eat type of thing.

 That's because I don't like wasting time on a trip. I was alone and I wanted to get it over with, eat while driving. Much cheaper, no tipping, we're good.  

Anyway, now it's starting to rain so that may put a literal damper on any dirt work.  I may end up still having to pay to have the area done with a dozer - but it will be much cheaper than original quotes.  4 hours max and they can have that smoothed out. Or, I can pay to have the full day and have them do the driveway as well.  

 Friday - late evening

In about 45 minutes, this house is going to become noisy.  3 kids worth of noise.  The oldest from Arkansas was dropped off here several hours ago by his grandma and the other 2 - who haven't been home in almost 7 weeks - are almost here along with Taylor and her dad, who was helping her drive back.  She didn't want to make the drive alone and asked him to help.  He resisted at first, but now he's staying until Tuesday lol. The peace and quite this house has afforded me for all that time is going to vanish in an instant.

Anyway, I went and rented the skid steer today. It's a rental until Monday.  I will probably end up having to pay more for - tho they didn't tell me this at rental time - they want it back Monday morning. Not because they need it but because that's how they work weekend rentals.  It doesn't matter, the thing will get used today, tomorrow and Sunday.  I pulled in with it and the 18 year old was pulling in right behind me.  We talked a bit, got the machine off the trailer and he went straight to work with it.  

As I have said before, he's got a good work ethic.  Apparently he's bringing his 13 year old brother tomorrow to help him - the brother will be operating the old tractor that he brought a long time ago.  I dunno about his brother's work ethic, but they have all been brought up on a farm.  The 18 year old says he is good with the tractor and he doesn't talk much.  Ok?  Whatever, lol, I'm in this for the work to get done, not for a social convention.  

I mean, if they do a good enough job I won't need to do anything else.  We'll see but they are motivated, I'm paying them a decent wage.  You get a good worker motivated and hopefully you get your money's worth out of it and then some.  I'm looking at 2 grand to pay an expert dozer operator for one day - but that guy will get the thing perfect.   

I was looking at the new septic system while showing the kid what I want done.  It's bigger.  A lot bigger.  The first one has 4 caps, this one has 8.  Or 6? Well anyway, it's a much larger capacity with larger tanks.  I dunno if they made a mistake or what, but I can probably put 20 lots on that thing.  I dunno what was wrong with the other one, it was overflowing. They came and pumped it out this morning and fixed whatever.  $425.  It was $450 last time I had to have all the tank pumped out so the price went down? And they didn't charge anything to fix whatever was wrong?

I"m working through the weekend. Up early tomorrow and up early Sunday. No church, the boys will be disappointed unless they can convince someone to take them.  They'll definitely want the Applebee's experience, I may take them regardless of church.  I think there's a Friday night event for them coming up next week, so they'll get a dose of God, fun and food then.  No, I don't want to work this weekend.  

The kids, Taylor and her dad are in town, almost home. I know because I was looking at Life 360.  I've been watching them all day, they have made really good time considering.  But, there's 2 drivers and that makes it much easier.  

Ok, I'm babbling now. I'm getting perked up about the prospect of adding more sites.  I noticed today that someone moved out.  I didn't know they had left and they never spoke a word about it.  I was informed they left 2 weeks ago but they took the trailer out while I was on vacation.  Yea, I don't really care. That guy had a bunch of junk outside his trailer and I was getting sick of dealing with him. He also used a LOT of electricity.  Like, turn everything on full blast whether heat or AC and who cares about the electric bill? 

Yes, my new power pedestals will all have meters, I'm not making that mistake again. Even if I don't charge separately for electricity,  I can keep track of everyone's electric use and have conversations with anyone using excessive amounts.  They can either reduce their use or pay more in lot rent or I will simply tell them they can pay for their own electricity and  I will reduce the lot rent by $75 per month.  

The thing that pisses me off about people leaving like that is that I have been turning business away because I had no idea he had left.  So when will I get another call for a lot? Who knows? Tonight? Tomorrow? Next week? It's really random. You get 3 calls in a day and then you might not get any calls for a while.  Lately, tho, I've been getting consistent calls for lots.  I don't care if people want to leave, that doesn't bother me, it's not letting me know that they are leaving yet they know in advance almost always that they are, indeed, leaving and when they are going to do so. 

Oh, gaming. Well, I'm still playing Fortnite but a lot less. People are crass, rude and egotistical on there. I'm getting sick of it.  I have been tempted to just quit playing the game altogether, but since I am limited my time on it, it's not terrible. I have also gotten rid of people that insult me and others without provocation. Iike, out of the blue, they say "you suck".  "I'm better than you".  "I'll revive you if you say I'm better than you" and other juvenile statements.  Admittedly some of them are juveniles, but still how do they think it's acceptable to talk to people like that?  

As for the diet, I restarted it on Monday and have been going strong ever since.  I can crank away on a diet once I get a good start on it. 

I've also been doing my pushups. I took a sort of break from them after getting really sick a while back and it just took a while to get back into it.  

Enough. The folks are almost home and I have to go to bed in 40 minutes.  Going to spend some time with them and then crash out. 

 Tuesday - late morning

It finally caught up to me.  Night after night of sleeplessness in a warm room with a loud fan and uncomfortable bed.  I slept 8 straight hours, waking up once and going right back to sleep.  I went to bed at midnight, I dunno why I just did but it's now 11:00 am and I just got out of bed maybe 10 minutes ago and frankly, I feel like I could go back to sleep.  

The only reason I got up is the phone rang a second time from the septic system. I saw it earlier and didn't feel like talking to anyone.  But this time, I figured I better take the call. It was the owner of the septic system place - pretty crazy the owner calling me this is a large scale operation he's running with all kinds of spin off businesses - said he's coming to install it tomorrow. "But we haven't really discussed where we're going to put it". 

No, we haven't.  He or someone from there needs to come out and take a look and let us both figure it out.  So he asks if I'm going to be around tomorrow? Well, I'm not really sure.  

I haven't heard from work and the way I feel right now? I'm not scrambling to get back into that truck.  I dunno how I would have made it driving that truck the way I feel right now. It's like a hangover with drowsiness and sluggishness even tho I haven't been drinking nor did I drink anything yesterday.  It's just a full week of not so great sleeping conditions that caused me to get 3-5 hours of sleep per night. I already have sleep problems but this was far worse.  

So, I offered that I could definitely meet him out there today.  And the reason I want to do it in advance is in case some kind of dirt work or something needs to occur before they show up.   What is the point in arriving with all of that equipment and man power only to find out they can't do it where I want it?  So at 3:30 this afternoon I'm going out there to meet up with him.

Things are starting to pick up now what with them getting that thing installed soon and this weekend the boy is going to work on that dirt and I'm renting him a skid steer to do it. I've said this before but I"ll say it again: He's got an excellent work ethic, a good upbringing by farmers who probably didn't cut him any slack.  He still helps out on the farm even tho he has a full time job and he's going to school in-town, the whole reason he's even staying at my park.  He got quite a bit done on that old tractor, I'll hope he gets a lot more done with a skid steer that is on tracks and can whip that dirt into shape with someone who can do the job correctly.

However.  I am going to ask the contractor today what he'd charge to bring out his dozer and operator and just smooth that land out.  It's probably going to be pretty pricey, but I have to at least ask.  

I'm starting to get more motivated now that we are finally getting somewhere.  The only setback for me is the high heat and humidity.  Regardless, I feel like I'm finally getting on the path to making some real money off of this enterprise and that the goal is actually attainable, albeit getting there via a different path than originally intended.  

Who knows how long it make take to fill those lots up, the point is that I won't owe any money on it.  It's all going to be done with cash unless I decide to finance a building to take care of laundry and shower needs.  But if that were the case, the building would be big enough for a sizeable laundry room, several showers, an office and a C-store.  You get an operation big enough you are going to want to start selling soda, ice, junk food and maybe even a deli -in the future of course but who knows. At least a basic C store with all the usual offerings.  

I have goals as I said. I want this to be a destination spot, it's just that the path to getting there is taking a few turns that were unexpected. If truth be told, I eventually want luxury cabins in the rear of the property in the woods, well away from people, quiet, beautiful and peaceful.  And expensive. Not only to build but to rent.  If you really wanted to get into my mind, I'd love to acquire the property next door to the east of me. 

It's unused, undeveloped and definitely not for sale. I have tried along with others.  Whoever owns it doesn't want to sell it.  They do nothing with it, I don't know what the allure of it is but that's none of my business.  He has several small acreage parcels running alongside the front 1,400 feet of my property.  A perfect place to develop a swimming pool, office, laundry facility, etc.  

Anyway, let's get back to reality. 14 more lots, maybe 16 on this septic.  I've got 16 on the other septic plus a laundry, why not do the same? No reason not to unless there simply isn't the room for it, but I'm pretty sure I have plenty of room for maybe even more than 16 now that I have altered my site plan for building it out.  I dunno, it just never crossed my mind to get rid of the exit that curves back around.  Why do I need that when I'll have one at the end of it?  I don't. 

__________________

A few hours later. I was supposed to meet them over there at 3:30, the contractor's grunt man called at 1 and said oh, well I called him and he told me 3:30 but I thought we were meeting sooner. I'm over here now....

So, I got my things and ran over there. They already had a truck delivering one of the septic system tanks.  It is HOT outside, gag reflex.  Anyway, no big deal and glad we met beforehand for my manager called and I'm supposed to call him back.  I didn't even see he had called until a while ago, I have my ringer off and if I don't see the phone flashing or feel the vibration, it's a missed call.  

We decided on a location in the center of where everything will go in terms of lots and that was that.  He offered without my asking his dozer and operator - his operator is one of the best dozer operators I have ever seen and considering my trucking onto construction with a previous 12 year long job, that's saying something.  You just want this smoothed out, right?  Yes.  Well, you'll have to knock the weeds down first and what about these Sweetgum treest? I'll cut them down, the ones I don't want anyway.  

How much is it? 2 grand a day but we can knock it out in a day if you're just talking about smoothing it out.  

I still intend on having the kid do the initial work, the dozer can come behind him and finish it.  Some of the stuff needs to be done before they'll do it anyway.  

A crew coming tomorrow to install it, he said they're busy and have 4 crews installing 4 different systems tomorrow  Dang! I didn't know they had that many employees.  

 Tuesday - afternoon

Well, I've been a busy beaver today.  I didn't want to be but there's stuff that just has to get done, you know how that goes.  Over to the park to check on the grass, I paid James to do it and he did an excellent job. Then emptied out the quarter pans on the washer and dryer - complaints they wouldn't take any more quarters so I know there's over $400 worth in there, took out the trash and fired up the truck.  It did, indeed, fire right up without hesitation.  Picked up a bunch of trash people didn't quite make into the dumpster and left there.  

Over to Kroger's for food. The house is basically emptied out of everyday staples, so I spent some cash on that deal.  I was going to go wash the pickup after that but lo and behold, it started raining. Went over to Starbuck's instead.  After that, home and put away all the food and continue on with laundry.  My room smells bad, I'm washing everything to get that stench out of here. It's a dog thing, lol.  

Talked to Taylor - they're driving home Friday - they're going to a zoo there. Well, they're at the zoo now.  I sent a little money so the boys could go on the train and other rides.  It's going to be their last hurrah, once they get home, there ain't gonna be much else.  Maybe go to a splash pad or something, but we're talking cheap stuff.  

The sickness and evil in the mind it takes to say something like: "You got what you asked for" or "You got what you voted for" and other reprehensible statements about blaming the right for the Texas Guadalupe River catastrophe? Unfathomable.  My first thought when seeing pics of little girls who were swept away and killed by an "act of God" - tho I hardly blame the Lord for this, it's just a saying that it's totally out of man's control - isn't to think of democrats and how they somehow caused this.  

It's along the same lines as when democrats were mocking the right for saying "Our thoughts and prayers are with you" when   a mass school shooting occurred.  You people - if you read this blog at all - are sick minded and need help. I said that and I'm not taking it back.  You take an utter tragedy and turn it into some pitch for the mid terms? Go jump in an icy cold lake.  This is one of the reasons your side is losing elections more often than not.  You think it's perfectly normal to just continue on with this nasty, evil, immoral and totally depraved speech.  

It's cold hearted, it's bereft of any compassion or understanding or sympathy of the people who are suffering the tragic loss of a loved one.  

Whatever.  

I think beyond laundry and more cleaning, I'm going to take it easy today. The week long activities caught up to me earlier and I just need to rest and get recharged.  

 Monday night/Tuesday early morning (1 am)

I drove straight through, no hotel stop.  Almost 1,000 miles took me around 15 hours.  I stopped twice to nap - I haven't slept well in a week.  The room had no AC and was warm most nights, the air mattress wasn't my thing and the fan made too much noise.  I like fan noise, but not that one.  The naps only lasted 10 minutes each. The first time I don't know what woke me up, but 10 minutes was good enough to have me driving for hours after that. 

The second one, I fell into a good sleep only to have some nutcase decide to park next to me-  I chose a spot away from people - slam their door when they got out. Like a demon attempting to stop me from sleeping, it was totally uncalled for and quite ridiculous.  But I said nothing to them, sat up and started driving again.  I was going to stop in Witchita Falls originally, but had changed it earlier in the day to Decatur TX.  I wanted more miles out of the day before stopping.  

But I got to Decatur and just kept driving - I hadn't reserved a room for I hadn't really convinced myself that going home was a bad idea.  I got to Ft Worth and got on a toll expressway and zoomed through all of Ft Worth and most of Dallas.  I hit I-20 and had something like 140 miles left and said the heck with it, I'm going all the way home.  

So, here I am.  My room smells like hell tho.  I dunno what that dog has been doing in here or if he was accidentally left in here for a day while the dude went to work or what, but I am going to have to do a massive clean job in here tomorrow.  Didn't expect that at all.  I kind of figure he was left in here for the toilet was completely emptied of water out of the bowl.  Like,  Obi never does that.  I'm going to put out some carpet stuff that you sprinkle in a minute, I'm going to bed here pretty soon. It's 1 am and I just had to sit down and debuzz my brain of road buzz.  

At least I do have tomorrow off.  I think. Well I don't really care, I asked through the 8th and tomorrow is the 8th.  

I'm really tired. Not just from driving back but just bad sleep.  I'm hoping to get that smell masked in here for tonight and get some decent sleep.  

That's it. I am not going into anything for I am going to bed!

 Saturday - morning

So yesterday was pretty messed up.  It had been planned long ago, before I was even a part of this vacation.  It was a huge event planned with an entire roasted pig on a spit, of which a pic was even sent to Taylor yesterday before we had arrived.  

We got our stuff together, loaded it into the pickup. This is a 2 day affair, we needed our luggage and things.  We went to the store and got stuff to take with us to the event, then to Wendy's for breakfast/lunch combo and then over to her relative's land where the man has a large 5th wheel travel trailer that we were going to be staying in.  

Arrived there, got all of our stuff out and got situated in the trailer and then we headed over to the event at some other relative's land (she has a LOT of relatives up here).  I'm sorry, I forgot about the part that we visited fully 2 separate houses before we got to the place with the trailer.  

Anyway, the event was starting at 4 and we were on time.  So, it's a 20-25 minute drive over to this other property. We're almost there and then, Taylor's phone rang.  She puts up the phone on the holder and answers it. It's the guy that owns the land where we're going, in fact almost there.  Well, I'm sorry to have to ask this, but can I politely ask you not to come?  Huh? 

Aunt so and so. This aunt was at the property where the trailer is, they live in a separate mobile home.  She had come over to the trailer when we were in there setting up, noticed the ring worms on the youngest' face and asked about it. It didn't seem like a big deal to her, didn't give it 2 thoughts of concern. 

However, she went over to the event before we did and made a big stink about it to the other parents with young children there and one of them started having a meltdown about ringworms and she didn't want her kid exposed to it, they can't come.  We're talking ring worms here. We're not talking tuberculosis, the flu, a coughing cold, whatever.  Yes, they can be transmitted but also yes, they're pretty easy to get rid of. His are almost gone but they are still visible.  

I've had ringworms, I think probably most people have.  What was she going to say? We're just going to come barge the party anyway? She stopped and tried to call the guy that was giving us a place to stay, but he didn't answer his phone.  She the called her dad - where we've been staying.  She was both upset and angry, the kids were sad, the oldest became angry and I just was a bit ticked.

I know how families treat each other. I've been watching it on several fronts my entire life.  Families tend to have factions and grudges and long-standing issues of unforgiveness.  They don't give a s*** in some cases how they treat each other.  I mean, my family has 2 brothers who didn't go to their own father's funeral, citing "stuff" from the past.  What a horrid upbringing! No, we didn't have a horrid upbringing. He was absent a lot but it wasn't terrible. 

We had to turn around, go back to the trailer, get our stuff, load it back into the truck and drive all the way back to the dad's house.  

We stopped, however, got some fireworks, kid style stuff - I was trying to bring their spirits back up, there is no sense letting some people get the better of everyone - and we got some steaks from Safeway.  the folks were having a cookout - just the two of them, we sort of messed their plans up but they didn't seem to mind, they're pretty chill people.  

The fireworks changed the entire mood of the kids, mom was not happy the rest of the day, I don't really blame her.  Once nightfall came, I got all of that stuff out and started lighting it up for the kids to hold and run around with. But the, just around the corner, some people started lighting off an amazing fireworks show of their own. Down the other way, another family and yet another another direction, all within maybe 300 feet.  The entire city lit up with illegal fireworks.  

State and city law forbids it, people didn't care.  It went on for hours and hours. Those people would have had to leave the state to go get all of that and they must have dropped quite the bills to get enough to go on that long.  These were amazing fireworks shows, their own versions of it.  We didn't have to leave the house.  The boys were going on for about an hour before I ran out of things to give them to run around with.  They were in a totally different mood by the time it was over, then ran to their games and forgot all about the nonsense earlier in the day.

As for me, well, I am a very light sleeper and the fireworks went on until 1 am.  So my sleep wasn't particularly good but I'm in a good mood regardless. Excepting the youngest. He's been on a roll for a couple of days now - a not so good roll with attitude and ignoring requests and directives - and I put a stop to it this morning.  NO MORE.  He ignored me, I got up off the couch and got right in his face. I am not going to listen to another day of you going off, getting mad, ignoring adults telling you not to do stuff you know you shouldn't be doing anyway.  He sat there and looked at me and then started rolling around and that's when I told him if he didn't start listening, I was going to go get my belt and yes, I was dead serious about it. 

And that was the end of it. I told them to go to the local park, get all the energy out they want and that's where they're at. 

We haven't made any plans for today, the plan was to stay over at the trailer and then spend the day at a race track watching one of their kin folk racing whatever.  So I dunno and really not in that mind frame yet. I'm only on this laptop right now because a tenant texted me telling me "we only have $427 left in that account" and to please run their card for the rent.  Some people amaze me.  They can't, apparently, manage their finances so they just keep spending on their bank card and then I guess they get over drafts.  I dunno. The man quit working a while back, I'm assuming he must have gone on Social Security and she does waitressing somewhere.

I ran the card quickly. I want my money.  

I haven't heard anything from the contractor, but then again, I told him I'm going on vacation for 8 days.  He'll put me off I am assuming and I'll have to start bugging them again after I get back.  No matter, I need to clean out the weeds over there where I want the thing installed.  It's a constant battle with the weeds. I wouldn't even bother with them if it weren't for the fact the septic system is sitting there and if something goes wrong, they need to be able to have access.  

I'm not concerned about that now.  I'll just make sure to get at them before any given Wednesday, which is when he says they make their orders for the next week for the tanks to install in the ground.  I want to get the 18 year old out there on the skid steer I will rent and get that whole thing cleared out.  I have a much better plan now which means I am going to have to move that pile of dirt that I was going to deal with "later" somewhere else. I think I know where i can move it to and have it out of the way of everything, but it's going to take a lot of time to move it.  The new driveway will go straight through where it is and I am going to set the park up so it's just one straight line all the way down from the U turn at the southernmost part.  There will be 28 lots along there instead of the 14 that now exist.  Maybe more, actually.  I can put 16 on the existing system.  That would get me to 32 lots instead of 28.   

I'm doing the math here.  Basically double the payments on everything and calculating what my monthly gross income will be if all lots are full, I've got $7,730 left with 28 lots filled up.  I did 28 to keep it honest, I don't know if I'll end up with 32 but I'm surely going to try.  With the new layout I'm planning on using, I will definitely be able to put in 16 lots with room to spare. I've been contemplating going down to 35 feet wide per lot instead of 40. People don't use their lots at all for the most part.  

That $7,730 does not include a part time employee, which I'm going to need.  That's going to cost around 2 grand a month.  That leaves me with $5,730 before taxes.  We're getting close to the part where I say, gee, why am I still driving trucks? Tell me that part again?  Oh, because I have to.  I won't stop driving with the 28 lots, I will only do that after I get more lots going and right now? I haven't decided on paying that money to that contractor and getting into a huge loan. 

Why not just farm it all out?  I can find someone to come in with a dozer for the back portion and spend as many days as they need.  It just needs leveled out and get all the brush out of there.  Then form the lots, have the main driveway graded from front to rear and get it ready to have a lot of extra gravel dumped on it as well as the new driveway and lots.  That's where the money will need to come in.  They figured 88 truckloads of gravel and I can see that.  We're talking a driveway that is 1,400 feet long plus adding another new driveway around 500 feet long plus 25 lots.  

I would need a loan to do that anyway, I just wouldn't need near as big of one.  We're talking 75k worth of gravel.  I dunno what I will do about that, I might just get the loan and pay the one company to do all of it and shrug it off.  Oh well, I owe money, the monthly payments will be easily afforded with all of those extra lots and still be taking in quite a bit of money off of it.  I can't imagine what my property taxes will look like tho.  

Insurance too for that matter.  Oops, forgot to add extra insurance into that first math.  14 more lots will cost more money.  So take another $150 off that monthly income, not a big deal.  

Anyway, I'm getting off of that thought process. I will very likely be leaving tomorrow and get home on Monday.  It'll give me an entire day after that to recover, rest really.  I haven't been sleeping well here at all.  I'm not complaining, free stay, but it gets warm in the room and it takes a while for it to cool down at night - no ac here.  It's nice in the mornings.  Plus last night I was up until 1 am and fitful sleep after that. I'm kind of ready to go home and get back into my own bed. 

G'day

 Thursday - late morning

Haven't posted because we have been extremely doing vacation stuff and getting ourselves burned out and going to bed rather early.  I got here on Monday early afternoon.  I had eaten some Mexcian food the night before and it wasn't agreeing with my system, so I kind of had to stay at the hotel until that passed.  I though, gee, driving down the road and having to find a bathroom out in the middle of Nothing, Nowhere? I would end up doing that business on the side of the road. I drove through a lot of territory with literally nothing but farmland, a few herds of cows and horses and much of nothing else. 

Whatever the case, we went to a water park on Tuesday, total blast. Not the biggest park on the planet but it was loads of fun.  It wasn't hot out, wasn't cold, just right for spending an entire day in water slides, pools and just enjoying the outing.  Yesterday we went bowling, arcade and eating out. Today we're going to some sort of Japanese mall, supposedly a lot of cool stuff.  I'm mostly browsing, I really don't need a lot more "stuff", tho something may catch my eye.

I'm staying at Taylor's dad's house, we all are.  On an inflatable queen sized bed, it's kind of uncomfortable so I am not sleeping all that great.  It's saving me $150 or so per night in hotel costs, I'll just eat it.  We're leaving here tomorrow for one of her other relatives up here somewhere, staying in a super night 5th wheel trailer.  But, as nice as it may be, I'm apparently staying in a bunk bed so I'll have to feel that one out, ie: I'll make a decision when we get there. I don't mind spending a night in a hotel.  

Just got a call from someone asking for a space for a month. There is nothing going on on lot 1, tho I am getting fairly frequent last minute requests for overnight stuff.  Glad I brought my laptop, checked and nothing reserved.  What with yet more money coming in, I will be able to finish out all of those next 14 lots relatively quickly.  The biggest expense I can see is the creation of yet another new driveway.  That will cost a lot in gravel unfortunately.  That's the 7 lots that will be created after the first 7, so I'm just kind of attempting to decide what to do with it.  I can't put 14 lots along the existing driveway, at least not without cutting down all the trees, something I really don't want to do.  Especially the pine trees. 

I'm not really dwelling on business stuff tho, I'm on vacation and leaving all of that behind me.  Definitely not thinking about trucking, excepting the desire to finish all of this and get out of that "profession".  There was a truck driver that fell asleep at the wheel down the road from us near Dallas that smashed into a pickup full of people, killed 4 out of 5 of them instantly and then a 5th died later (I think it was that, or it was 4 people in the pickup and 3 died instantly and one airlifted to the hospital who later died), I read that fully 6 people have now passed away and that truck driver? In jail for manslaughter and other charges.  They rejected bond.  

I saw a lot of stupidity in driving coming up here.  I'll see more going back. You really have to keep on edge and attentive, people take unpredictable and extremely risky actions while driving.  

Hmm, now that my mind is on the park....I could actually just extend the driveway all the way to the street, eliminate the curve back to where it currently exists and then create lots where that current portion of driveway is. That may be the best method, but that's going to cost a lot right up front what with having to instantly have to create that driveway and have it graveled and ready to go.  Still, it's probably the best use of the land.  I know where I would bring that driveway out as well, up near the front of the main driveway.  It would be an additional 400 or so feet, that's a lot of gravel.  

Hmm, going to have to look at satellite view of it now that I have sparked my curiosity, it's something I hadn't even thought of yet it make such perfect sense.  Just a lot of money up front.  I guess that's why I hadn't thought of it.  I need to do a calculation of how many truckloads up front.....

Ok, it'd be about 14k worth of gravel up front to create 14 new lots and a new driveway. Sounds expensive and it is, but there isn't a lot of choice around here. You can get it cheaper, but it's further away so you pay more for the trucking and in the end, saving nothing or even losing more.  I may be able to use a cheaper gravel tho. I think iron ore is cheaper than the SB2 gravel. It works pretty well, I have seen on the existing driveway.  

Well, I wasn't going to off into that, but what also just crossed my mind is there is an entire truckload at least sitting on what will be come the unused portion of driveway that I can reallocate.  I think I have a much more tenable plan now, or beginning of one, I can start formulating that when I have free time here. We do have a little, lol. Nights usually.  But I think tomorrow night is going to be busy, tonight however? Probably nothing going on.

I am enjoying this vacation.  it is nice not to go to work every morning and nice to have a break from that entire area. Just get out of there and just relax somewhere else.  

Well, we are fixing to leave for this mall thing or wherever we're going.  Shopping, that's what I know.  

G'day

 Monday morning

I drove 753 miles yesterday and ended up in a place called Lamar Colorado. It was a pretty interesting hotel that I stayed at. It’s an old-fashioned one that they had completely remodeled. And when I say completely remodeled, I mean something like what you would find in a Marriott or a Hilton we’re not talking Cheap accoutrements.

I’m using the microphone to put this entry in because I completely forgot about it this morning when I woke up. It’s gotten a lot better, it used to be filled with errors and it’s not quite so much now.

Anyway, the kids are not expecting me to be coming up there at all. I’m about two hours out and as far as they know, I’m at home in Texas. So this should be quite a surprise, especially for the older one that really likes me the younger one sorta does but he has mommy is his favorite.

There is one thing that this trip has reminded me of, and that is the fact that I do not like over the road truck driving. Driving seven 800 miles in a day is quite a lot and quite draining. I did not expect to drive completely through and I did not want to drive completely through yesterday, I had reserved the room in Lamar probably if you were 300 miles out once I figured out how far I wanted to drive where I wanted to stop.

Anyway, according to Taylor, there is quite a lot to do up there for they have already done quite a bit and I didn’t know if there was anything left for them to do after I arrived there. She just laughed at me and said there’s a lot so it sounds like we’re gonna have fun and I’m not sure how long I’m gonna stay up here but probably at least five days. I know for sure we’re going to a waterpark and an amusement park as well but after that I have no idea.

Meanwhile, back at the park, the kid – he’s an 18-year-old – was using the tracker yesterday to help me get this project going and he said he’d rather if I went out and rented a skid steer. No, I don’t mind doing that for a 24 hour period but I told him that yes that would probably work better but you would have to have at least eight hours to use it in a 24 hour period. 

What’s motivating him is that I just told him I would pay him cash. I need to get this project moving along so when I get back apparently he’s down for doing eight hours worth of work on the thing if I’ll rent a thing for him. I figure 8 hours on a skid steer should easily knock that all out and get it prepared. He can operate the machinery and I will be directing him what I want done well when it needs to be done and marking out the lots after he gets it nice and smooth out if that’s even possible with a skid steer. 

But I’d really like to get a hold of a bulldozer, but I’ve kind of given up on that. You can rent an operator with a bulldozer that cost about $1500 a day. No make that $1700 a day. At least. Regardless, I don’t even remember what I wrote to my last blog entry so I’m just going to say again that the permissions for installing the new septic system have been granted as far as contractor has told me anyway and he’s ordering The tanks next week to come in the week after. I told him I wasn’t going to be there for eight days anyway, and I really don’t want him installing that stuff until I’m there. We haven’t even decided where to put the thing and I want to have the final sale on that.

This area I am driving through with some of the most baron land that I have seen in a long, long time. It’s all grassland and basically nothing else. There’s a few trees here and there, but you don’t see any houses are very few of them once in a while. Some of it is farmland I think, but where are the silo and the houses and the barn and things? I’m looking as far as the I can see and I see nothing but land some trees and nothing else. This is somewhat like the deserts in Arizona and West Texas where you just drive for miles and see nothing.

Well, I think I’ll call this one quits. I want to look at the news and see what Trump is up to now. The last I saw they were trying to get the big beautiful bill through the Senate. One thing is correct that bill is huge. I don’t know why we need to be spending trillions of dollars of money that we don’t have? But I don’t wanna get into that right now. I’m just gonna take a look at it and see what’s going on and perhaps try to get some clarity on what is in this bill. Apparently Schumer forced the court recorders to read the entire bill, attempting to light delay. Any progress through getting it passed.

Another day in the life of American politics. Sorry for the grammatical errors and things in this post, but I don’t have time to go through all that and fix everything.

Good day.

 Friday - evening

Well, getting closer to departure day.  I am still sort of teetering on the idea of just flying over there. It would cost more but it would get the traveling over with quickly.  I'm not afraid of driving that far, I could drive to Amarillo the first day, stay at a hotel and finish it the next.  I have more time off than I initially realizing. They tried to dump a load on me that delivers on the 1st.

I asked for the 1st = 8th off.  This morning, after telling my manager I'm not happy that another driver was there when I arrived - I was first load, what the Hercules is this dude doing here? - I also informed him I cannot deliver on the 1st.  So,  they could have given me Sunday and Monday work, but they didn't.  I mean, yes I need the money, but having 10 days off instead of 8 is fine by me as well. I need a break. Last time I was off, I was sick, hardly enjoyable time off. Staycations are ok, but going somewhere is going to be nice for once.  

I wish I had a traveling companion to pass the time, I'll just be doing what I do in the truck: listening to the news and listening to YouTube videos. More distinctly, Mr Ballen who tells stories, mostly of people dying in strange ways, Mentour Pilot, another dude I just found that tells these strange stories, a lot of conspiracy theories - it's entertaining, lol, that's what I need while driving - and other channels.  

Good news finally came today: the septic contractor got the okay from the county to install the system.  He said, and I quote: "Yes sir, I'm glad she didn't make us do all the other bullshit".  What BS? A new person working in that department demanding businesses give written plans of their intentions both current and future.   And construction plans, apparently.  Yup, I would have taken a sheet of paper, drawn a crude outline of the park and just marked where the septic system is going and where the lots will be. I'm not paying thousands of dollars for something like that, this isn't some high rise commercial building.  

He further stated they turn in their tank orders on Wednesdays so probably the week after next - I said no problem, I'm going out of town for 8 days.  I'm gonna need to spend some quality time on that tractor trying to get the entire area as smoothed out as possible with that box blade.  I kind of hated telling the dude I'm leaving town for 8 days, will that mean they will drop the ball again?  I have no idea.  I just realized I'm going to have to run an underground wire from the meter assembly over to where I want the septic system.  That's probably about 150 feet of wire, gag.  I have work to do but it's going to have to wait. 

Tomorrow is the last day of work, when I get back I'm cleaning out my pickup and getting it ready to leave.  Sunday, I intend on leaving mid to late morning.  Or not.  I might wait until Monday to go, not sure really.  I could go to church and then leave after that, around noonish.  I'll figure that out tomorrow afternoon or I will just play it by ear and leave when I feel like it. It IS a vacation after all and I will be driving with no rush on arrival time. Apparently there are family members that want to meet me.  I have been with the family going on 11 years now. 

I'm still on this alkaline diet.  It's been kind of rough for the small amounts of meat and no red meat at all - no pork and no beef.  I mean, that part isn't that hard, it's just the idea they really don't want you to eat much meat at all, get  your protein from alternate sources.  Salmon, tuna. They don't even want you eating chicken, but I have shunned that idea, I'm going to eat at least a little here and there. And on vacation? I will probably have some cheat meals for sure.  

Let's touch on politics for a minute.  The biggest news is the Supreme Court basically rebuking lower court judges who were enacting nationwide injunctions on the Trump administration's various actions they were taking against illegals and other issues that need direct attention.  I will keep saying it because it's true: the left have literally lost their minds.  Some of them are facing reality, many of them are still sticking their heads in the sand as to why they are losing. 

They just voted in a Communist mayor in New York City, a person that hates Trump, hates Jews and is anti-police. He wants to substantially raise taxes on corporations and rich people and engage in absurd ideas such as city owned supermarkets.  What on earth, where do they dig these people up and more importantly, how can voters install such outrageous people with such outlandish ideology?  How do you, in your right mind, vote for a communist to run your city?  New York is going to be a bad place to go to with this defund the police notion.  I have no plans of ever going back to New York City anyway, but I will watch with interest what this dude will get passed in terms of laws/ordinances and how it affects the city.  

You can expect more rich people to flee that place.  And then there was the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities and the propaganda news sites saying that "they didn't sustain that much damage" based on a leak from the government.  These people are literally stupid.  Hegseth was having a meltdown over it on a press gaggle.  I have to say that I have a fairly positive view of Hegseth now that I have seen him in action.  

I don't want to touch on any more politics right now, the stuff the left condones and prioritize is absurd at best.  

I just thought about it, I think that kid at the park would do some of that tractor work I need done if I just gave him an entire month's rent off plus some cash.  I just texted him - he's extremely busy but he's young and full of energy and likes to do extra stuff for cash.  I was hoping James could do some of it but I don't think he's really all that interested in it. He's talking about switching his career to driving trucks.  He fully understands the rigors of driving trucks, I certainly haven't tried to sugar coat it.  

He's going through some stuff that I need not get into here but I can say that not having money to do the things you want to do can start to drag you down. I went through that until I started with the cryo company hauling Ethylene and starting making substantially more money than I had ever made anywhere else in my entire life.  I was loving those paychecks but over time, I was hating being out on the road all the time.

I guess that's what concerns me with him having 2 young kids.  But, people have to find their own way and I have no judgment about it.  

Just checked my next power bill - $1,500ish.  I mean, not bad for going into July.  

I'm sorry, I just realized this communist didn't win the mayoral election, he won the democrat primary.  New York is far more democrat than republican, just wondering how that is going to play out.  I'm watching some info, he's also for rent control (never works, has the opposite effect than what they think will happen) and he has literally stated he is anti-capitalism. Well duhh, lmao, he's a communist.  

I know I tend to just jump around on this blog, but new info: the kid is going to do whatever he can with the limited free time he has.  If he does a good job - which I am sure he will, he has a very good work ethic - I will make sure he doesn't regret spending the time on the tractor.  

And I am lightly considering having this couple doing the grunt work. I haven't asked them to, haven't even hinted at it. In fact, I espoused a completely opposite statement about it, but I have watched their work.  They completely removed the tree that fell over the rear of the doggy park and did an excellent job of repairing the fence.

The problem I am leery of is that people start out well and then they just digress.  They become complacent and think they can get away with doing next to nothing, as if my eyes aren't functioning and I don't understand that they are doing almost nothing to nothing at all. I confront them on it and all hell breaks loose.  Whatever, you don't want to work? Start paying rent, thanks.  Been down that road far too many times.

Well, a load of laundry in the dryer now with my new clothes.  I'll do another load of wash tomorrow for the trip and then...try to decide when to leave lol.  The bug will hit me at some point: LEAVE NOW!

G'day

 Wednesday - evening

Oops, been a minute since I've posted, Saturday was a long time ago lol.  Ah yes, I was headed off to the Park last post.  Indeed, I cut up the tree in the driveway and hauled it off.  Got out on the expansion section and did several hours of work there and then ended it with dragging a portion of the driveway with the box blade.

Anyway, I just got the rest of the week's schedule. Right now, I just got loaded today and delivering it tomorrow.  I had no idea until a little while ago what the rest of the schedule is, as you may or may not know, I am going on vacation starting Monday.  However, today I found out my schedule is working the next 3 days and Sunday off. I can't work 1  day at this job unless it's a full turn and I ain't doing a full turn on a Sunday.

I'll leave on Sunday instead of Monday and give myself some extra time to get over there.  Meaning, drive 10 hours and then stop at a decent hotel somewhere.  I won't be in a rush and I'm a fan of at least decent hotels.  Marriott Residence Inn comes to mind.  

Yesterday I got the oil changed in the pickup, got a hair cut and some other stuff done.  I still need to clean out the truck and I need to dig my laptop out of the Ford - I rarely drive that anymore.  It's just sitting for the most part lol. I might get rid of it.  I checked Kelley on that thing, it's worth between 10k and 14k.  I don't really need it and if I were able to sell it, that would help my expansion project right along. It needs brakes and the rear ac fan fixed tho. That's probably a grand.  

I bought some new clothes - I am losing weight on this diet, slowly but surely. I only know this because yesterday I also had to get my med card renewed for my CDL.  I am down about 8 pounds, actually.  I'm going to try and mostly stay on the diet on this vacation with a cheat here and there.  My biggest thing has been to stay away from red meat and really, not eating much meat on any given day at all.  I just ate the first meal of the day, a little chicken (I do mean a little) and the rest was veggies and some corn on the cob.  

Oh, well the clothes showed up today.  They are just the size I'm wearing now, if I do indeed ever get back to 34 waist, I don't think it's going to be any time soon.  I've got a lot of work pants, not a lot of casual attire.  Jeans are my thing so 3 pairs of those and 3 new shirts and a new pair of shoes, all ordered online.  Just need to open all these boxes and make sure it is all what I ordered and the right size.  

I have heard nothing back from the contractor about the septic since his last text that now another person is on vacation - but they should have been back on Monday.  I'll call them Friday. No rush now, I'll be on vacation for 8 days and I am not fooling with it.  I assume the design engineer will need to meet out there to figure out where to put the thing, at this point I don't really care, my mind is on vacation, not septic systems. All the rest of THOSE people went on vacation, I'll put them on hold for once. It still think it's quite ridiculous the amount of time this thing has taken, like they really don't care if they get the business or not....

I completely forgot Saturday to find out what size cable the wire needs to be for the meter setup.  I was hot and sweaty by the time I got off of the tractor.  I wanted out of there.  I'm not doing that this week either.  I do need to get on the new riding mower and get the large portions mowed down.  

My freedom is fixing to be eliminated.  The father and the oldest boy who lives in Arkansas are on their way home and after looking at Life 360 right now? They are less than an hour out.  

With that, I'm closing this. Will try to update before I leave.  

 Saturday - 8 am

Sleeping in late today isn't an option.  Unfortunately.  I can do that tomorrow, church doesn't start until 11.

Yes, I have today off but it isn't really off per se.  This is why I need more 2 day off stints in a row than what I am getting and that is apparently going to happen, at least temporarily.  I didn't ask for it, no.  It's just that all 4 drivers are up and running now.  This last several weeks of grinding away working every day or skipping one day - last Sunday - but having to do Sunday's work on Monday and Monday's as well has worn thin on me.

The fact that I am taking 8 days off in a week and a half is of little consequence at this particular moment.  And vacations are usually more tiring than every day life.  I am looking forward to it, yes, I'm just tired and want a break.  That ain't happening today as I was informed a tree fell over the driveway last night, the driveway itself needs dragged with the tractor yet again and there is grass to be mowed not to mention the mound of dirt. 

I doubt I will do all of that today, but I"ll get as much done as I can before the heat melts me into a puddle of dried up bones and I drag myself home.

I would really love to just have the park to deal with an nothing else.  

The day isn't getting any younger and I am leaving here in about half an hour, I just want a few moments to drink some coffee, reflect a bit and set my mind to the tasks at hand.  

As you know, the family is on vacation and the dude won't be back until next week with his oldest kid - that's a product of another relationship before this current one.  That's a long story not worth going into right now.  I can say that it is nice to not have the sounds of screaming kids - well one in particular does most of the screaming - and not having to hear the constant dealing of parents talking with children attempting to instill some wisdom into their tiny brains.  I have been taking care of 3 cats, a dog and the fish. 

The cats are a chore in and of themselves, I am finding out.  I have never really dealt with them, they aren't my animals and they really don't spend much time with me, they are mostly Taylor's other children in a sense and they take care of them.  Water, food, clean out kitty litter, one goes outside, comes in at night, etc.

As for anything else? Well, I will work for 5 or 6 hours today and then I will treat myself to eating out.  I have been doing very well on this berry and vegetable diet.  Nuts, salmon, cutting back on tuna since I am reading that they have levels of mercury that can be dangerous if you're eating a lot of it.  Canned salmon it is!  Alright, oven cooked some frozen filets last night and they were very delicious.  The only red meat I have eating in the last 3 weeks was on father's day and that was a hamburger. 

I will very likely eat a small steak with potatoes today and I won't regret it at all.  I think if I could incorporate this diet semi-permanently, my internal health will be much better, especially cholesterol levels.

Speaking of that, I need to get over to the Health Expresscare place and get my DOT thing done.  I really should do that today, it's just  going to have to wait until Monday.  That is the absolute latest I want to wait for that.  Mostly, I just want to get as much of the 2 years out of that as I can.  You go in a month early, you just lost a month on that card by updating it early.  I have to pay that out of pocket..

And this ridiculous notion that now another person is on vacation trying to get approval for this septic permit. I am very dissatisfied with this septic company.  They did great the first time around, this time they are slacking and making ridiculous excuses. "I don't know what happened!". 

BS. You dropped the ball, you put my file in a cabinet somewhere and forgot about it.  I'd rather they admit the truth about it than making up stupid, unbelievable stories.  Meanwhile, the owner is on the local gossip group posting photos of their "current work" they did this week installing 3 systems.  Nonsense.  Take care of my situation and I'll get back to you on reviews.  Right now, I'm just not reviewing this experience, I'll let it go for a myriad of reasons.  Mostly, because if I put up a negative review, that may end up hurting me with the installation.  If they decided they didn't want to do it because of it, I wouldn't care, there are other players in town and in the region.

I don't know what else. Need to order some jeans, that's what else. I can't find my size at any Walmart.  They rarely carry my waist size and apparently they are snatched up when they do. I order them on line.  I am trying to lose weight/fat, yes, but that is apparently going to be a slow process, in the mean time I'd like some new digs to wear for this trip.  Maybe 3 new pairs of plain Jane jeans, we aren't talking anything fancy here, I am not that kind of person at all.  I like my jeans and t shirts.  I can afford more expensive clothing, I just choose not to.

In fact, I really don't live a fancy life at all.  I don't really care anything about that. Probably because I was brought up in poverty.  Old house with no AC at all - I didn't even know what AC was until we moved to Arizona.  Just plain food served but it was good.  Nothing fancy, one TV in the house, all the things you might remember as a child if you have been around for a while.  Playing outside was our thing and we loved it, contrary to what's going on with kids now.

Parents let their kids play unendingly on video games. The ones I encounter are spending their entire summers just playing video games.  There is a saying that has been created by gamers that is called "Touch Grass".  It is used when a person shows their stats on a game, in this case Fortnite. It shows their wins, hours played etc.  Other come on and say you need to touch grass, meaning get your @$$ out of the house and do something else, like touching grass, lmao.  Every new season on Fortnite, you start at zero again in your games won, hours spent etc.  You see people with ridiculous amounts of hours and then they look at mine and I'm like, yeah, I have a job, a business and a life outside of gaming. 

I like to play but my whole life doesn't revolve around it. It can't. I have goals and I want those goals realized.  That doesn't happen sitting at a desk behind a computer monitor. I'm not even in the game right now at all, it's completely shut down but Epic - the owner of Fortnite, is sending me notifications that I am invited to so and so's party, in this case "Strong Guppy". They come up with really weird names lol.  

The thing is, a lot of these people have aspirations of becoming champs and winning money at the game.  That is possible but highly unlikely. You have to be really good.  You watch the pro's and they are worlds ahead of me on that game - but I don't play the game to win money, I just like playing the game.  It's fun and there is a social aspect to it as well if the other players have mics.  If they don't, it's still fun albeit reduced level of experience.  

Anyway, I'm not even playing that this morning.  I'll get wrapped up in it and I need to get to work.  My coffee is done, just need to make some ice water, heat up some coffee for the thermos, have a piece of bread - toasted with fake butter and get out of here.  Oh, and put that new chainsaw together I received weeks ago and still have yet to use, lol!

G'day 

 Thursday - evening

Well, the schedule is "allegedly" in. Finishing up this route tomorrow - Gurdon - then off the entire weekend.  I say allegedly for we all know whoever reads this blog that my company changes things, doesn't inform me and then acts surprised when I know nothing about those changes and have made other plans...

Today, however, I confirmed this with them.  I have the weekend off, or so the schedule says, are we  on the same page with this?  Half an hour later, why yes, it appears you do, don't get into too much trouble! Lol, I have -plenty to do and none of it entails getting myself into any kind of legal perplexities.  

I intend on getting out to the park by 8, 9 at the latest and attempting to finish off that mound of dirt. The driveway is all messed up yet again for the recent rains. We're talking many hours of work and in case you didn't know, it's hot as blazes around here right now.  I should say, it's very warm with extremely high humidity, thick, nasty air that makes it feel like you are sitting in a heavy duty sauna and staying in that sauna entirely too long. 

The contractor texted me today.  The inspector is on vacation.  I mean, I just glared at the phone.  They could have had this done long ago.  Instead, they sat on it for unknown reasons and the only way I got them moving is sending the owner a text followed by an ad in the local gossip group for a "reputable septic installer".  I didn't mention this company at all, I just asked for suggestions.  Probably 90% were for that company, a few were saying some other company is better.

Anyway, I need to get that dirt mound moved so I can measure out new lots, stake them out and then figure out where my trench is going to be and also stake that.  I also need to find out the size cable for the power company pedestal to my meter stand.  I am going to rent a mini ex sometime in the future and do that trenching and also dig a trench along the main driveway and also install a large drainage pipe and attempt to channel rain water under the driveway instead of all over it. 

After that, I will order a couple truckloads of fresh gravel to cover that area.  

There's a lot to do, as you can probably tell.  

James isn't returning until next week. I had thought he was coming back on Friday, but that isn't the case at all, he's coming back Tuesday or Wednesday I am informed.  

I'm still on this alkaline diet, mostly following it to the letter.  Which means I do eat chicken here and there, which is an apparent no no, but I haven't been eating red meat in many weeks now.  The diet I'm eating is consisting of berries, fruits, vegetable, nuts and fish.  A few slices of bread per day as well.  I haven't really noticed any visible fat shrinkage but I can only imagine that my cholesterol count will go down if I stay on it for many months.  Almost no dairy content at all.  Even my coffee creamer is fat free. 

Do I feel any better? No particularly.  But I have been concerned about the "extremely high cholesterol" count, as they identified it, and this is a really good way, I think, to bring that down quite a bit.  I have heard from people who don't believe high cholesterol is anything of importance but there is substantial information that suggests otherwise.  Why take a chance?  Let's get it down.  As you can imagine, there isn't much fat in this diet and that's what the instructions were to reduce cholesterol without their pills that made me feel like hell on feet.  

What I really need back is my sleep. That 13 hour work day the other day had me sleep through the night, first time in quite a very long time.  

Just looking forward to having a couple of days off in a row.  Getting one off here and there doesn't work.  They had yet another truck break down and it - is still down 9 days later.  They finally put that driver in an "older truck" I was informed, to which I replied that ALL of their equipment is old!

Anyway, I'm going to kick back, enjoy a movie and then go to bed.

 Tuesday - afternoon

I was doing my thing this morning getting ready to go to work. I actually slept through the night without waking up but woke up very groggy., The effects of a 13 hour work day.  I don't do much of those anymore.  I'm half asleep putting the dog bowl back outside full of food for Obi when something in my peripheral said look up.  I wasn't paying attention to anything, just not there yet.

I looked up and there was this giant tree that had fallen - whenever who knows - and was laying all over the back yard.  I'm guessing around a 70-80 foot tall tree.  Nothing severely damaged excepting the fence. It demolished the portion of the fencing it fell on.  Minor damage to one shed - but damage never-the-less.  

There are many more of these trees that are MUCH larger than this thing surrounding our house and I fear if one of those comes down.  Those giant oaks could easily destroy a house and anyone in it's path.  I love trees, I don't love these. They are old and they are falling apart.  

Anyway, I went to the washout today and found one of our drivers ahead of me.  Annoyed, I got out to find out what's going on. I was there at 7:45 am, not like I was any semblance of being late.  Long story short, this dude was slated to be AT the LOADING plant at 8 am, not at the washout.  They wanted to do 3 loads tomorrow. His trailer was so bad, they had to call the manager in to get inside of the trailer and chip out all of the dried up glue in there.  I was glad, for the third employee showed up just then and said he'd wash me out under the canopy.  I left  and apparently that dude was stuck there for many hours.  

___________________________

When the septic comes through and they are going to schedule a start date to put it in - took 2 days on the last one - I will then proceed with the other stuff I need to get done.  Monday I was supposed to have off, I was going to go to the electrical supply house after figuring out what size electrical cable and get that ready.  

Really, tho, I need to find the time to get on that tractor and get busy getting some lots ready.  I have them marked out in my mind, I need to clear it all and then actually physically mark them out.  

I'm kind of in a holding pattern right now with that until I get the septic in, can't really do anything without it.  

Anyway, it's getting later in the evening and I have stuff to get done. Going to Gurdon tomorrow, I'm kind of hoping for a day off afterwards, they haven't filled my tablet with anything yet. 

 Monday - evening

An extremely long day.  Instead of having the day off as was anticipated, I ended up doing a full turn.  I think I said something about this last night.  

I mean, 4:30 am, up, out of the house with my diet food - took a small cooler today to keep my stuff chilled - down to the washout, over to the plant, loaded, up to the fueling station, then the long drive up to Gurdon.  

I tried to take a nap in Gurdon but I really didn't have the time for it.  The product was flying out of the tanker and it was only 50 minutes before it was empty. But just getting to Gurdon....gag.  Drive drive drive, reminded me of the days of the last job I had where I was out on the road all the time and running out the 14 hours clock....allll....the...tiiiiiime. 

I don't miss those days and don't really care about the smaller paychecks now.  They are still good enough for the hours spent.  

Driving back from Gurdon, however, was brutal.  I only got like 6 hours of sleep last night. It figures that one of the very few nights where it takes me a long time to get to sleep occurred last night.  I laid there for an hour starting at 9:00 pm before I just got up, took a pain killer - I don't know why but they help me sleep and no, we're not talking narcotics here, we're talking 500 mg of acetaminophen, and fell sleep maybe 20 minutes later.  So not even 6 hours of sleep last night.

I can tell ya that when I got home? I fed the animals and went and passed out on the bed for a while.  I feel better now, I had to force myself to get up, way too early to be going to bed.  I have to go right back down tomorrow and load again.  Excepting this time? Just go home after loading, not all the way up to Arkansas.

I have no idea what's up with the family, I haven't heard from them today and I really didn't feel like talking to anyone anyway.  I had texting sessions with several people and the manager called, I told him I wasn't interested in doing these full turns in one day very often.  I didn't complain, I just made it clear that this is an occasional thing at best.  If there is an emergency, I'll help them cover it.

This was not an emergency. This was lack of communication the company engages in regularly.  I was to load yesterday, I found out and then deliver today. In that respect, loading and delivering on the same day had the same net result, so no loss of service there.  

Anyway, I heard back from the septic guy's office today.  The man thought it wonderful to tell me that they were just now starting the process.  Paraphrasing, we're sending the permit over to the design engineer, after he gets done, then he'll send it back, then we'll send it to the state and if/when they approve it we can get started on it. Shouldn't take too much time". 

I think we're close to two months since  I went in there, gave them $650 for the permit and then waited, fruitlessly I might add, for them to do their job.  The owner got back to me and said "I didn't think you were in a big hurry" to get this done. Well what the fruity pancakes did i say? I said I wanted to get 2 or 3 lots going at  the beginning and then work up from there. Not, let's take months to even get this install going?  He didn't respond to that reply and I don't blame him, what is he going to say? Well an apology for one thing.

I mean, seriously, I'm going to spend almost 9 grand with them and they are putting me off because why?  I dunno, but after I placed that ad in the local gossip/business facebook page and he realized it was me, that got the ball rolling. Because honey, there was a couple of definitive leads for a different company in town whose people who replied said were better.  One of them said they had tried both companies and this other company was far better.  

I really haven't had a bad experience with this current contractor until now.  The only thing I want to do right now is get the meter energized.  I am not spending another penny on this thing otherwise until that septic system is in the ground and ready to connect sewer pipe to.  It's going to cost me thousands of dollars for the rest of the stuff and I don't want to be down on the count too long. I want some lots up and generating fresh revenue. 

No, the sky isn't falling and my world isn't falling apart, these are setbacks not major hurdles.  I just want to get that septic in the ground and paid for, over and done with quickly. Now.  

Well, an hour plus later, time for bed.  Long day, no free time, lol, bye bye!

 

 On Friday, in the tablet for the loads to take, there was one load in the "available" slot.  I accepted it, this was early morning, wanted to be sure I got that in before they got the day rolling and handing out assignments for the weekend.  It wasn't really a choice, you take those or you get a label attached to you and not a nice label at all.  It's whatever, it would have been 2 full weekends working in a row. Instead, I got Saturday working but Sunday off, which happened to align with Father's Day. Yes, I am a father.  

Normally, they put the loads in the "accepted" slot, meaning it's assigned.  I kind of wondered about it Friday, but since I accepted the available load, it didn't matter. When I looked in the tablet again yesterday, there was a load assigned for Tuesday, nothing for this weekend. 

I thought it odd because when I was at the delivery plant yesterday, one tank was almost empty and the other had enough room for a truckload and a half.  My company didn't contact me, I don't care. It's on them to deal with their end of the bargain, I certainly put up with enough s*** on my end.  

So, when the phone rang this morning directly before leaving for church and saw that it was my manager, I knew exactly what was going on before I even answered the phone. He was going to ask me if I'm loading today, I'm going to say no, he's going to say well you're scheduled, I'm going to say no I'm not, there's nothing in the tablet.  Then the conversation would go on from there and I would say that there was no communication about it, it's not in the tablet, tough, no, I will not go load today. 

NOT SORRY. 

I was direct about it, if you want me to work and you know about it, LET ME KNOW IN ADVANCE.  After he asked if I would load today and I said nope, I went on to the fact I'm on my way to church and I have other plans. I'm going to be a dad who sits at the house and does much of nothing after I leave church, I thought but certainly didn't say to him.  I figured I had been direct enough, I don't want him thinking I'm being spiteful or disrespectful, but please.  

I don't know who did what, I sent him a pic of the tablet and what's in it - the one load for Tuesday, nothing before then. He didn't want to see it, he said he believed me but I sent that photo anyway.  I have no problem saying no nowadays.  I used to think you should just stop whatever you're doing and help them out - and I will if it's an emergency and I think it warrants me abandoning whatever I'm doing - but this was no emergency and wasn't created by me. 

The alternative wasn't much better but I accepted it for the customer will get pissed if we don't deal with it and for now, I'm sticking with this job until I find something that fits me better.  I will have to go wash out, load AND deliver tomorrow.  I certainly hope I sleep well tonight, I'm going to need it.  

Whatever the alternative was going to be, I wasn't going to just drop my plans for today.