5 days. The countdown has started, at least for me, the clock is ticking. I still can't figure out what is wrong with the lights on that trailer. Going to keep on trying. I don't want to have to buy a set of lights that attaches to the rear with lines running alongside of it. I doubt those are too cheap. I am not sure the guy that is going to move the trailer will want to move it, though, without at least brake lights working.
Well, whatever. The only other "thing" I need to buy for it besides that situation is a box fan. The rest of what I need is just the basics - toiletries; bottled water; etc etc.
That's about it. Just counting the days and trying to get all this stuff done before Saturday morning. I have a bit of help with Mark doing things in there as well. He is going to paint the new little table I made for the TV today. Just to keep it from splintering, it is going to have a small table cloth draped over it. Yes, we're talking dollar store stuff here. If I am going to spend any amount of time up there, I am not going to haul stuff back and forth between the house and there. It will need to be completely stocked with the everyday things that you need, but for me, that means getting a lot of it at the dollar store.
Time to leave for work.
G'day.
ben
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!
Well, I did some things today and contemplating more. First, I cleaned out one of the pond filters this morning - it was pretty full of fish junk, yuck - but I pour it out around trees and plants, great fertilizer!
Went to church. Nice time there, about 2-1/2 hours worth.
Went to Lowe's and bought the brass fittings needed to put a cap on the hose inlet for the trailer.
Went to the Chinese buffet and got lunch - for everyone here.
At dinner and now contemplating getting more done on the trailer.
Though, I really don't feel like it. About this time Sunday rolls around and I start getting that lazy feeling. I've spent the last 2 full days working on that thing. I'm guessing I will find the motivation soon enough, just a few things I would like to get done in there today and then maybe resume tackling it tomorrow.
Oh, bought some hummingbird feeder concentrate, so I am definitely going to get the feeder inside, clean it out nicely and put fresh liquid in it.
Meanwhile, I am being subjected to a VERY loud phone conversation with Lynnette in my living room talking to her mother. No, not fond of listening to loud conversations of other people on the phone, have some respect and take it somewhere else if you can't find it within yourself to just talk at normal volume when on a phone. It never ceases to amaze me at how many people think that you, the person that ISN'T on the other end of the line, wants to hear every last word you are saying.
Well whatever. Pond pump was already clogged up again, had to turn everything off and clean it out. There was a big-time wind storm here a few days ago and it blew all kinds of junk into this particular pond. The other 2 ponds seemed to have survived without a lot of junk, this one did not and it is taking up some time trying to clean out all the leaves and stuff in it. Oh, that is the pump, not the filter. I cleaned the filter this morning, that will be good for quite a while. But, the pump will get clogged up and nothing or very little will be going through it.
Called mother today. She went up to the property as of this morning. Wished her a happy Mother's Day.
She was a bit hyped because her goofy doggy took off. But then she said the dog has done it before and always come back. Well I certainly hope it does this time, too, that dog and she are quite the pair.
I have nothing else. Life is good.
ben
Well, I did some things today and contemplating more. First, I cleaned out one of the pond filters this morning - it was pretty full of fish junk, yuck - but I pour it out around trees and plants, great fertilizer!
Went to church. Nice time there, about 2-1/2 hours worth.
Went to Lowe's and bought the brass fittings needed to put a cap on the hose inlet for the trailer.
Went to the Chinese buffet and got lunch - for everyone here.
At dinner and now contemplating getting more done on the trailer.
Though, I really don't feel like it. About this time Sunday rolls around and I start getting that lazy feeling. I've spent the last 2 full days working on that thing. I'm guessing I will find the motivation soon enough, just a few things I would like to get done in there today and then maybe resume tackling it tomorrow.
Oh, bought some hummingbird feeder concentrate, so I am definitely going to get the feeder inside, clean it out nicely and put fresh liquid in it.
Meanwhile, I am being subjected to a VERY loud phone conversation with Lynnette in my living room talking to her mother. No, not fond of listening to loud conversations of other people on the phone, have some respect and take it somewhere else if you can't find it within yourself to just talk at normal volume when on a phone. It never ceases to amaze me at how many people think that you, the person that ISN'T on the other end of the line, wants to hear every last word you are saying.
Well whatever. Pond pump was already clogged up again, had to turn everything off and clean it out. There was a big-time wind storm here a few days ago and it blew all kinds of junk into this particular pond. The other 2 ponds seemed to have survived without a lot of junk, this one did not and it is taking up some time trying to clean out all the leaves and stuff in it. Oh, that is the pump, not the filter. I cleaned the filter this morning, that will be good for quite a while. But, the pump will get clogged up and nothing or very little will be going through it.
Called mother today. She went up to the property as of this morning. Wished her a happy Mother's Day.
She was a bit hyped because her goofy doggy took off. But then she said the dog has done it before and always come back. Well I certainly hope it does this time, too, that dog and she are quite the pair.
I have nothing else. Life is good.
ben
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Dry Run
I've worked a long time for this, it was time to do a dry run, figure out what's going to work and what needs improvement, an adjustment or a whole new approach.
What am I referring to?
The trailer, of course.
First off was getting the satellite tv up and running. I had no idea I was going to have to spend quality time with Direct TV this afternoon, but I should have known. I have a DTV card that hasn't been used in a while - though I have been paying for it. I knew in the back of my mind to get it working again I would have to contact DTV, but today the issue was forced.
I am not going to go into all of that, but I will throw in here 2 things. 1: a call to headquarters will be enacted Monday. 2: I actually got a pretty cool chick on the other end of the line - after talking to 6 other people. I didn't get her once, either, I had to call more than once, of course. She remembered me and I immediately recognized her voice.
The card is out of "sleep" mode and is working. I am sitting in the living room of my trailer, laptop in - lap - and my flat screen TV I bought on Black Friday last year is functioning with Direct TV playing. I am positive I will get Direct TV working up there, I am not so sure about the internet. I am running off my house WiFi, not the hotspot device from Verizon.
Yes, all 3 dogs are in the house. Prince and Sophie on the folded down couch and Duke - on the floor. That's Duke's preferred place anywhere so no problems.
I am glad I did this today. First off, I would NOT want to be dealing with Direct TV up there - though I would if I had to. 2, The way I want to sit on this couch with it folded down to accommodate dogs? I am going to need a giant pillow to make it comfortable.
Today's doings?
1: Went to a yard sale and scored a bunch of stuff for the kitchen in the trailer, plus a mattress for Duke (for my bedroom, not the trailer).
2. Finished the carpeting.
3. Filled the fresh water holding tank up and turned on the pump. Water came out of all facets - but there is a connector for a hose on the side of the trailer and it was also pumping out of there. Apparently, you have to plug that thing up to make it work well.
4. Many finishing touches with more to go. A strip for where the carpet meets the linoleum - yes I also went to Home Depot; Autozone; and several other places as well.
Umm, the Direct TV situation and trying to get it work actually took up several hours. In the past 2 days, I have got quite a lot accomplished on the thing, but there is still more to go.
So, that's it. Oh, I got all the lights working on the inside of the trailer excepting the one over the bathroom sink. The connectors are broken on it and need replaced. No priority right now as I have over-spent on this thing and that can wait, I have another ceiling light in the bathroom that I fixed today and is working perfectly so no problem there.
I have not figured out what the problem is with the brake and running lights on the outside of the trailer yet. Well, I will continue to search that one out for the next few days and see what I can do with it.
Going to spend several hours in here chilling. Figure out what needs to be figured out. Large dogs in a smaller space is obviously a bit of a - problem - but we are getting it. Sophie moved out of the way of Prince and is at the other end of the couch. Duke looks very uncomfortable but only because he hasn't laid all the way down yet, I will help him with that in a moment - he tends to need that kind of help to understand what he can do in any given situation.
2 days spent on this thing, 2 days well spent.
Whatever the case this coming Saturday, it is what it is and it's going.
ben
What am I referring to?
The trailer, of course.
First off was getting the satellite tv up and running. I had no idea I was going to have to spend quality time with Direct TV this afternoon, but I should have known. I have a DTV card that hasn't been used in a while - though I have been paying for it. I knew in the back of my mind to get it working again I would have to contact DTV, but today the issue was forced.
I am not going to go into all of that, but I will throw in here 2 things. 1: a call to headquarters will be enacted Monday. 2: I actually got a pretty cool chick on the other end of the line - after talking to 6 other people. I didn't get her once, either, I had to call more than once, of course. She remembered me and I immediately recognized her voice.
The card is out of "sleep" mode and is working. I am sitting in the living room of my trailer, laptop in - lap - and my flat screen TV I bought on Black Friday last year is functioning with Direct TV playing. I am positive I will get Direct TV working up there, I am not so sure about the internet. I am running off my house WiFi, not the hotspot device from Verizon.
Yes, all 3 dogs are in the house. Prince and Sophie on the folded down couch and Duke - on the floor. That's Duke's preferred place anywhere so no problems.
I am glad I did this today. First off, I would NOT want to be dealing with Direct TV up there - though I would if I had to. 2, The way I want to sit on this couch with it folded down to accommodate dogs? I am going to need a giant pillow to make it comfortable.
Today's doings?
1: Went to a yard sale and scored a bunch of stuff for the kitchen in the trailer, plus a mattress for Duke (for my bedroom, not the trailer).
2. Finished the carpeting.
3. Filled the fresh water holding tank up and turned on the pump. Water came out of all facets - but there is a connector for a hose on the side of the trailer and it was also pumping out of there. Apparently, you have to plug that thing up to make it work well.
4. Many finishing touches with more to go. A strip for where the carpet meets the linoleum - yes I also went to Home Depot; Autozone; and several other places as well.
Umm, the Direct TV situation and trying to get it work actually took up several hours. In the past 2 days, I have got quite a lot accomplished on the thing, but there is still more to go.
So, that's it. Oh, I got all the lights working on the inside of the trailer excepting the one over the bathroom sink. The connectors are broken on it and need replaced. No priority right now as I have over-spent on this thing and that can wait, I have another ceiling light in the bathroom that I fixed today and is working perfectly so no problem there.
I have not figured out what the problem is with the brake and running lights on the outside of the trailer yet. Well, I will continue to search that one out for the next few days and see what I can do with it.
Going to spend several hours in here chilling. Figure out what needs to be figured out. Large dogs in a smaller space is obviously a bit of a - problem - but we are getting it. Sophie moved out of the way of Prince and is at the other end of the couch. Duke looks very uncomfortable but only because he hasn't laid all the way down yet, I will help him with that in a moment - he tends to need that kind of help to understand what he can do in any given situation.
2 days spent on this thing, 2 days well spent.
Whatever the case this coming Saturday, it is what it is and it's going.
ben
Friday, May 11, 2012
Verizon
So the battle with Verizon begins.
I am not going to pay for a service that does not work, and more importantly, I am NOT going to pay to disconnect a service that - does not work. I don't CARE if there is a contract, any contract whose services are rendered useless is not an enforceable contract.
Verizon customer service? No different. I have heard the same BS from everywhere before. They have their regurgitated puke memorized. They spew it out to whoever is on the line with them. Yada, yada, yada. It is also no different than any of these other companies that, when you first call, you give the computer all this information and then when you speak to an actual person? They ask you the same information. Then you get switched to another person that asks you - the same information.
This is my first real confrontation with this company. But I have this kind of thing down. They are all the same. Or mostly the same. After I heard the attitudes, I just decided to cancel the contract. Of course, I knew there was going to be a lot of "conversation" to get to that point. The first lady said yes, we can do that. Is there going to be a fee to disconnect? We will send you a final bill. Is there going to be a fee to disconnect? Yes, there is going to be a disconnect fee. "Management, please". I did not get a manager. I got some kind of "specialist". I didn't listen to her for more than 2 sentences once that became clear. "I'm sorry, I didn't ask for a specialist, I asked to speak to management".
This went on, and on, and on. The phone I was using finally ran out of power and that call was ended.
I called back. This time, I told the computer system I want disconnect, thanks. 3 people later, I am talking to some level of management. He offered to replace the unit and remove this month's bill.
This is the preliminary stages. My new unit will be Fed-Ex'd to me by Tuesday, since the weekend is here. If it works - everywhere I go - I'm good with it. When I say that, I mean, anytime it says I have 4g or 3g access, I should have some kind of internet access. If the blooming thing doesn't work here, in the Phoenix metropolitan area, what makes me believe it is going to work up in the mountains, where it shows they have coverage, but probably 3g coverage?
I want to throw in a gem here, that has nothing to do with Verizon wireless. My son comes to me last night and asked for advice. Okay. He starts telling me about this girl that wanted to go out with him. She smokes pot and she is "loose". He didn't know how to deal with it, but he told her flat out that if she wants to "go there", he is not interested. He's asking me if what he did was the right thing.
Wow. Well, he says, you have dated a lot, how would you have handled that situation? Ummm, son, I can't tell you how to live your life, but if you are asking me? You did EXACTLY the right thing! That boy has a destiny in the Kingdom of Heaven and he is intent on following hard after the Lord to the point that he - maybe tempted - but not giving into it. Amazing.
Well, whatever. Lord willing, tomorrow going to continue to do the finishing touches on the trailer. I may have had a day off of work today, but it was a day full of work anyway. I did take off the cover on the trailer light pigtail and found nothing that would show cause for why the lights aren't working. Next is to check the lights themselves. If the bulbs are good, then off to AutoZone to buy a light tester - you touch it to the power source and a light comes on if there is power. Ahhh, and I just found an internet sit with the pigtail clearly identified on which location does what.
Very nice.
G'nite.
ben
I am not going to pay for a service that does not work, and more importantly, I am NOT going to pay to disconnect a service that - does not work. I don't CARE if there is a contract, any contract whose services are rendered useless is not an enforceable contract.
Verizon customer service? No different. I have heard the same BS from everywhere before. They have their regurgitated puke memorized. They spew it out to whoever is on the line with them. Yada, yada, yada. It is also no different than any of these other companies that, when you first call, you give the computer all this information and then when you speak to an actual person? They ask you the same information. Then you get switched to another person that asks you - the same information.
This is my first real confrontation with this company. But I have this kind of thing down. They are all the same. Or mostly the same. After I heard the attitudes, I just decided to cancel the contract. Of course, I knew there was going to be a lot of "conversation" to get to that point. The first lady said yes, we can do that. Is there going to be a fee to disconnect? We will send you a final bill. Is there going to be a fee to disconnect? Yes, there is going to be a disconnect fee. "Management, please". I did not get a manager. I got some kind of "specialist". I didn't listen to her for more than 2 sentences once that became clear. "I'm sorry, I didn't ask for a specialist, I asked to speak to management".
This went on, and on, and on. The phone I was using finally ran out of power and that call was ended.
I called back. This time, I told the computer system I want disconnect, thanks. 3 people later, I am talking to some level of management. He offered to replace the unit and remove this month's bill.
This is the preliminary stages. My new unit will be Fed-Ex'd to me by Tuesday, since the weekend is here. If it works - everywhere I go - I'm good with it. When I say that, I mean, anytime it says I have 4g or 3g access, I should have some kind of internet access. If the blooming thing doesn't work here, in the Phoenix metropolitan area, what makes me believe it is going to work up in the mountains, where it shows they have coverage, but probably 3g coverage?
I want to throw in a gem here, that has nothing to do with Verizon wireless. My son comes to me last night and asked for advice. Okay. He starts telling me about this girl that wanted to go out with him. She smokes pot and she is "loose". He didn't know how to deal with it, but he told her flat out that if she wants to "go there", he is not interested. He's asking me if what he did was the right thing.
Wow. Well, he says, you have dated a lot, how would you have handled that situation? Ummm, son, I can't tell you how to live your life, but if you are asking me? You did EXACTLY the right thing! That boy has a destiny in the Kingdom of Heaven and he is intent on following hard after the Lord to the point that he - maybe tempted - but not giving into it. Amazing.
Well, whatever. Lord willing, tomorrow going to continue to do the finishing touches on the trailer. I may have had a day off of work today, but it was a day full of work anyway. I did take off the cover on the trailer light pigtail and found nothing that would show cause for why the lights aren't working. Next is to check the lights themselves. If the bulbs are good, then off to AutoZone to buy a light tester - you touch it to the power source and a light comes on if there is power. Ahhh, and I just found an internet sit with the pigtail clearly identified on which location does what.
Very nice.
G'nite.
ben
Thwarted Plans
My plan to take off up to mom's property today was put off. I would have already left by now and be 2/3rd's of the way up there - at least.
Instead, I get a call from Caleb yesterday proclaiming that the car has a water leak.
Okay.
Well, something has been making noise under there, but there are so many things so close together in that general area, it was impossible to tell what, exactly, was making the noise - at least impossible without buying a stethoscope.
Well, I do believe the noise issue has been identified: water pump.
Water is pouring the little hole at the bottom of the pump.
So, new water pump: $26. Installation: $85.
Just arrived, the mechanic that is, full fledged into it.
But, too late now to make a trip. Either do it tomorrow or just blow it off and talk with mom about it - she's going up on Sunday so she can tell me what's needed, if anything.
So, just waiting for this guy to get done so I can get started on the trailer again. Shouldn't take too much longer to finish putting in the last piece of carpet. Make a list of things I need and off to Walmart, dollar stores, wherever I can find stuff on the cheap.
_____________________________
Yes, extremely long "interlude". The man is done with the car. I flushed out the cooling system again and put fresh coolant into it. I then drove it for about 10 miles to make sure there are no problems. The noise that that car had is completely gone and there are no leaks. The car is purring like a kitten and the AC is pumping out EXTREMELY cold air.
____________________________
Interluditis.
I went to town on the trailer.
1. Good thing I had today off from work.
2. Better thing I did not go up to the mountains today because,
3. There is more to do in there than I realized.
But let's face facts, when you are attempting to work with carpet in such a small, confined area, it's going to be a hassle. I have all day tomorrow to try and finish it up - though I am going back out there again in a while and start looking for what the problem might be with the brake lights not working. I'm not necessarily sure that the dude that is going to haul it up there will want to do it without them working, but, money is money and I will be following right behind the trailer all the way up.
Anyway, I built a small table where another had been torn out by the previous owner. It's just a piece of plywood with shelving hangers holding it up. I will find a nice table cloth to put on it to make the ugliness of the plywood disappear. There is no where else in that trailer where a TV can really go. TV is not a priority, but I have the entire setup gathered and ready to go. After I finish this entry, I am going to start making a list of the things I need to search out and get for it. I'm torn between buying plates and cups and all that or just getting paper plates and plastic throw away cups. I'll figure that one out, though I will probably opt for throw away since I am not really going to want to hand wash a bunch of dishes up there.
I'm still a bit apprehensive that the internet is not going to work up there. I am not having much luck down here, it's not working right again. I live in the 5th largest city, whoops, the site I just looked at ranks it as 6th, well whatever - and I don't have internet access? No, that's not the problem. It SHOWS 4G network on the device, it just isn't connecting again. If this is a simm card issue again, I am going to start getting very annoyed with Verizon. Which doesn't bode well for whoever I end up getting on the other end of the line if I start getting a bunch of BS dished out to me...........
It's starting to get a bit exciting for me. I have always loved the mountains - well mountains with dense stands of tall pine trees anyway. I have never gotten bored in the mountains, it is always an adventure to go out hiking and view nature in it's raw form without anyone else around - well dogs but that's different - I absolutely love it. Sitting around the RV all the time is not going to be a happening event. I will go on at least 2 hikes on any given day I am there. I have one canteen, I guess I better get another with the dogs - though heat isn't as much of a factor up there as it is down here, still, humans and dogs get thirsty when exerting large amounts of energy.
Finally, mother is going to find that my presence up there is going to make her life a whole lots easier. I will be cooking. I will take her pickup and haul as much water as necessary. You take the tank to a place that sells it and fill it up = with a water hose! ROFL!! It's funny because of the time it takes to fill a 500 gallon tank with a freakin' water hose, but whatever. It's MUCH cheaper than having it brought in by a water truck, though I didn't know she would let me drive her truck until just recently.
Well I could talk about this all day long, but, I am in the middle of another break. This has been a 3 part entry and it's done, make another one later if I want to yak on about it. It should be apparent that I am definitely getting excited about all of this.
ben
Instead, I get a call from Caleb yesterday proclaiming that the car has a water leak.
Okay.
Well, something has been making noise under there, but there are so many things so close together in that general area, it was impossible to tell what, exactly, was making the noise - at least impossible without buying a stethoscope.
Well, I do believe the noise issue has been identified: water pump.
Water is pouring the little hole at the bottom of the pump.
So, new water pump: $26. Installation: $85.
Just arrived, the mechanic that is, full fledged into it.
But, too late now to make a trip. Either do it tomorrow or just blow it off and talk with mom about it - she's going up on Sunday so she can tell me what's needed, if anything.
So, just waiting for this guy to get done so I can get started on the trailer again. Shouldn't take too much longer to finish putting in the last piece of carpet. Make a list of things I need and off to Walmart, dollar stores, wherever I can find stuff on the cheap.
_____________________________
Yes, extremely long "interlude". The man is done with the car. I flushed out the cooling system again and put fresh coolant into it. I then drove it for about 10 miles to make sure there are no problems. The noise that that car had is completely gone and there are no leaks. The car is purring like a kitten and the AC is pumping out EXTREMELY cold air.
____________________________
Interluditis.
I went to town on the trailer.
1. Good thing I had today off from work.
2. Better thing I did not go up to the mountains today because,
3. There is more to do in there than I realized.
But let's face facts, when you are attempting to work with carpet in such a small, confined area, it's going to be a hassle. I have all day tomorrow to try and finish it up - though I am going back out there again in a while and start looking for what the problem might be with the brake lights not working. I'm not necessarily sure that the dude that is going to haul it up there will want to do it without them working, but, money is money and I will be following right behind the trailer all the way up.
Anyway, I built a small table where another had been torn out by the previous owner. It's just a piece of plywood with shelving hangers holding it up. I will find a nice table cloth to put on it to make the ugliness of the plywood disappear. There is no where else in that trailer where a TV can really go. TV is not a priority, but I have the entire setup gathered and ready to go. After I finish this entry, I am going to start making a list of the things I need to search out and get for it. I'm torn between buying plates and cups and all that or just getting paper plates and plastic throw away cups. I'll figure that one out, though I will probably opt for throw away since I am not really going to want to hand wash a bunch of dishes up there.
I'm still a bit apprehensive that the internet is not going to work up there. I am not having much luck down here, it's not working right again. I live in the 5th largest city, whoops, the site I just looked at ranks it as 6th, well whatever - and I don't have internet access? No, that's not the problem. It SHOWS 4G network on the device, it just isn't connecting again. If this is a simm card issue again, I am going to start getting very annoyed with Verizon. Which doesn't bode well for whoever I end up getting on the other end of the line if I start getting a bunch of BS dished out to me...........
It's starting to get a bit exciting for me. I have always loved the mountains - well mountains with dense stands of tall pine trees anyway. I have never gotten bored in the mountains, it is always an adventure to go out hiking and view nature in it's raw form without anyone else around - well dogs but that's different - I absolutely love it. Sitting around the RV all the time is not going to be a happening event. I will go on at least 2 hikes on any given day I am there. I have one canteen, I guess I better get another with the dogs - though heat isn't as much of a factor up there as it is down here, still, humans and dogs get thirsty when exerting large amounts of energy.
Finally, mother is going to find that my presence up there is going to make her life a whole lots easier. I will be cooking. I will take her pickup and haul as much water as necessary. You take the tank to a place that sells it and fill it up = with a water hose! ROFL!! It's funny because of the time it takes to fill a 500 gallon tank with a freakin' water hose, but whatever. It's MUCH cheaper than having it brought in by a water truck, though I didn't know she would let me drive her truck until just recently.
Well I could talk about this all day long, but, I am in the middle of another break. This has been a 3 part entry and it's done, make another one later if I want to yak on about it. It should be apparent that I am definitely getting excited about all of this.
ben
Thursday, May 10, 2012
So, yesterday, this couple comes over to groom the new doggy.
They had their own equipment, but not one of those mobile grooming vans.
So, they are pointing at the sky to the north and saying it's going to rain.
Rain?!! Sure enough, the sky was very dark.
And sure enough, a wind storm came through, knocked all kinds of stuff over followed by rain.
By the time the rain showed up, however, they were down with the bath part and we went inside
for the hair cutting. The dog looks completely different now, lol.
They say every 2 to 3 months for the grooming. Okay. Maybe. 3 months from now we'll still be in August, so probably, since it really doesn't cool down until October around these parts.
As for the rain? I went outside and got wet. : )
Today is my Friday concerning work. I have tomorrow off and still considering whether I want to drive up there or not - to mom's property that is. Dunno, guess it will be my mood tomorrow that will determine whether I go up there or stay here and continue to put the finishing touches on the trailer.
Unfortunately, the wind blew the roof ac plastic cover onto the ground yesterday. It was already old and cracked, now it's not only old, but REALLY cracked. The worse part about it is they want unbelievable money for a plastic shroud. Like well over $100. It's just a blooming piece of plastic, for crying out loud. Not sure what I am going to do about that, but another cover is not in the works right now. Maybe next month. Affordability is the key word and right now? I can't afford it. Too many bills to pay plus paying to have the trailer moved. It needed replaced anyway, just that now it's vamped up a bit in priority. I didn't want to spend $100 or whatever on one of those things until I was absolutely sure the unit was going to work. So far, so good. I have had several days now where I have run it all day long and it is keeping it nicely cooled in there.
Whatever the case, I am definitely going to finish installing the carpet this weekend and then buy all the cheap stuff it needs. Plastic bags; paper towels; maybe go on Craigslist and see if anyone is unloading kitchen ware; a couple of throw rugs - well probably 3 or 4 of them, stuff like that.
Stock it up with bottled water, coffee, coffee creamer and some basic, cheap-version spices from Fry's. You know, the dollar spices. Works for me.
I also have to figure out the trailer lights and so, I will definitely have my hands full on Saturday if I don't do anything tomorrow, ie: making that trip up north. I may opt out of the trip now that I think about the amount of work I still have left to go on it. Umm, but boy it would be nice to take a day trip up there and get out of this polluted valley.
Well, whatever the case, about 9 or 10 hours from now I am done with work until Monday.
Speaking of work, time to go!
G'day.
ben
They had their own equipment, but not one of those mobile grooming vans.
So, they are pointing at the sky to the north and saying it's going to rain.
Rain?!! Sure enough, the sky was very dark.
And sure enough, a wind storm came through, knocked all kinds of stuff over followed by rain.
By the time the rain showed up, however, they were down with the bath part and we went inside
for the hair cutting. The dog looks completely different now, lol.
They say every 2 to 3 months for the grooming. Okay. Maybe. 3 months from now we'll still be in August, so probably, since it really doesn't cool down until October around these parts.
As for the rain? I went outside and got wet. : )
Today is my Friday concerning work. I have tomorrow off and still considering whether I want to drive up there or not - to mom's property that is. Dunno, guess it will be my mood tomorrow that will determine whether I go up there or stay here and continue to put the finishing touches on the trailer.
Unfortunately, the wind blew the roof ac plastic cover onto the ground yesterday. It was already old and cracked, now it's not only old, but REALLY cracked. The worse part about it is they want unbelievable money for a plastic shroud. Like well over $100. It's just a blooming piece of plastic, for crying out loud. Not sure what I am going to do about that, but another cover is not in the works right now. Maybe next month. Affordability is the key word and right now? I can't afford it. Too many bills to pay plus paying to have the trailer moved. It needed replaced anyway, just that now it's vamped up a bit in priority. I didn't want to spend $100 or whatever on one of those things until I was absolutely sure the unit was going to work. So far, so good. I have had several days now where I have run it all day long and it is keeping it nicely cooled in there.
Whatever the case, I am definitely going to finish installing the carpet this weekend and then buy all the cheap stuff it needs. Plastic bags; paper towels; maybe go on Craigslist and see if anyone is unloading kitchen ware; a couple of throw rugs - well probably 3 or 4 of them, stuff like that.
Stock it up with bottled water, coffee, coffee creamer and some basic, cheap-version spices from Fry's. You know, the dollar spices. Works for me.
I also have to figure out the trailer lights and so, I will definitely have my hands full on Saturday if I don't do anything tomorrow, ie: making that trip up north. I may opt out of the trip now that I think about the amount of work I still have left to go on it. Umm, but boy it would be nice to take a day trip up there and get out of this polluted valley.
Well, whatever the case, about 9 or 10 hours from now I am done with work until Monday.
Speaking of work, time to go!
G'day.
ben
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
What conditions are necessary for you to sleep?
Do you have to have it pitch black or a light on? Or no light on, but outside light coming in through a window?
Do you have to have dead silence or do you need a white noise maker? Or something in between?
Do you sleep with the TV on or off?
I personally would love to sleep in true, dead silence. I would sleep so well in such conditions. In reality? i have 3 dogs in the room while I am sleeping. They scratch themselves; lick themselves; get up in the middle of the night and go drink out of the bathroom toilet (gross, I know); get up and rotate around in circles and lay back down. Then there is Sophie, the new doggy, who will bark at people she hears coming through the back door.
Of course, there are the tenants. Some of which are up all night long and are in the kitchen at varying times throughout the night.
Then there's the child-hood factor. Our house in Pittsburgh - when I was a young kid of course - did not have air conditioning in it of any kind. During the summers, my parents would place a 2-fan thing in the window and it would blow air into the room and on me while I was attempting to sleep. These 2-fans-in-one made a lot of noise. It stuck with me.
I have to have a fan running at night regardless of winter of summer and I have to wear ear plugs.
It's just interesting to me to hear the different things that people have to do to get a good night's sleep, or at least try to get it.
Ummm, so. I had to tell the guy at work today that he would have to shuffle trailers around to get the one that needs to be moved up north out of my driveway. I decided to sweeten the pot to get him to do so, with a tank of fuel thrown in on top of the cash. That kind of "swaying" was enough to not even have him having second thoughts. He will come over the day before we move it and do the switching around so we don't have to fool with it early in the morning.
Well, I'm tired and it's my bedtime.
Nite.
ben
Road Rage!
I thought I had seen it all on Phoenix freeways, but this one takes the cake and puts the icing on the top.
I was cruising back from our main branch on I-10. Heavy, heavy traffic. Moving, though, maybe 55 mph, amazing traffic that thick was moving that fast. I got off the transition to the Superstition freeway, but was observing a red, Chevy pickup behind me weaving in and out of traffic, making very aggressive moves, attempting to past everyone.
This isn't, actually, abnormal behavior to be seen on the freeways around here, there are many drivers that are in a big hurry and they don't care what risk they take in order to get ahead. Well, I am in the inside lane. That would be the "high speed" lane on 3 lanes on a huge ramp that curves around and turns in to the US 60 - Superstition Freeway. If you don't believe the name of the freeway, you can just Google it.
Well anyway, there is a silver pickup coming up behind me in my lane. The red pickup is 2 lanes over and jumps in front of a vehicle - cutting it off quite nicely I should add - and then, jumps into my lane. The problem? He cuts that silver pickup off so badly, the silver pickup has to slam on the brakes and it starts fishtailing from such heavy braking and attempting to avoid a rear-end collision with that red pickup.
Here's where the road rage beings, folks. I have never seen anything like it except in the movies and forgive me of my telling of the story isn't NEAR at vivid and unbelievable as what actually happened in real life this afternoon. Only a video of it would adequately convey what happened.
The driver of the silver pickup becomes infuriated. Not just mad or angry, he was raging mad. He was pumping his fists and mouthing words which I can imagine the content. He floors it, gets in the lane next from me, screams past the red truck after HE cut off a vehicle in his attempt to pay the red truck's driver some revenge. I'm glancing in my rear view while - driving my vehicle and paying attention to what's going in front of me. In that millisecond of time that I looked ahead and then looked back, this driver of the silver truck was RIGHT on my bumper, slamming on his brakes to avoid rear-ending ME, because the red truck was RIGHT behind me in my lane.
This guy is driving like a madman, rage had overtaken him. He was swerving back and forth for what seemed like a long time but in actuality was only a second or two while attempting to force the driver of the red truck to back off or force him into the emergency lane. When he had accomplished that, he SLAMMED on his brakes!! The driver of the red truck is now in the emergency lane, his entire truck swerving all over the place, came within inches of slamming into the median concrete wall. The driver of the silver truck then slows down even more and goes into the emergency lane, hitting his brakes hard again.
Now, we have 2 drivers that are enraged. The dude in the red truck is going to have his revenge, even though it was his stupid, dangerous driving that started this nonsense in the first place. Oh, and I didn't include all the smoke coming from screeching tires that are locked up! Now, I had no choice, I wasn't going to get into this, I sped up and got over into the second lane. The driver of the silver truck then accelerated and was coming up beside me, so the driver of the red truck REALLY sped up and was probably going 90 mph or more attempting to catch up, try to come around me, then come in front of me and then whatever was going to happen next. I was having NO part of that, so I sped up even more, which unintentionally gave the driver of the silver truck next to me room to move over and...........do what?
Cut that red truck off again!!! That silver truck was going WAY slower than that red truck. The driver of the red truck slammed on his brakes again to avoid a collision, but he was going so fast it sent him going SIDEWAYS on the freeway!! I watched that pickup slide sideways over 3 and a half lanes - smoking tires and all - we were off the ramp at that point and the freeway widens out to 6 lanes - I had no clue how that truck did not roll over. I did have a clue how it didn't run into any other vehicles: everyone else driving out there saw what was going on and no-one else wanted any part of it, either. They were all slamming on their brakes to make sure they weren't going to be a part of a potential fatality at this point.
This wasn't getting out of control, it WAS out of control. I pulled out my cellphone and acted like I was dialing 911. The red truck sped up in front of me and was pointing at his license plate and also the silver truck's - they were both in front of me but stuck in traffic at this point, separated by 1 lane between them with vehicles that they could not penetrate. I was able to come up beside them and acted like I was talking on the phone and making hand movements and looking back and forth both vehicles.
I backed off and acted like I was reading license plate numbers. Look, I could have called 911 but by the time police are there, the damage is done. Let's just get the fear that cops might even be coming and that someone is going to follow them and maybe that will put a chill on this situation. They weren't just putting their own lives in danger out there, which is bad enough, they were putting a lot of other drivers and vehicle occupants lives at stake as well, not the least of which was mine since that driver of the silver truck almost slammed into the rear of the pickup I was driving.
I made it VERY obvious to both of them what I was doing and suddenly? One of them pulled over to the outside lane and the other stayed in the inside lane. The driver of the silver pickup backed WAY off, slowing down to probably around 60 mph and the driver of the red pickup was going around 65. After a mile or so, the silver pickup sped up but did not change lanes. Another 2 miles after that, the driver of the silver pickup moved over to the outside lane and the driver of the red pickup moved to the number 2 lane. Silver got on the same ramp as I was getting on to transition to the Loop 101 south while the red pickup continued east on the Superstition.
You wonder why I don't want to live in the Phoenix area. I see this kind of stuff frequently on the freeways, though nothing ever this exaggerated. Aggressive, outrageous driving acts abound all day long. People treat each other like they are at war when they are driving around here.
I was cruising back from our main branch on I-10. Heavy, heavy traffic. Moving, though, maybe 55 mph, amazing traffic that thick was moving that fast. I got off the transition to the Superstition freeway, but was observing a red, Chevy pickup behind me weaving in and out of traffic, making very aggressive moves, attempting to past everyone.
This isn't, actually, abnormal behavior to be seen on the freeways around here, there are many drivers that are in a big hurry and they don't care what risk they take in order to get ahead. Well, I am in the inside lane. That would be the "high speed" lane on 3 lanes on a huge ramp that curves around and turns in to the US 60 - Superstition Freeway. If you don't believe the name of the freeway, you can just Google it.
Well anyway, there is a silver pickup coming up behind me in my lane. The red pickup is 2 lanes over and jumps in front of a vehicle - cutting it off quite nicely I should add - and then, jumps into my lane. The problem? He cuts that silver pickup off so badly, the silver pickup has to slam on the brakes and it starts fishtailing from such heavy braking and attempting to avoid a rear-end collision with that red pickup.
Here's where the road rage beings, folks. I have never seen anything like it except in the movies and forgive me of my telling of the story isn't NEAR at vivid and unbelievable as what actually happened in real life this afternoon. Only a video of it would adequately convey what happened.
The driver of the silver pickup becomes infuriated. Not just mad or angry, he was raging mad. He was pumping his fists and mouthing words which I can imagine the content. He floors it, gets in the lane next from me, screams past the red truck after HE cut off a vehicle in his attempt to pay the red truck's driver some revenge. I'm glancing in my rear view while - driving my vehicle and paying attention to what's going in front of me. In that millisecond of time that I looked ahead and then looked back, this driver of the silver truck was RIGHT on my bumper, slamming on his brakes to avoid rear-ending ME, because the red truck was RIGHT behind me in my lane.
This guy is driving like a madman, rage had overtaken him. He was swerving back and forth for what seemed like a long time but in actuality was only a second or two while attempting to force the driver of the red truck to back off or force him into the emergency lane. When he had accomplished that, he SLAMMED on his brakes!! The driver of the red truck is now in the emergency lane, his entire truck swerving all over the place, came within inches of slamming into the median concrete wall. The driver of the silver truck then slows down even more and goes into the emergency lane, hitting his brakes hard again.
Now, we have 2 drivers that are enraged. The dude in the red truck is going to have his revenge, even though it was his stupid, dangerous driving that started this nonsense in the first place. Oh, and I didn't include all the smoke coming from screeching tires that are locked up! Now, I had no choice, I wasn't going to get into this, I sped up and got over into the second lane. The driver of the silver truck then accelerated and was coming up beside me, so the driver of the red truck REALLY sped up and was probably going 90 mph or more attempting to catch up, try to come around me, then come in front of me and then whatever was going to happen next. I was having NO part of that, so I sped up even more, which unintentionally gave the driver of the silver truck next to me room to move over and...........do what?
Cut that red truck off again!!! That silver truck was going WAY slower than that red truck. The driver of the red truck slammed on his brakes again to avoid a collision, but he was going so fast it sent him going SIDEWAYS on the freeway!! I watched that pickup slide sideways over 3 and a half lanes - smoking tires and all - we were off the ramp at that point and the freeway widens out to 6 lanes - I had no clue how that truck did not roll over. I did have a clue how it didn't run into any other vehicles: everyone else driving out there saw what was going on and no-one else wanted any part of it, either. They were all slamming on their brakes to make sure they weren't going to be a part of a potential fatality at this point.
This wasn't getting out of control, it WAS out of control. I pulled out my cellphone and acted like I was dialing 911. The red truck sped up in front of me and was pointing at his license plate and also the silver truck's - they were both in front of me but stuck in traffic at this point, separated by 1 lane between them with vehicles that they could not penetrate. I was able to come up beside them and acted like I was talking on the phone and making hand movements and looking back and forth both vehicles.
I backed off and acted like I was reading license plate numbers. Look, I could have called 911 but by the time police are there, the damage is done. Let's just get the fear that cops might even be coming and that someone is going to follow them and maybe that will put a chill on this situation. They weren't just putting their own lives in danger out there, which is bad enough, they were putting a lot of other drivers and vehicle occupants lives at stake as well, not the least of which was mine since that driver of the silver truck almost slammed into the rear of the pickup I was driving.
I made it VERY obvious to both of them what I was doing and suddenly? One of them pulled over to the outside lane and the other stayed in the inside lane. The driver of the silver pickup backed WAY off, slowing down to probably around 60 mph and the driver of the red pickup was going around 65. After a mile or so, the silver pickup sped up but did not change lanes. Another 2 miles after that, the driver of the silver pickup moved over to the outside lane and the driver of the red pickup moved to the number 2 lane. Silver got on the same ramp as I was getting on to transition to the Loop 101 south while the red pickup continued east on the Superstition.
You wonder why I don't want to live in the Phoenix area. I see this kind of stuff frequently on the freeways, though nothing ever this exaggerated. Aggressive, outrageous driving acts abound all day long. People treat each other like they are at war when they are driving around here.
Iamastupiddriver.com
There should be a website with that or similar name with a registry of people that drive vehicles who believe that engaging in texting, fixing your hair, reading blueprints, getting into deep conversations on the cellphone and a host of other things is safe, a-okay and won't ever have a problem.
Gruesome motorcycle accident not an hour ago. Car on top of motorcycle. You could see where the rider had flown off the bike and head first into the windshield of the car that struck it or it struck, with a huge hole in the windshield. I see stuff like this pretty much every day while driving.
But whatever. Verizon Hot Spot mobile broadband device is not working that great again. Another simm card gone bad? I dunno, but it's gonna get old having to deal with it if that's the case. Having to start up the "argument" with Verizon such as I have had to do with Direct TV over the years is not a very appealing idea, at all.
Scored a Direct TV receiver for my trailer - brand new still in the box, still in the plastic for $25 and scored a Dish Network box for my mom for her trailer for $20.
Got my spare tire, almost done with the carpet, Mark put a piece of wood in the cabinet where the microwave goes to lift it up higher. I have left to figure out the trailer brake light problem, finish the carpeting - another hour or two, and buy the knick knacks the trailer will need. Cooking utensils, toiletries, plastic bags, stuff like that, plus probably some throw rugs to put over the new carpet. I've got til the 19th to get all that done, shouldn't be an issue.
Also spoke in person this time, with the salesman who is going to move it up there. He's good to go, wants gas money up front. No biggies there. He's good on his word, I have known him for about 6 years now.
So, getting down to the nitty gritty. Getting excited, too. I'm pretty still tinkering with the idea of going up there on Friday and get a gander of the situation, but, not a definitive idea yet.
Well, time's up, at a contactor's and they are here to pick up the part I have.
Later.
ben
There should be a website with that or similar name with a registry of people that drive vehicles who believe that engaging in texting, fixing your hair, reading blueprints, getting into deep conversations on the cellphone and a host of other things is safe, a-okay and won't ever have a problem.
Gruesome motorcycle accident not an hour ago. Car on top of motorcycle. You could see where the rider had flown off the bike and head first into the windshield of the car that struck it or it struck, with a huge hole in the windshield. I see stuff like this pretty much every day while driving.
But whatever. Verizon Hot Spot mobile broadband device is not working that great again. Another simm card gone bad? I dunno, but it's gonna get old having to deal with it if that's the case. Having to start up the "argument" with Verizon such as I have had to do with Direct TV over the years is not a very appealing idea, at all.
Scored a Direct TV receiver for my trailer - brand new still in the box, still in the plastic for $25 and scored a Dish Network box for my mom for her trailer for $20.
Got my spare tire, almost done with the carpet, Mark put a piece of wood in the cabinet where the microwave goes to lift it up higher. I have left to figure out the trailer brake light problem, finish the carpeting - another hour or two, and buy the knick knacks the trailer will need. Cooking utensils, toiletries, plastic bags, stuff like that, plus probably some throw rugs to put over the new carpet. I've got til the 19th to get all that done, shouldn't be an issue.
Also spoke in person this time, with the salesman who is going to move it up there. He's good to go, wants gas money up front. No biggies there. He's good on his word, I have known him for about 6 years now.
So, getting down to the nitty gritty. Getting excited, too. I'm pretty still tinkering with the idea of going up there on Friday and get a gander of the situation, but, not a definitive idea yet.
Well, time's up, at a contactor's and they are here to pick up the part I have.
Later.
ben
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