Almost Here

"When you see something interesting, take pics!!"
My explanation to the site foreman after the truck was unloaded, yes, at that site right next to that huge array of giant satellite dishes. Dish Network. I would have to guess a main location with that much money in dishes and related equipment sitting there. I couldn't possibly guess what that array of dishes must cost, so I won't. It reminding me of the movie Contact where they are using that dish array in New Mexico - I have passed by there many times in the past and actually stopped the semi on the side of the road to get out and gawk.

I have no idea how the technology works, so I can't comment with any experience or knowledge. I can only say that that is a LOT of dishes to be bringing in satellite. Okay, I do ask why they would need satellite dishes since each user has their own satellite dish? One answer was given today, though I was no quite sure of the accuracy of the answer: at least one dish is "shooting" it over to Mexico. I have no idea, I would rather ask someone that works at the company.

Friday, that is, concerning the title of this entry.
I worked solid through the day and got back well after my allotted hours of time.  I am 4 hours over this week and have only worked 2 days - the other days were vacation time off.  Tomorow? Who knows.  There are 4 things to do, but that could blow up overnight as well.

I was quite surpised today to find that my weight is still at 198 pounds.  After the 4 day vacation, 2 days of it eating more than I should have, I thought for sure I would be over 200 again.  Very encouraging.  I'm having a clue that cutting out the cheeses is what is really helping me out here.  It is getting easier and easier to say no to cheese.

Oh, the other 2 pics? Simply look at the mirrors.  I took the pics to show the vast expanse of room they give you to drive in the center lane - in this case I was stopped at a light and waiting for a left turn signal.  Both sides have the outside tire on each axle on the trailer tandems sitting on the yellow line. 

I'm very tired.  2 nights in a row not sleeping well.  I did nothing with the waterfall today, instead I skimmed the surface of the lower pond and started using the cleaner on the bottom.  You sit there and squeeze this bulb thingy which pumps junk up from the bottom of the pond.  A great deal of algae has accumulated - I had to re-read the instructions on the algae removing liquid.  Every 3 days, retreat. 
Read the instructions, stupid.  Me, that is. 

I also stopped by the guy's house that has the 8X5 foot dimension pond.  So he said, anyway.  We walk out to the back of his house and I don't see a pond laying around anywhere.  He takes me to a corner and there this little, itty bitty thing sits.  3x3-1/2.  I summarily dismissed it, in my mind anyway, nothing like what I envisioned from his description of it.  I asked him about the size - he stated it looked that big to him.  Okay, buddy, whatever.  This guy does house remodels can't tell the difference between 8 feet and 3 feet just by looking? 

However, I thought it about and thought this thing would work perfectly in my front yard.  IF it is small enough.  Yes, small is better in the front yard, I don't have a lot of room to work with.  He wants $35 for this little thing that is used and in the ground.  I am thnking more like $15.  A great water garden feature in my yard it would make: yes. Worth $35? I can buy a brand new one at Lowe's for $40.  That is something that is new, I know it won't be leaking and I won't have to worry about it.  I'm going to email him with my offer - if he doesn't like it, good luck.  People put ponds on Craigslist forever, a day and a half at FAR too high prices and they continue run those ads over and over and over.  I have seen the same guy running the same ad every day for over a month now. 

The weekend almost here, I hope to get the block to build the retaining wall for the waterfall.  It's just that it's going to take at least 2 and probably 3 trips to get that block in my car.  Yet, I must get this thing going and get it done, summer is here - close enough.  They said it hit 100 today.  The saving grace is that it is still getting cool at night.  In a month, it will get "down" to 90 at the lowest at night.  The water must be cooled and a good waterfall will help do that AND aerate the water for the fish.  When the temps get well above 100, I will be thinking about freezing a large container of water every night and dumping it into the pond in the morning to cool it. 

Well, I think I'm done with this one.  I continue to look at Craigslist and will until I find a larger pond at the right price.  No hurry, I am content with the 2 I have now.
Anyway, ava great evening.

ben

Thursday

Yesterday was a very long day at work - at least not normal for my hours any more at 10-1/2 hours, non-stop, all day long, running all over the place making delivery after delivery, loading and unloading the truck fully 3 times. This isn't a pickup truck, it's a semi with a 48' flatbed trailer.

Regardless of the fatigue, I went home and started playing with the boulders to see how I wanted to arrange it. I ran out of steam and gave up on it after getting it halfway up.

I then watched the Suns get their @$$es handed to them on a platter by the LA Lakers and wondered if the next 2 games were going to look like that as well, because if they are, there is no point in watching any more of it.

After that comes the "revelation" that, purportedly, North Korea definitely torpedoed a South Korean Naval ship, which killed some 47 sailors a few months back. Is South Korea afraid of the North? I'm just wondering, because as I wrote last night, I don't know of too many people that would think of an act such as that of anything but war. Not that I am all happy go lucky to see us get involved in another war - but American troops are right there and if another war starts, we're going to be in the middle of it.

And why is it that everyone BUT the federal government thinks we need the Guard at our borders? It makes me wonder what sort of dealings might be going on behind closed doors. Obama seems intent only on socializing America - more inflamed statements from individuals call it Marxism. I won't go that far with it, but - the government wants your money, you don't know how to handle it, just give it to them, they'll take care of it.

Meanwhile, a Commissioner from Arizona writes the mayor of LA telling him that he would be happy to encourage the people that would be involved to renegotiate the contracts on the power plants for the power being sent to them from our generators - a whopping 25% of their power coming from AZ. I was amused at the mayor's response. LA owns part of the plant, therefore it isn't helping the AZ economy. Really? I thought a boycott means that you stop doing all business with the entity that you are - mad - at. If they were SO intent on a pure boycott, they would sell their share of the plants, go ahead and do the contract renegotiation and pull out of Arizona altogether. It is hypocrisy at it's finest. It's also a man with a big mouth that wants attention. In reality: where would they make up that 25%? LA is the second largest city in the U.S., one therefore would conclude that that city needs a LOT of power to survive.

My life does not revolve around the news, but I don't want to hide my head in the sand, either. There is the ever-present threat of Isreal getting into it with Iran - the world is kind of messed up right now. Maybe it always is, but with all this oil being dumped into the Gulf and everything else, it seems to be adding up to something greater. Look at all the earthquakes going on all over the place. Yes, I would point to God and ask, (very respectfully, like on my knees): What's going on here?

He is, after all, still in control. It may not seem like it, but this is His earth. I doubt the Lord to be very happy about all this oil contamination that is threatening to spread all over the place at this point.

Well, the work day is almost here. I went out this morning before leaving for work to look at the ponds. For $35, if that guy's pond is what he says it is, I'm definitely getting it. It will complete the effect I am looking for. I am racking my brains on the waterfall. I was going to dismiss the idea of using a retaining wall, but I am now revisiting it. I'm not sure I have a choice in the matter at this point, meaning having to lug a bunch of them home in my car.

Gotta do it right, and I don't see how to keep all that dirt contained without one, otherwise, the thing will be HUGE just because of the mound of dirt necessary. I'm just concerned about how I am going to make that back side of the retaining wall look good. I don't just want blocks showing. I guess I'll build the waterfall and cross that bridge later on.

Anyway, I'm outta here.

G'day.

ben

It's An Act Of War

"You want to deter the North Koreans from doing this sort of thing again, but you also don't want to start a war," said Victor Cha, the North Korea pointman in President George W. Bush's White House and now the Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies."

Let me get this straight, everyone believes by proof of evidence that North Korea did, indeed, fire a torpedo on a South Korean naval vessel, yes? This is what I am reading online.

The last time I thought about it - one nation firing upon and destroying another nation's ship is an all-out act of war.

We have become a bunch of wimps, neo-tards, lemonade-bleeding, politcally correct freaks. This isn't the world I grew up in, America is fast deteriorating from the ideals that I grew up with.

I'm not very happy with what I'm seeing in the world today.

But, I"m just a guy, a guy who spent a very long day at work and it's already time for this guy to go to bed.

ben

Wednesay/Dear Governor Janet Brewer

Dear Mrs. Brewer:
Although I fully stand behind your efforts to protect our border that runs along Mexico and I stand with you on the Arizona Immigration SB1070 bill, I will NOT be showing you the same backing for a "temporary tax".

There is NO such thing as a temporary tax. They come but they never go. Just take a look at income tax - which was labelled a temporary tax over 100 years ago. No, ma'am, I don't care if jobs are cut and services are also cut, the State of Arizona needs to learn the same fiscal responsibility as the inidividuals that live in the state have to. Simply turning to the tax generating machine every time you get into trouble is NOT something that I am prepared to live with and will DEFINITELY be voting NO on.

Thank you for your time, and please let us know how you are going to deal with this fiscal shortfall, because I seriously doubt too many Arizonans are much interested in paying yet MORE taxes.

Sincerely,
benb

Thank God that this tax is up for public vote is all I can say about that. It is amazing, however, how many people are actually behind this new tax attempt. They have been duped into thinkiing it MUST happen because of the threat of service cuts all over the state. All well and fine, but we are taxed ENOUGH. They will have to learn to make do with what they receive just as I have had to scrape and scrap through some very tough, personal economic times that have had me wondering at times whether I was going to be able to stay in my house, keep my car and other things. No, we ALL must pay the Piper in this case.

Anyway, I am at work this morning VERY early. It's 4:43 AM right now. I am to start at 5:00 AM. I have not looked into the truck routing system, but purportedly there is more in there to do than I will have hours in the day to do it with. Dunno.
Well I just took a look. NINE deliveries. This is semi truck's worth of stuff, we're not talking a UPS truck delivering single packages. You have to see the difference, to pull that much material for that many deliveries? Well, this will be a long, long day at work, I can tell you that. Now I see why I was wanted in earlier this morning.

Too bad I slept like junk last night :( Oh well, I've been through worse. Drink my coffee, slap myself in the face and get moving. I was supposed to meet up with this guy today to see his 5X8 pond - I don't think that will be happening now. Gonna have to call him later on and let him know my situation, I would REALLY like that big ole' pond. It will cost me no more in pumps than it is already going to cost me - or filters for that matter. My ponds are slowly clearing of algae - however - I don't want the water completely clear. I would like the birds to not be able to see those fish cruising around in there. I did get the shade up on the top of the posts, I did not get any on the sides. JUST short of enough material. It's okay, I have an idea : ) ........and no, it won't be costing me any money, just using what I have.

Let me also just comment on these "new sanctions" against Iran. They won't work. Does anyone seriously believe they WILL? If they had SERIOUS teeth to them, MAYBE, but when Russia and China are opposing big-time sanctions, it's not gonna happen.

Israel had something to say about that this morning on the news on the way to work. Look, I haven't heard them say:"Yes, we're going to engage in a pre-emptive strike" - but they might as WELL have said it without saying it. If you were Israel and you had a nation not too terribly far away making all the threats that that nation has made against your nation and then find out that nation is making bombs that could destroy your nation and thusly, carry out the threats they are making, what would you do? Sit around drinking tea and eating crumpets and wait for the nuke-tipped warhead to take your life out?

I didn't think so. Iran's posturing with all of these war-games is not going to stop a nation like Israel from taking out Iran's nuclear facilities, period. It's going to happen, folks, I believe it. Not necessarily against it, either, as long as it's contained to nuclear facilities and leaves the general population alone. Israel is well acquainted with war, has all the necessary tools and "machinery" they need and frankly, would never have to leave home to send off missiles that would take Iran's new toys out of any near-future action(okay, I'm guessing that Israel has the necessary missiles and technology to simply send them sailing over there without a single of their airplanes having to do much of anything).

Whatever. It plays out as it plays out. Meanwhile, the female tenant is watching some friend's home. The friend is giving her $50 per day to do it. I think she said the friend has like 11 dogs, and cats and birds and horses and all kinds of stuff - she will definitely be earning her pay over there. I was somewhat surprised that she came home yesterday to pay me that week's rent. I will not turn it down, either, simply because she won't be there (as many people seem to think in renting rooms, they aren't there so they shouldn't have to pay) doesn't mean she is not occupying the room.

The trailer tenants called yesterday and were also very concerned about keeping that trailer, notwithstanding the fact that it sounds like he may be another week off from coming back. I gave him some peace on that subject, I wasn't out shopping for new trailer tenants and after those people leave - whenever that may occur who knows - I probably won't be looking to refill the thing with more bodies.

Work day is here, I must be about the company's business.

G'day.

ben

The Prescription For Your PC Problems

I was reading an article on AOL that had that title: The prescription for your PC problems.
They are advocating a "health care plan" - some sort of paid-in advance plan to have your PC under coverage for when something goes wrong.

Here is the list of potential problems:
"For example, here’s a list of computer repairs and tasks many people will do over the course of a year:

- Add a new printer
- Remove a virus
- Install and troubleshoot new software
- Improve your computer’s performance
- Add and configure a compatible device – for example, a scanner or webcam"

I'll take it from benb's perspective in order.

Add a new printer. Are you kidding? Adding a new printer is EASY, even if you don't get the software that comes with it. You can ALWAYS find the software online, it is a very simple process, I would NEVER pay to have this software installed.

Remove a virus. DEFINITELY something that has given me problems. There are lots of programs available online to scan your computer's memory and find viruses. I have Avast. Today, Avast stopped a Trojan Horse in it's tracks. It wanted to infect my computer, Avast said not and got rid of it without my having to do ANYTHING. Avast has changed it's modus operandi, apparently. It used to be a screen would come up and would ask you what you wanted to do with this virus, now it deals with it by itself, tells you that it dealt with it and that you have nothing further to do. BTW, Avast is FREE for home use.

I have had viruses in the past, however, that I could not do anything about. The first time, I paid a guy to come over and fix it. His fix? Reinstall Windows. I lost all of my data. I quickly learned how to reinstall Windows and all the software myself.

Install and Troubleshoot new software.
Well, if your new software is installed with a disc, you shouldn't HAVE to troubleshoot it. Usually, troubleshooting comes down the road when something happens to it. KEEP all of the discs that come with whatever you have installed. ALWAYS. When there is a problem that you can't fix, simply uninstall the software and then reinstall with your disc. Simple, effective and free.

Improve your computer’s performance
Look, if you have a computer, you are going to have to learn how to do this on your own. Do you want to pay to have someone come out every week? I didn't think so. Yet, I meet people that have computers, have had them a long time and yet know nothing about deleting the history/cache. They know nothing about running a defrag program. They don't know how to go through your programs and weed out junk that has automatically installed itself with other software that you installed. Or compress files. I learned through a lot of irritation, a LOT of time - at least hundreds of hours (I did not grow up with computers and learning how to deal with them was VERY irritating and STILL annoys me to this day, even though I can deal with any problem to whatever extent I have to deal with it effectively and efficiently at this point) and now have some experience how to get the thing to run at the same speed when you first install the Windows software.

I still get messed up at times. My recent ordeal is proof. My computer started running VERY slowly and I went through every thing I knew what to do. This went on for weeks - I was at the point of reformatting the hard drive and reinstalling Windows. I could still USE the computer, so I uploaded onto internet sites my pic and videos I didn't want to lose, the rest of it I didn't care. I could have simply attached all that stuff to an email and then downloaded it to my computer again after the fact - but I didn't have to. I had forgotten to do an internet speed test. After doing half a dozen, it was obvious the problem: my Qwest provider was giving me LESS than ONE megabyte per second of delivery versus the 7 I am paying for. I hate myself sometimes, lol. WHY didn't I do that to begin with? A lesson I won't be forgetting anytime soon, I'll tell ya that.

- Add and configure a compatible device – for example, a scanner or webcam
The computer configures this stuff for you, you don't have to know html code or whatever to install a scanner of a webcam. The experts have made computers relatively easy to use. They HAVE to, they know people like me are using them. I don't WANT to learn all of that stuff. I shouldn't have to, a computer - computes - it should be able to do that junk itself........and it does!!!

Take the time to learn. Trial and error if nothing else. That's what I did - for a long time -yes. I did it because I can't pay $100 or more every time the thing starts acting up. I wouldn't be able to OWN a computer if that were true. If you are a total novice like me - even if you have been using computers for years and years, the VERY least you should learn is how to back up your files and how to reformat your computer and reinstall Windows. Installing Windows is actually pretty easy once you get beyond the "boot" issues - how to get to the installation process while the computer is booting.

Just make sure you keep your copy of Windows in a safe place where you know you can find it. There is nothing more disconcerting than to sit in front of a useless computer and not be able to revive it. You CAN learn, you don't HAVE to go to school to do it, and you definitely don't HAVE to pay ANYONE to fix your problems.

Tuesday Final

I must admit I am looking for a much larger, pre-formed pond to seal the deal on this setup.
I don't have to admit to anyone that has read me for a while that I am looking for very, very cheap.
My thinking: It will be a long, long time before I can afford the big, liner-formed pond that I want. It is just out of reach right now and I don't see any changes anytime soon.
Well, I may have struck gold-dirt.
I put an ad on for one. Nothing hurts to try. There is one guy that has had 2 ads on CL - Craigslist - forever. He only recently came down by $20 on one pond with a waterfall. He's WAY out of touch. People simply aren't getting that much money for that stuff on CL.
The other ad? At least 1,000 gallons worth of ponds and filters and pumps and tubing - he wants $500 for all of it.
Again, it may be worth a LOT more than that, but - no-one is biting. We are in a recession. What you might have got for something 2-1/2 years ago doesn't apply today. It simply doesn't. People know that there are far better deals, people will wait.

I am one such person. I have written this guy twice now, he is unrelenting. Not a problem, but he does have a pond I would LOVE to have. It is a HUGE pre-formed pond.

However, I would be just as happy with a pond that is at least 8 feet by 5. That is what I advertised for and that is one response out of several that I got. I talked to this man today: $35. This is a STEAL for a pond that big. I am going to takealookatit tomorrow. He does NOT have it advertised on CL, which is a big plus. He just saw my items wanted ad and contacted me and even offered to bring it over - for a price. No thanks, I'll come get it.

My manager called this afternoon. Apparently the place blew up (not literally of course) on both Monday and today. He wants me in and starting work at 5:00 am tomorrow, a full hour before my normal log-in time. If I could say I have a problem with that, I would. I don't. I don't really care how early anyone wants me to start. I have worked all night long many, many times over. I have started jobs at 1:00 am; 2:00 am - etc. I never complained about it and I never will. Getting up early has been a part of my life for 3 decades now. When something becomes a way of life, it isn't an issue.

Frankly, I would far rather start early than working late. Right now? Starting early AND working great would be great!

Trailer tenant dude finally called. Yes, he is still in the hospital. He isn't - well I hope you aren't eating now - crapping. His continual reference to that was more than I wanted to hear, once would have been enough, thank you. He informed me he had the money for last week's rent in his wallet and that his girlfriend would be getting the rest by tomorrow.

I'm taking it they are really wanting to have a place to live that doesn't have the continual threat of throwing them out.

I have not done that with them, even when they couldn't pay the $25 per week they are required to pay - which, actually - they managed to pay back. Even homeless people can come up with $25 per week, TRUST ME, they can. These 2 people do NOT want to be homeless. I opened up my property and bought a travel trailer for them to live in. When they leave, I will sell the trailer. When will they leave? I have no clue, but unless they start engaging in activities that are extremely stupid, agitating and irritating to me, or just plain unethical or immoral, I won't be asking them to leave. I don't really care. I have lived my life in attempting to help people however I can, that won't change any time soon. Unless, of course, I die, then all bets are off : )

I have learned, however, to pass by those that are asking for help but - you see that they want a continual handout. Lazy, unmotivated and unwilling. I will give such people food because I believe the Lord would have me do that, but beyond that, nothing. Leave that up to God. And them. There is a 2-way street with God, I believe anyway. You have to act when action is necessary and prudent. From my ample experience, God requires action on our parts in any and every instance. WHAT action, can't tell you that = YOU KNOW what action needs to be taken, or you will be guided into it. I can say that for a fact. Or you might just "feel" that taking a certain step is the right way to go. Yes, probably it's the Lord though the Holy Spirit giving you that urging. Whatever the case, I have found, YOU must ALWAYS take a step. And sometimes - or many times - that first step is painful. It is HARD to do. It is almost out of your realm of engagement. That is where God - however He does it - helps you. I can't say how He will help you because He is God and I am not. I am a mere mortal. I have seen a thousand ways of how He works, He undoubtedly has limitless ways that He works in people's lives.

I am not sorry for the mini-sermon, I felt compelled for some reason to write that, therefore, I believe it will fulfill the purpose that was intended of which - I have no clue. No-one can ever really say: "That is how God works". I have said it and look back and realize what a dumb statement that is. The Creator can work anyone He wants, and He does!! And oftentimes, we don't realize what's going on until it's happening! "Hey, that's GOD at work!" Wow!! I am dead serious - this is not a mocking session in case you are wondering. God is truly AMAZING!!

Edited: My Hyacinth - Floating Water Plant, Eichhornia Crassipes - Water hyacinth - elucidated because there is non-water/floating/earthbound Hyacinth that is also beatuiful, but doesn't grow in water - is growing like CRAZY!! I acquired 3 of those plants and all 3 of them are shooting out new branches/leaves. 1 of them already has 4 new leaves either coming out or already out! Crazy. The guy that sold them to me - for $2 per plant - said they collect the junk in their roots and keep your water clean. Yes, they float and they have huge root systems floating under them or even beside them. And yes, they collect junk!! Several of the water lillies are also putting out new leaves and the other plants are doing the same.

This puts me a little at ease: I have spent some time in acquiring all of that. When they grow "normally" they will take over the ponds and I will have to get rid of some of it. I look forward to that day. I want the lillies to cover 80% of the ponds.


That is all.

ben

Napolitano Admits To Not Reading SB1070

Another mindless, mouthy, arrogant, crass and stupid politician, Janet Napolitano (do NOT confuse that name with Arizona's Governor: Janet Brewer), has admitted that she has NOT read the Arizona Immigration bill, even though she has HARSHLY criticized it.

We have idiots running our nation.

I don't know how else to put it.

Pics are not in order! Oh well. End of project - make sure dogs are out of east side of house and gate is closed. I had wondered, when I set up that fence, whether I would hate having had put it up in the long run. Definitive answer: NO!! I LOVE that fence and gate, one of the best ideas I have had. The dogs are not getting into stuff as much as they used to, but still.

Not yet finished product.

Ummm, if don't want the sides of your cement to look craggly and stupid, you must tap it all the way up and down for a while - tap the wood that is holding it that is, so the concrete comes flush with the wood.

My exercise in tapping continued.

When mixing concrete, be SURE you know where you are going to do your cleanout - that is, washing out your wheelbarrow and whatever tools you used - BEFORE you mix the first bag of cement. I learned that a LONG time ago.

Click on the pic for larger view, you might be able to see the rather large goldfish.

Remember to close the gate! I had the 2 bags of "Crack resistant concrete" out front. 80 pound bags.

Told ya this wasn't in order and I didn't feel like making it so. This IS the finished product. I will be putting some sort of "wall" on the sides of this cement - the whole point is to have a waterproof set up. If water DOES somehow get in the rocks and down to the bottom, it won't be going into the ground, it will be going back into the pond. I have a plastic liner that I will be putting on that concrete that will overlap into the pond. The first large rock will actually jut out from the front of the concrete and, of course, water will spill into the pond. I may have 2 rocks together, who knows? I'm not at that part yet!

I'm very glad that I happened to buy 2 bags of cement to start this project. I was only going to get one. That is one bag of cement in there, definitely not enough cement.

Bag 2.

Back to the first mix!

Initial layout and getting prepared to mix the first bag.

Another view of the layout. Perfection wasn't necessary since it will be blotted out of view in the end, therefore, perfection was not acquired (but close enough!).

Pic before I started doing anything.

Just a pic of where I was going to place the waterfall.

BTW, SRP called me yesterday after I sent them a request about all the info I needed on their easement. The lady went right into "I don't know WHERE you got the idea that there is a 25 foot easement on the back of your property, cause' sir, there isn't one THAT big". I had corrected myself anyway - I remember they told me it was a 20 foot easement, not 25 feet. The 25 foot easement is on the front of the property imposed by the city, the 20 foot easement is on the back of it, imposed by the utilities.

Now, I AM sure I was told it was a 20 foot easement when I first started looking into putting another house onto this property.

The corrected version? 8 feet. That's 12 more feet of MY property that I can use for whatever. A 300 sqare foot casita on the southeast side of my property with a good sized pond "lapping up" in front of it would be awesome. Yes, I would live in it. If I really wanted to go as far with it as I may have to anyway, that master bed and bathroom of mine could be rented out.

However, I really have no intentions of renting out more than 3 rooms of my house at any given time. At the same time, that room setup could be rented out and I could have another, smaller bedroom as my "inside" place. Just thoughts for the future: I have no money whatsoever to even think about beginning a project such as this. It would cost thousands of dollars to build what I have in mind, even IF I did all the work myself. Just getting the permits from the city would undoubtedly be a pain in the rear. Everything has to be inspected and signed off by the city as you move along with such a project. If they don't like something you did, you have to do it over. I would have to have professionals do the slab cause' I wouldn't want to have to do THAT over. A 15X15 guest house, basically, with a small porch.

Hey, if I'm stuck here for years on end I'm going to work towards making this place a dream home, even if it never really will ever attain that status, at least for me.

It WAS a big sigh of relief to hear SRP telling me, after looking at the plans of my property, that it is only an 8 foot easement, not 20 or 25 feet. Were that there was no easement at all, but I can deal with 8 feet. It will allow me to make my future, large pond the size that I want it to be instead of having to cut size because of space constraints.

That's it.

ben

Final Day

As I had thought - after I had already asked for the time off - I should have asked for 3 days off instead of two.
Well, huge deal - I can deal with a 3-day work week. Sometime soon is Memorial Day Weekend and that will be 3 days off as well.

Regardless, I am headed over to a Maricopa County location in southwest Phoenix in a little while to get some Mosquito fish - free. I like the free stuff, lol. These things eat flies, apparently. A pond can be a breeding grounds for mosquitos - but not if there are little fishies in the pond that like to eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'll only need 2 per pond, I'm thinking, every says they multiply in numbers quickly.

The cement for my posts has still not dried yet, I can't really finish that little project until that cement is set.

First pic: At the bottom is where I have finally determined to put the waterfall versus at the "top" of the ponds where you see some large rocks situaited.

Pic 2: I just got back from the County building - which is nestled in the midst of the Durango jail system which is also where Sheriff Joe Arpaio hangs out, lol. They gave me about 20 of the mosquito eaters for free. They do not need to be fed, the instructions say they will find all the food they need in mosquitos attempting to hatch larvae in the ponds themselves. I do NOT want mosquitos taking over my side yard. Apparently these little fish are VERY efficient in eliminating any problems. I saw a bunch of flies on the surface of the water this morning which got me moving a little faster to go and get these free fish. The pic is the lower pond - the green is clearing out quickly. I put some algae killer in there yesterday. The bottom of the pond is a bit dirty - got dirt and sand in there in my construction operation and may or may not clean it out. It's only natural for a pond to have dirt in it, yes?

Pic 3: From "above" the ponds, a view of where the waterfall is going to go. This is a learn as I go type of deal here.

Pic 4: Just another pic of where I was going to have the waterfall. Although I came to the conclusion on my own that it was not an ideal location for one, I was reading yesterday that you really want to situate the falls wherever you are going to be sitting or standing to view them. The new location is ideal for that.

Pic 5: A bit more broader of view of the posts I installed yesterday and STILL waiting for the cement to dry. Hopefully soon I can put the shade screen on it. Going to try to make it look nice, not junky, not sure how that will turn out.

That's that. It was cool out last night to the point that the pond water was very cool this morning. The goldfish are terrified of me. When I walk up to the pond the go hiding. Just trying to feed them, not kill them!

I am sort of taking my time on this waterfall project. I was in a hurry to get it done for the cooling effect it will have on the water, but, the more information I gather, the more I have a better idea of how to do this thing. For example, I had thought that I better build the waterfall first - before cementing it or anything, make sure it's how I want it and then - take it all back apart and go ahead and start the "real" construction of it.

I then read yesterday online that if you don't put it together first before making it permanent, you are likely to regret that action. yes, well we don't want to go regretting things in life, do we? I have enough regrets in human personal interations, thank you, don't need any more, such as putting something together with cement and then realizing I am going to have to take it apart again to fix whatever I may have done wrong in the first place.

Another thing I learned was to make sure the fall plates are perfectly level or the effect you are attempting to gain is not going to work. Good advice.

Onto a few other items. The trailer tenants are nowhere to be found, but their stuff is still in the trailer. He had major surgery, I'm assuming he is either still in the hospital or perhaps they found a place to be put up temporarily while he is recuperating. Dunno, really, haven't heard from them. The female tenant is gone for the week. The temp guy paid up another week in advance and was hinting at possibly staying until the end of the month. He is a very reserved, quiet individual and chooses to keep to himself, which is fine, I have no idea what his situation is but I will guess that he's looking for a room to rent somewhere and apparently is taking his time about it. Fine by me, I need the additional funds from that room.

Have put off cleaning the carpet in the living room only because I simply don't feel like doing it - cleaning it that is. Work tomorrow - not a bummer just would have liked a little more time off and have only myself to blame. I'm sure they would have given it to me if I would have asked. A full week off is really what I'm thinking now, I have plenty of hours for it. Michael IS in school now. He has been for a couple of weeks. It's a "special" school - basically for kids that get themselves thrown out of regular high schools. 3-1/2 hours a day. That's all it is. I have taken him there a few times including yesterday, did so to actually ensure that he IS going to school and not making it up.

Whatever the hours, it's better than nothing which he has been doing for quite a while now. He is not staying here permanently per his own words. I'm not sure why he is here after hearing him say that, assuming the situation at home is a bit tough to deal with in thinking about having to live with all of those people. They do not have internet, or possibly they do but I know the computer is old and it is very slow. The creature comforts here are probably a LOT better than there. I have made no attempts whatsoever to either encourage him to stay or to leave, I'll leave that up to him.

As for now, well, I want to lay out the form to pour concrete and get that footer poured if at all possible.

G'day.
ben

Staycation

Day 3, tomorrow the final day.
Not an extended deal and frankly, I am asking for at least 3 work days off next month or the month after. Time off is a GOOD thing. I have the rest of today and tomorrow and then back to work on Wednesday.

This morning, I went to work. Installed all 4 posts in the ground with post-hole cement. Won't be able to do anything more on that until the cement is completely dried. I then started situating the rocks on the lower pond. A waterfall can be on either the upper or lower pond, a pump supplies the waterfall with it's water, therefore, where you place it is irrelevant.

I changed the location because my first location simply was too cramped for room.
I could not, however, decide how to construct, even though I have spent many hours looking at pics and thinking about how I want to do it. I think I have finally decided how I want to do it and in the morning I will beging what looks to be a rather long process of building the thing. Simply because it will be built at one level at a time. The first thing I am going to do is pour a small concrete slab.

Of course, it will be at least 24 hours after that before I can do anything else, and the "anything else" will be to ........

wow, I'm glad I started writing this out. I just got another idea that will eliminate a step and will work much better. Thank you, diary!

Okay, I will line the sides of the slab with pavers instead of removable wood and those pavers will stick up, above the level of the concrete. That will constitute the bottom of my falls and will be a catch basin for any water that might leak through the deal. However, I intend on leakproofing it in 3 separate ways to ensure I am not losing water into the ground.

The reason this seems complicated - which it really isn't - is simply that I have never done this before. A pro could undoubtedly outline all of this to me in a few minutes - but then again - pro's don't want to give away their knowledge, mostly.

I put all 4 fish into the upper pond. Had no choice. Dunno what's with the lower one, maybe not deep enough is my guess - both fish in there were just laying on the bottom and doing nothing. I had to go buy a net to catch them and move them. Which was a good thing - the net is very closely woven - I am skimming the top of the water with it as well to got floatees out. I think smaller fish will work in that pond - less oxygen requirements.

Suns V Lakers is starting right now. No-one in their right mind would think that this is going to be an easy game tonight against the "almighty" Lakers. Yet, it would also be foolish to write off the Suns. It will hopefully be a good, close game.

Definitely blew the diet today. Kung Pao Chicken. How many calories? I have no clue. No caloric definitions given. Lots of rice - not so bad - but the main dish itself? I just have no clue what is in the sauce they put on there, I assume by default calorie laden. I also had some soup. It will be the extent of my eating today - along with 2 slices of bacon this morning. I say that a staycation deserves SOMETHING in exchange for not going anywhere. It would be a nice touch if the Suns could somehow pull off a win.

I've taken a long break from this post. I was seeing the water level going down on the lower pond for several days now, so I took the pumps out of it (no fish in there, plants don't care) and put them in the upper level. That makes them 2 separate ponds instead of one flowing into the other. NEITHER pond losing water. So what's the deal? The only possible answer is the overhang of the upper pond over the lower which feeds the water into the low. I have 2 pumps in the lower feeding back into the upper.

I was looking at the plastic overhang - pointed upwards. Probably meaning water going back to the upper pond out of it's outlet - but, of course, on the BOTTOM of the pond and into the ground.

This is easily remedied, which has already been done: put a large rock on the edge of the overhang to force the plastic down instead of up. Does it work? No idea, I'm letting this 2 separate pond situation go overnight to confirm my observations. I am not building a waterfall over a pond that is leaking.

Suns are getting their butts kicked on game 1. I mean, a veritable roasting. The game is a few minutes from over. Suns gave the Spurs a 4 game tidal wave, I hope we aren't in the for the same.

Whatever the case, it's getting late (for me) and I am tired of this game, but it's almost over - better come up with a different idea or we are going to see the Suns 2010 post-season - history.

G'night.
ben

Fish

So, I went and got some pretty good-sized gold fish from a person that has a pond in Sun Lakes.
He was giving them away. He had both Koi and goldfish, I would have liked to have gotten at least 1 Koi - but when I got to his house, another person was already there that also wanted Koi. They were hiding big-time. The owner greeted me and stated that they were not coming out and blamed it on Herring that were flying in and eating the fish.

I did not bother to correct the man - Herring is a fish; Heron is the bird that flies around these parts eating fish out of people's ponds. If you don't believe me, you are welcomed to look it up and correct me if I am wrong.

Regardless, the fish, over the years, had multiplied and he wanted to get rid of some of them to individuals. I've seen Koi going for big bucks. He has 24" inch "plus" sized Koi that he could have sold for a good deal of money. Not. Just wanted to give them out, big heart, nice guy, reminded me of myself in many of my dealings. Koi simply were not available - how he is going to catch them I don't know, cause' they must have a 6th sense and where they were hiding? NO way to get them out of there excepting on their own free will.

Well, the goldfish were not near as skittish, he asked me if I would be happy with them instead? Of course. They're FREE, that's a nice language. 2 ducks walked up on his sidewalk entrance to his home - through a partition no less - wanting their daily feeding. Funny creatures.

Anyway, I ended up with 4 very good sized fish. Not TOO big. I put 2 in each pond and came to regret that decision. For whatever reason, the lower pond isn't "nice" to the fish. The upper pond, yes. They all went into immediate shock, however, which sent me scurrying to the place I love to hate: Walmart - for some stuff that does whatever it does to help fish adapt to new environments. I put that stuff into both ponds and within 15 minutes, the fish in the upper pond were scurrying about as if nothing ever happened, the fish in the lower pond, however, were just sitting there, looking rather lifeless. One of them was hovering on a shelf - I decided to put my 5 gallon bucket in there and see if I could catch him. Easy. Dumped him into the other pond. About an hour later he was scurrying about with his buddies. I could not catch the other one in the lower pond, he was hiding out on the bottom and I do not have a fish net - yet. Hopefully he survives the night, I will catch him tomorrow and all of them will be in the one pond that IS deeper and has more swimming space.

I have 4 holes dug out for posts and I will be putting in the posts tomorrow to keep the sun off of the ponds. It's not even 100 degrees yet and they weren't getting warm, but you could feel the temp of the water going up. It will take longer to get the waterfall installed. I FINALLY decided where to put the thing. Actually, I will have 2 falls. One will be larger than the other. I need the second to house the "bio-filter" setup - it will be just large enough to have an enclosure for it where I can slide it in and out for cleaning purposes.

I am going to also have to get some stuff to get rid of excessive algae. I have acquired lillies from some ponds that were totally green - I don't want green ponds. They don't have to be totally clear, but I want to be able to see into them. The point is that algae is all over those plants and it is starting to cloud the water.

My small ponds will have different treatment requirements, I am guessing, than much larger ponds. I have that UV filter, but it's missing the part that makes it work and I cannot order a new replacement. I have seen several ponds now that have very little algae problems by having the water travel through such a filter.

Tired. Time to go to bed.

G'nite.

ben

Apparently...........

........I have several Blogger accounts. I reset defaults for Explorer, which comletely cleared my cached history, which left me wondering just WHICH password it is to gain access to THIS account. I don't even remember starting up those other blogger accounts, which only have a few posts on them anyway. Well, whatever, just that this account is linked with a totally different email account that I never use - but am glad I still have or I wouldn't have found any way whatsoever to get back HERE! Anyway, I'm going outside in a bit to start work on the waterfall.

Strike that, I'm going to Home Depot in a bit to get cement to bring back here to start work on the waterfall. Let me also add here that WHERE I am going to put the waterfall is up in the air at this point. I had one place set to put it, but I felt that it possibly would not have enough room - so - I may be sitting out there, looking at these ponds and wondering just where AM I going to build this thing? Not sure yet. Where I had wanted to put it would be the best place, yes, so I am at least going to attempt to do a model/practice run and see if I can get it in that space and still have the effect I am lookng for.




Hopefully that video successfully uploads and yes, they were all giving permission to take pics of their property, I took this video right in front of the guy that owns the place, so no infringement going on here. What I liked about this guy's pond was the depth. Many ponds I am seeing online and the other 2 I saw yesterday besides this person's pond are at a depth of 2-1/2 to 3 feet. This pond is at 4 feet. I believe the water will stay cooler in the summer with extra depth. He had also built that above ground feature and yes,there were HUGE Koi in there, probably can't see them in the video.

What I saw dispelled the myth that I must have at least 3 feet deep pond to have koi. That above ground thing was maybe a couple of feet deep at best. No, the statement is that depth is good for keeping Heron away from eating your fish. This man stated he lost several fish last year, the first place I went to the man there stated they had lost up to 25 fish to Heron last year as well.

The place that lost 25 fish simply did not restock fish for a while until the Heron decided to go fish in greener pastures. I didn't even know Heron was a problem in these parts. I think those are those tall birds with long, spindly legs, yes?

I didn't really like the set up of this guy's pond in this video - I mean, it looked really nice and all and I definitely complimented them on the great job they had done, but, it isn't the design I am looking for. If I had enough room on my property, I would build a pond with an island in the middle. The island would have a gazebo type of setup with a table and benches and of course a BBQ grill. It would also have a misting system and overhead fan to move air around in the summer.

I don't have near that much room, but, I can put a setup like that on one side of the potential pond. Not quite the effect I will want, but it will work well regardless.

Where am I going to get the money to build a gazebo, you say? Who knows. Not even in the offering right now, just a long-term goal. I am stuck on this property for a long, long time as far as I can see, might as well continue to develop it and make it as appealing to any potential buyers as possible. This is not my dream house, it is better than nothing, but certainly not my idea of a retirement home or something. It is a starter home, that's all it is. It is FHA financed and qualified, which makes it easier for any potential buyer to get a loan on it though FHA instead of conventional loans.

The fact that I live in an area that was one of the hardest hit in referring to the housing collapse - housing values are not going to come back up any time soon. Homes are being short-saled all over the place which are bringing property values down even more. Home owners that are NOT walking away from their homes are getting pretty upset about it and understandably so. If you live in a neighborhood where all the homes are around $250,000 and then some person that lives in one of them can't make the payments and decides to short sale, what does that do to your property value? Well, if the house is sold for low 100's it reduces everyone else's property values substantially. I've seen them going even MUCH lower than that - 50's 60's even at auction.

Okay, now, you have all the rest of the property owners living around that house considering walking as well, even if they can afford the payment. The value of their house just plummeted 100k or more, they now owe a LOT more than the house is worth, bye bye. People are doing this all over the place. Short saling may help the distressed home owner but it totally SCREWS everyone else with the comps in any given neighborhood.

Where does it end? Well sooner or later it WILL end. When? Who knows. When jobs come back would be a good guess. OAD (Obama Administration) thinks everything is starting to look peachy and rosy now.......sure, if you're rich, sitting in the White House and are basically unaffected by financial problems. This has always been one of my biggest complaints with everyone that is sent to Washington: They are ALL rich, they have NO basis to connect with the common man or woman who is NOT rich and struggling to make it, which there are a LOT more of those than rich people. I do not envy them or hold it against them that they are wealthy, that's not the point: the point is they see things through very different sets of eyes in terms of perspective than someone like me that is basically living paycheck to paycheck.

Back to my own point: My house is not worth as much as the mortgage that is on it. It's about a 30k difference in being upside-down. I could easily walk from this place. There are plenty of houses that allow dogs that are available right now for rent - I've seen them going as low as $600 per month. I wouldn't need tenants, I could live all by my lonesome and have my privacy back. BUT, figure a good 10 years at least before I would EVER be able to get into a house again. That's a LONG time and I will be starting to get old by then.

Therefore, I am stuck here by my own decision. What would make this property very cool is if I could acquire 1 of the properties on either side of me or even behind me. One property has no house on it at all. The "houses" to the east and west of me are old, junky mobile homes. Having the property to do with what I want would be the point. Get rid of the junky mobiles, clear it out and build an oasis there instead.

Money, obvioiusly, constrains me from doing anything like that. It probably always will be an issue in my life, I have just learned to deal with it and not go around whining and complaining about it. If the good Lord ever sees fit to send some dough my way, then all bets are off.

Regardless, this posting has waxed long and I want to get up to Home Depot.

G'day.

ben

Pond Revisited

Yes, well I will be visiting the pond situation frequently.

I carried the large rocks I acquired from Miami in the rock yard up there into the side yard and placed them next to the pond.

Enough? No. But couple those rocks with some of the larger rocks I acquired from the side of the road near Superior plus the large rocks I have been unearthing for quite some time every time I plant a plant or dug out the holes for these ponds?

I just might have enough. Construction will begin tomorrow. Acquisition of the block I need for a retaining wall will occur tomorrow morning early and the cement. This is cheap stuff here. There will be block right next to the pond as well. I can put the rather large and heavy boulder that I intend to use as the final falls on the block instead of the plastic liner for the overhang that will have water pouring into the upper pond.

I really don't want to drive clear anywhere for any more rocks and I am fairly certain I can make this work. In fact, I have determined that if I have to, I can use ALL of the rocks I got from the side of the road near Superior. Why not? Sooner or later, I will get to go up north again in the semi and I can just stop on the side of the road again, using break time to do it, and gather up another trailer box full of rocks. No special trip in the car up there, mission will be accomplished. Getting a waterfall built is far more important right now than having rocks lining the sides of the ponds. The waterfall will create a cooling effect on the water, rocks sitting on the side of the pond will do no such thing.

Arizona Immigration SB 1070 - New And Alarming Information

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/23438021/index.html

Watch the video at that link. It's a news station out of Atlanta doing a story on the kinds of people that are crossing OUR border in ARIZONA. Names of people? From Iran; Yemen; Afghanistan; the Hezbollah; Egypt; Iraq; Pakistan and the Sudan.

Does ANY of this alarm you at all? Nations that sponsor or support terrorism.

THIS kind of reporting puts a TOTALLY new face to this border issue. Terrorists entering our country from what amounts to a virtually unprotected border? And the Feds KNOW about this? And have done virtually NOTHING to stop it?

Excuse my language before I even write it, but this is total BULLSHIT!!

Ponds

Went to 3 houses. I had no desire to fight heavy, Saturday traffic all over the place, 3 was enough. The first house was absolutely incredible. They had a HUGE back yard filled with mature, very tall trees. The ponds were incredible as well - though they didn't do the work themselves. These were very rich people, very nice too, not dissing their wealth, but they were well out of my "league".

Not that I won't end up with a somewhat similar situation on my property - in about 10 years after the trees and plants mature, but I got some great ideas not only for ponding but also about trees. I had no idea an Australian Bottleneck tree could survive and thrive here. They also has very tall Ash - beautiful trees, only problem with them is they require a lot of water. The shade effect, though, is pretty awesome. I could see 3 or 4 of those bottle trees around my property. Mostly, my property has Sissoo trees, a very hardy tree that can withstand the Arizona temps since they do come from India.

I would like to now acquire some different looking trees - saplings - and get them going. I think those bottlenecks would be the perfect touch. They take years to grow, of course, but - you have to start somewhere. I got the Sissoos because they grow SO fast.

I am definitely going to take some of the seed pods on those other trees that are growing here naturally, plant them in pots and get a dozen or so of those going as well. Another tree I have growing has literally hundreds of pods on them right now, that will be a mess to clean up when they finally fall off of the tree.

I just got through putting in a request to SRP to show me the dimensions of the easement they have running through my back yard. Also asked what, if anything, I can do on that easement. I also asked if I can put a portion of a pond on there - well away from their underground lines. I will need that space to have the kind of pond I want. I imagine they are going to want to come out and look at the situation to assess the situation.

As for the pond I want, I am beginning to formulate in my mind how I want it. I will be in the planning stages of it for a long time, I'm sure. I spoke with some individuals today that had started a pond and then ran into a lot of problems. They had not researched everything out in advance. I am not one to jump into something like that without doing a LOT of research and finding out what other's had for problems. There really are a lot of things to take into consideration before taking the first shovelful out of the ground.

I was put at ease with the plastic liners they use - apparently they are so thick that they are very resistant to leakage. One pond setup had been there for 12 years with that plastic material and the owner said he hadn't experienced any leaks at all. Another had been there 15 years - though they used the rubber stuff - I think that's a lot more expensiive. What will put this project off for quite a while is money - I must be able to purchase the liner, pump and filter at the very least before even thinking about actually starting this project. Plus, I want to deal with SRP - a government entity - which will probably take quite some time. Add on top of that acquiring a LOT more rocks and yes, I figure the setup will probably cost at least a grand the way I do things - on the cheap. However, in this kind of thing, you simply must do it right at the get-go.

Then there were the complaints from the pond owners that said they wished they would have done things diffently. One person didn't want shelves in their pond, but another did. He said it's a pain to have to put the plants on top of things from the bottom of his pond and if he had it to do over, he would have definitely put some shelves in. I'm going to spend time talking to as many pond owners as I possibly can to find out what they think they did wrong or should have done differently. I have my 2 little ponds in the interim, I will enjoy those and not attempt to rush into this thing.

As for my 2 little ponds, I am definitely going to put 4 posts into the ground and shade the ponds with nursery grade screen material. It will allow some sunlight through - the plants need that - but it will really stop the heat from building up in the ponds. Another thing one guy stated was that keeping the water moving is very important. He says he moves about an entire pond's worth of water every hour. Mine are doing about 2 full rotations, so I hope not to have to worry about that.

I am considering a trip to wherever tomorrow morning for my rocks. Haven't decided on that yet, I may do it on Monday as well.

As for the temporary tenant? - totally changing the subject but a very important topic for me at this point in time - he is staying at least another week, possibly until the end of the month. Meaning tomorrow I will be handed another $90 - and yes, that $90 is also going directly to the power card to be loaded onto my meter. I have heard that SRP has different plans that somehow save money, I will be calling them next week to find out more. Actually, that info is probably on their website, I'll just visit there instead. I am also intent on reading this 10 page Arizona Immigration SB1070 bill today. 10 pages isn't that much and I want to edumacate meself as to what, EXACTLY, the thing says.

ben