So today, the grumpy people owe rent. I don't see them making moves to leave, but it really doesn't take that long to put everything up and get a truck hooked up and pull it out of there.  Their entire attitude changed toward me when they - whatever, I'm not sure to be honest.  I guess because I won't mow lawns every 4 days?  Who does that?  I haven't actually "refused" in so many words, I just won't do it.  Every 2 weeks is more like it. 

But, I was out there yesterday on the riding mower.  I got the doggy park, the Hipcamp area, most of the older couple's yard done and a huge swatch behind the west side trailer cut down.  I won't cut near the trailers for fear a rock will spurt up at one of them and then I'm stuck with another window bill or worse, fixing someone's vehicle.  Hoping the rain holds off today and I can cut again.  It wasn't even 2 weeks ago that I cut out there, but it is growing pretty good again. 

I was amazed the riding mower did so well on wet grass.  The push mower get all clogged up with wet grass after rain like that  

I don't see them - grumpy people - making any moves - yet - to pack up and leave.  They were talking about moving over to Longview with some other folks, but allegedly decided to stay put.  That because my park is much closer to the dude's work.  She, however, makes more money doing Doordash over in Longview than in our town.  I don't want them to leave, I'm just bracing myself in case they do.  If they stay as long as they originally said they were, they will be there into next year.  

People were driving through yesterday checking out the park.  They waved, I knew they didn't belong there but I don't mind if people want to take a look to decide if they want to come or not for long term. There are a couple of people that are definite maybes.  Shrugs shoulders, just doing the best I can and trying to get the most money I can out of any given deal without going beyond what anyone else is charging in the region.  

Weight is down this morning to 212 - with my clothes on.  That is a massive improvement over what it's been at.  I'm going to stay on keto all the way up to the trip and then - very likely - cheat for the full 5 days.  Not way overboard cheating, but I'm not going to restrict others from eating whatever they want simply because I want to stay on a diet.  I won't go overboard because I don't want to have to spend 2 months getting off what I gained back.  I do, however, foresee pasta, potatoes and rice in my future, lol.

More days of no new reservations coming in.  It's strange how one day you get several calls and then for  a week or even several weeks you get nothing.  As of today, lot 7 is closed for any overnighters to see if these people are actually going to move in. No worries, I have lot 12 available if someone wants to make an online reservation.  

Anyway, in my quest to come up to speed with other parks, I found a drone with a camera for less than $60 at Harbor Freight. I haven't bought it yet, but I'm not going to wait forever for Google to update the satellite image of my property.  People look, they see a forest, they scratch their heads.  Most come to the conclusion that it must be a newer park, but this is what people are looking for.  A view of what they are contemplating coming to.  If I buy the thing, take the footage and post it online, will that guarantee more people coming?

Of course not. There are no guarantees on anything that I do making it guaranteed that people will come. But enough people ask about it to understand that this is part of what they are looking for.  

Every time I spend any money out of that business account, it's eating up my profits for myself.  We are getting near the end of that besides getting that drywall installed. And I don't feel much compulsion to do that at the moment for the only people really using the shed is a couple of people that like to use the toilet and several people using the coin op laundry.  But none of those people are overnighters, the crowd I've been trying to appeal to. 

I just have to face the reality that if someone wants an overnight spot in my area, they are going to the 2 top competitors first. If they are full, then I might get a call.  But I also know that if people looking for long term actually come to my park while being at one of those parks? They are going to contemplate moving to my place.  It's just getting them in my park to take a look that seems to be the problem. From the map, it apparently appears to be "way out of the way", when in reality, I'm closer to town than either of those 2 parks.  I'm just on the other side of town.  

Well, I am going to install that vanity and started trying to dry out the holes yesterday. I got stuck with a piece of wood in the way after going through 2 layers. It's at the bottom of the shed and my cutter went as far as the drill could go down before I got stuck.  I'll have to dig it out under there, drill a hole from the top down so I can tell where to cut and come up from the bottom.

Nope. Not doing that until that ditch dries up, it's been rain, rain, rain. It really shouldn't take long to get the installation in once I can get that hold drilled. the water line is already there for the toilet and I have the stuff for the sewer line.  I am probably missing something, I always am, but I don't go buying stuff until I get stuck on something. I will likely put a mirror up in there, I already have a ceiling light and getting that vanity done, I will probably move all of my tools out of the main shed.  

__________

I guess I'll wait?  Family members coming to visit in August, one is bringing their drone.  It's just that it's such a long time until August.  3 months.  I'm not sure I want to wait that long to get some aerial footage of the property.  

I uhh, was a bit apprehensive when I saw a headline of a "major airline" with pilots picketing.  Like what?  If it's American Airlines, I'm screwed.  Fortunately, it's United.  I have had my issues with American, but like I said in a prior post, they are the only ones that fly with a separate company but still under American out of GGG.  Parking there is free, or at least it was last time I parked there. 

I'm looking forward to this trip. My new piece of luggage arrived today, I like it.  Just the right size, I think.  I'll probably spend most of my time visiting with mom, a day spent with my son. Friends and I told the people at my house to expect a visit.  Nothing too long, but I do want to inspect the property.  I'm going to call AA to see about transporting my firearm.  I think it just has to be in a hard case and the ammo/magazine has to be in a separate box.  I think, if I recall correctly.  I really don't want to go without something for self-defense.  I don't live my life in fear, at the same time, you don't know when you're going to need the protection that a firearm will give you, especially in the Phoenix Metro area, gag.  My concealed carry is valid there, tho neither state requires one now.  

Anyway, I volunteered to pay for food for the wedding in August.  We found a great deal, but we need to verify it with the restaurant.  I also contacted a friend that manages a local outlet of a national, very popular chain restaurant (I am not mentioning the name since I don't really think it's such a great idea to give that info out on the web) about getting some chips and salsa?  "I got you".  She's so wonderful, she is really a great person.  I have given her bottles of wine, lots of them from an online venue, but she would have done that regardless.  I really believe that.  I have subsequently discontinued that wine subscription, it's money I don't need to spend and I can't really drink wine on Keto anyway. Far too many carbs. 

___________

I have no idea what their issue was. This is a very young couple, this dude was supposed to stay a month and never said anything about his girlfriend showing up and staying in the trailer all day long.  I got a notification on my phone so I looked. They went into the shed, went into the bathroom, aggressively shoved the shower curtain aside, looked into the shower - which is crystal clean, I can tell ya after bleaching it and scrubbing the entire thing down - and walked out saying stuff about it. 

If you don't like it, don't use it! They obviously have their own damn shower, this is the first time in 31 days that they've even looked in there that I know of. What, do they want to go in the shower stall and have sex? I don't get it.  I wouldn't hesitate to take a shower in that stall. It's clean, it's in good condition, it has hot and cold running water.  If you're looking for perfection, go stay at a damn Hilton Hotel.  Geeze.   

People will say the damndest things about you behind your back.  This boy is probably 18 years old, or 20, who knows, he's young.  I went over there yesterday to get the rent.  He is fully a foot shorter than me.  I don't give a hoarding hootness about his age, per se, but if you're going to talk trash, have the manhood to say it to the person's face. It's that or shut the hercules hondurans up.  He wouldn't say that nonsense to my face and apparently she won't either.  If you think you can do better, tell me about it! What would you differently? What do you think should be done to make it more appealing?  Maybe I should leave a comment box. People can leave anonymous comments. No, I can't do that in the shed since I have cameras.  

Nah, now that I think of it, that's just letting people take pot shots at me for no good reason.  There are other parks in the area, lots of them. If it's so damned bad, get the bleep out of my park and go to one of those parks. No, I won't say that to anyone, I'm just venting and getting some steam off of my chest.  I know, people will s***-talk businesses.  Even the best of them get trashed.  I knew this going into this. 

Whatever. Friday is over.  I went and got the parts to fix the leaking spigot at lot 12 and to install water line in the shed.  I should have bought a shut off valve for it too.  I didn't even think about it, I got a shut off valve to install at lot 12 and that sort of cancelled out the thought of another shut off valve out.  I will install shut off valves at every lot that ends up having 

 Took the dog for a nice long walk out in the back 15.  Addler enjoyed that thoroughly.  Back to the shed, I got the rebar pounded in through freshly drilled holes in the 8X8 board for steps.  It's just one step up but I put 2 of them side by side.  I now don't have to worry about wood slipping out from someone's feet and causing them to fall and hurt themselves. I am ever conscious about liability issues.  I would like to make it through the first year without making any claims, if at all possible and Lord willing, and hopefully have the premium reduced.   

I then used a can of the other insulation.  It works better, a lot better actually.  But the problem? I need to get some plastic sheeting to cover everything underneath where I'm applying it. Some of it falls on the floor and I just don't want to have to deal with that.  I don't really think it's going to take more than maybe 7 or 8 cans, tho.  I already did quite a bit.  I then started looking at the area where I'll need to drill a hole to install a drain pipe for the vanity.  I need a new hole saw, the one I have is done, shot, kaput.  I mean, there's no way around it, a hole must be drilled through the flooring.  

And then, with Addler laying on the floor in there, it started raining. Harder and harder until the sound was deafening.  Addler was clearly not liking it and as soon as it let up maybe half an hour later? I got him the SUV and took him home. No matter, I have to go buy more stuff.  Unfortunately.  The items listed above.  

I just got another call for long term.  He said he's calling around checking prices. Well, do that then, I thought, my prices are comparable to everyone else's, actually, I brought it down $25 just to get some people thinking about it.  He wants to take a drive through. Certainly! Drive through, see if it's something you might want to get involved with! He said yes, it sounds great.  Another person called as well, but her work requires her to have cabled internet.  Do you have Fidelity internet? No ma'am. I can have it if I want to shell out almost 7 thousand dollars, but I"m just a 14 space park and that is well beyond anything I"m willing to fork out just for the privilege of having internet service. 

I gave her some leads on a couple of parks in the area which do have Fidelity in their parks.  

Still, I have 2 potentials on the hook.  We'll see if we can reel them in. I can put one up immediately, another I can put up in 2 days.  The dude that called earlier is looking around so it didn't sound like he needed one right off the bat and I wasn't telling him he'd have to wait.  Only if he says yes, I want one of your lots will I do that.  IF he drives through all the places he calls, it is highly likely he will find mine the most appealing.  

I'm not speaking egotistically or patting myself on the back, this is what people tell me about my park whether they are long or short term.  

Whoops! and just now someone contacting me Facebook messenger off of one of my ads.  I haven't had this kind of inquiry going on in weeks.  Be nice if at least 2 of them would convert into long term.  Friday, a long term is moving out and lot 7 is available now.  I don't know about lot 2 - they said a month and that's today.  I misplaced his phone number, I'll have to catch him when he's home this evening.  

Oh. Well the lady that contacted me via Messenger is the same one that called earlier. She's literally calling every RV park in the entire area.  She must have struck out with the 2 top competitor parks, they stay busy.  They fill up with long term oil/energy workers and they stay full. The other parks probably don't have cabled internet.  She is striking out.  I mean, if she wants to shell out 8 grand for internet I'd be happy to help her, lmao.  

I finally met the people that moved in next door. I had never seen them and they have been there several weeks now.  A much older lady, very sweet.  She was out back, they don't go out front.  

Thankfully just remembered to cancel autoship with Chewy.  I have 6 bags of dog food in the pantry already, I don't need any more for a couple of months. And another subscription that I remembered to get rid of - that I am not using.  I've been cleaning house on expenditures for a couple of months now.  It's this - I don't have a full time job - thing and attempting to make it with the money I'm getting from the park, for a while longer anyway.  

I'm happy to get this money that was given to me - but I don't want to waste it on normal, monthly bills.  If I have to do that, that means I need to get a job.  Not, I just want to protract my time away from trucking.  I do want to do that, admittedly, but if my expenses are not being met by the RV park, then it's time to do something different.  

dirt work $1,071.42  15,000

, gravel  $2,000         28,000

, septic  $500               7,000

, power,  $2,500        35,000

water  $714.28          10,000

sewer lines. $714.28  10,000

$6,999.98

Above is just using this to write stuff down. I called the bank and spoke with the VP for quite a while and then ended up in his office.  We talked about the RV park but then we went on to discussions about AZ and a variety of other things. Very personable man.  Gave me a packet of stuff to fill out, explained all of it and that was that.  So, there it is. A packet of stuff yet again to fill out. This time, I have no idea whether I will qualify, what with all the credit card debt. 

The flip side is that they would be giving me a total of $189,000 loan on a property that is worth, IMO, around 400k .  They could easily sell that property off for what is owed on it plus paperwork if I ever defaulted.  I can tell ya, I would rather die than default and lose a couple decades worth of money saved in 401k accounts and money received on rising housing costs for my home.  Ok, I wouldn't rather die, I'm just saying I would do whatever it takes to keep it, even if it meant going OTR.  I am not necessarily expecting an approval, I'm just hoping I can get one.  

I will start examining and filling out paperwork later on this evening. 

Well, that was exciting at least. . 

Well anyway....this dude that said he's only staying a month?  Well, I had to go over there and get into his personal space, so to speak, to find out what's going on. He's been there a month as of today.  He said he's staying another month, is that okay? Sure!  He paid me right away with Cashapp and that took care of that. It also took a little pressure off in thinking about replacing 5 lots worth of trailers. 

A few things on this lovely Wednesday morning with a projected chance of rain coming at noon and lasting all day long.  Nothing new around here, that's for sure.  

The mower. It works great - after fixing a tire and putting in a new battery. The only other issue right now is the deck plate sits way too low.  It's cutting the grass too short even with the adjuster all the way up. So, I need to fiddle with that and see if I can get it to go up an inch or two.  If I can't, I'll take it to someone who can. I'm not exactly a riding-mower mechanic, but a lot of it is fairly simple stuff.  

I ;have yet to start the vanity installation.  I'm trying to re-motivate myself.  The shed is just an on-going project that seems to have no end in sight. One thing I have definitely determined: I am not installing that drywall.  I will put up the 6 sheets I have sitting there, the rest? It can wait until I feel I have enough finances to pay a person to come in and do it for me.  The spray foam I bought didn't work worth a hootin' nanny holler either, so I used it on large gaps and threw the can in the trash.

Another trip to Lowe's yesterday and bought 4 cans of different stuff.  I also cut an 8X8 board in half and set that for a stair.  I now need to drill some holes in it and pound rebar down to hold it in place.  

The AC is working ok - but it will be a lot better once I get all the gaps filled with the insulation.  I'm seriously considering buying a larger unit.  This one is just chugging along trying to keep up. A larger unit with more btu's would be able to cycle on and off more frequently, saving me money on electric.  They have them with wifi now, I just found out.  I think it was a 10,000 btu for less than $300.  The money spent will be the money saved and then some in electricity and the ability to comfortably cool the building.

Further, I can control the temperature from anywhere - people tend to turn it all the way to max setting and the leave it there. That's wonderful! If you aren't paying the electric bill, that is.  I have the space in the wall, just would have to cut out a bit more tin off the side of the shed and possibly have to remove the 2X4 I put to hold it up and move it down a bit. I'm probably going to do it.  

I've ordered a new 27 inch soft side piece of luggage for the trip. I also ordered an actual 30 amp outlet for next to the shed, the thing I put together just isn't that great. It works but it could be better.  

Hipcamp is live now that I have that 30 amp setup out there.  Yea, so far hasn't generated any bookings.  I've had a couple for the RV park portion from the hipcamp website but  not for my Hipcamp area.  Glad I didn't spend a lot of money on that, I'm still going to install the outlets since I have the wire.  In fact, I have no overnighters booked on any site until the 20th. It's an 8 day stay, but still, I need more overnights coming in. If you do a search on Hipcamp for my town, I did this on incognito window,  my park is the first thing that shows up.  

I don't know what else I can do.  This may be the lack of motivation going on right now. The shed is fully functional for a toilet, a shower and coin op laundry and so far, the only thing that really gets used is the laundry.  Well, one of the grumpy folks like to use the toilet.  I don't  know why, don't care either, he can use it all he wants.  They mow their lawn like every 4 to 5 days.  This is what they want me doing with the entire park.  No thank you.  I'm going to get a calendar and start scheduling the mow dates. 2 to 3 times per month.  Not, 7 or 8 times per month, that's ridiculous. 

It is still necessary to mow in between the trailers with push mower, btw, that won't change anytime soon.  Rocks are the reason and the push mower has a bag to catch all of that stuff instead of it being hurled at windows and sides of trailers.  We can't be having that.  

A person of interest has sent me some money.  Note that the only thing I"ve said about money in recent times is trying to get a large loan to expand the park.  This amount wasn't anything near that but it is definitely a start.  I might be hinting at anyone that has the resources for a loan, yes, but that's mostly in groups that are designed for that purpose.  People need loans - other people have money.  Or companies that have money to loan. I've had a couple of people contact me about it but so far, nothing has materialized.  I don't want investors having partial ownership of the park, I want a collateral loan that will give me full control over the finances and decision making. 

Could I actually fill up 14 more spots? At the right price, probably.  I'm not currently advertising that price, I got the idea of high electric bills and decided I would raise the price to what's the norm for this area and see what happens. I've had several come in on the higher price, but if push comes to shove, I will lower it back down if I have to.  It will get people in there. That's because it's a smoking deal.  

I'm facing fully 5 lots being emptied out here sooner or later - not too long from now in other words - and I am going to be needing those filled up.  I do have one person allegedly coming in on Saturday for long term.  He said he drove through the park in his car and liked what he saw.  Well, I hope that turns to be a new check in the "lot 7 is full" column.  But I need more.  I have lot 7 open until Saturday morning for any stragglers that need a place to stay overnight.  Lot 12 is the one that has some longer reservations.  I only actually have 2 empty lots right now, I just know that several people are leaving in the near future and I will need those filled back up quickly.

Hmmm. That lady that is the truck driver trainer apparently extended her stay.  It went out like another month and the reservation system is showing her owing more money now. It was originally 33 days. Well, I'll deal with that after she's been there 33 days, lol.  She can stay as long as she wants.  I didn't know they could do that.  I looked at that thing numerous times, I know she paid for 33 days, just took me by surprise that the thing is showing her staying until near the end of June now.  They must not be anticipating anyone coming in to take her place anytime soon.  She also says she likes it out here.

So, I was going to spray more grass killer today, but I'm not doing that with rain coming. That stuff isn't cheap and having it wash away into grass that I don't want killed isn't too appealing either. And then there's this little tidbit about summer grass.  I suppose I could use a portion of that money I was given to purchase enough sod to do the entire park. A truckload, delivered, 16 pallets worth is $2,320.  I have been dreading this.  It doesn't matter how I do it, it's going to cost money. And planting seed just doesn't seem the way to go.  

There is one thing about sod that would be great: there would be no more rocks to deal with.  I could use the riding mower everywhere.  I just shudder at the thought of spending that much more money on this project. Really would like to have this done and over with.  The truckload is the cheapest way to do it. But then, I have a full truckload of sod I need to install myself? Lol that's a lot of work.  Not to mention I would have to try to time it when there is plenty of rain in the forecast - having to water that many lots would be a bit ridiculous.   I can see weeks worth of moving hoses and sprinklers around. 

If only Bermuda seed would grow as easily as rye grass seed! Just throw it out there right before several days rain and a week and half later, you have grass!  You don't even have to put down mulch or fertilizer.  See, that's where putting down grass seed becomes untenable.  You aren't just spending over a thousand dollars on grass seed, you are also having to do a lot of prep work.  Sod? Much easier. 

Honestly, I don't want to do any of it.  Mostly because of the money.  

I think when I get to the point I have no choice, I'm just going to buy a couple of pallets worth at a time so I am not rushed trying to install an entire truckload of it and also, I can  water it if need be without having to move hoses all over the park every day.  A bit wishy washy on this subject, the savings of simply getting an entire truckload delivered are substantial. $1,680 cheaper than buying a few pallets here and there....I am not going to decide this yet.  It's just another headache to have to deal with.  The winter grass is still alive.  

Well whatever.  Now that I have the money to get an appraisal done, I may - or may not - try to approach another bank about a loan.  Is anyone even lending in this nightmare we are calling an economy with the Fed raising the interest rates even more and the newest numbers out showing even more inflation hitting Americans hard? It may not be the best time for this.  I guess it doesn't hurt to try, but I don't want to drop thousands of dollars on an appraisal and get nothing in return out of it.  I'd need a bank to do everything else on my credit first and find that if the appraisal is good, they will give me the loan. Otherwise, I've spent that much money on nothing, basically. 

I may just go through the nightmare of applying for an SBA loan and see what happens.  I don't know if they need an appraisal, but when I originally talked to the agent that helps you prepare the documents, he said I wouldn't need a down payment.  It's just going through all of that again.....

BTW, what do you think of McCarthy's stance with the White House and Republican demands to force decreased spending with a new debt ceiling?  I am watching this pretty closely now that things are starting to get heated up. The left all came out at once and demanded to take default off the table. If McCarthy takes that off the table, there is no bargaining chip because the left refuse to negotiate. They don't say that, of course, but that's what it really boils down to: Our way or the highway.  That's what they have always done. Pelosi set the standard for doing backdoor deals without any Republican input and ramming bills through.

I wonder why they are so outraged now that Republicans are using the lefty playbook? Well, because they see no need to limit spending and they want to continue their march towards a completely centralized federal government that has total power over the states.   This is also why they are targeting conservative SCOTUS justices.  They want to impeach one of them for "extravagant vacations on a billionaire's dime".  Blah blah blah. I've heard all the rhetoric and I have dismissed it. They claim Clarence Thomas is in cohoots with whoever the billionaire is and has made rulings favorable to that individual's desires because of it. 

It's endless the parade of nonsense they pump out against Republicans, the whole lot of them are nothing more than hypocrites that engage in the same s***. Just look at all the new revelations about the Biden family having received "millions of dollars from foreign entities" revelation that says they attempted to hide the sources. Politicians are, in my view, mostly corrupt regardless of which side of the aisle they are on.  They are in it for the power, the fame but mostly the money.  

Ok, off the pedestal, I was going to apply at this company that haul cryogenics but found out they have inward facing cameras with microphones. Nope, no, no and no.  I'm not going to subject myself to being spied on. That company - Groendyke - is desperate for drivers and has been for quite a while.  Sorry folks, you aren't going to sit there and be able to watch me while I'm driving. You can have a forward facing camera, I'm all for that, but a microphone? I remember now a few of their drivers at the scale house at Eastman. They complained about it but said if they cover up the camera, they would get fired. I didn't care with my company, I covered it up anyway.  

I literally don't care what anyone thinks about my desire to keep my personal life - personal - inside of a truck. It doesn't matter to me who owns the damn thing, I'm not going to subject myself to that kind of scrutiny. I might change my mind if I get into a financial bind and that's the only way out. But they expect you to be robotic in your driving demeanor. Artificial Intelligence is a part of these cameras now, identifying if you are sleepy, if you are taking a drink of water, if your seatbelt is on or off, a host of things.  I know myself entirely too well, having someone jumping down my throat because of some report an AI controlled software system generates would make me angry.  I would just give it straight back at them and quit before they could fire me. It isn't even worth going there to begin with.

There are plenty of jobs out there without AI controlled, inward facing cameras with microphones listening to everything you are saying.  

Enough of that. This entry waxes long. I'm out of here.  Go get something done over there, probably just try to use all 4 cans of that insulation up and see how it goes.  Maybe try to adjust the mower.  I've got one dude that came for a month that either needs to pay up or leave.  Not that I would put it that way, but that's where he's at.  The month is up as of today, I don't give away free spaces.  He has a girlfriend that lives there with him - he didn't tell me about that when he moved in.  She's a real gem, too, putting that sarcastically.  

G'day

 Of course it would take over 2 hours to do something that really shouldn't take more than say....45 minutes at most?  I'm going to redo it now that the "crisis" is over.  The box I bought to install the outlet in was too small, the wires are too big and it just takes too much room. I got it stuff in there but it's far from optimal.  There. Ordered an actual box that is already loaded up with a 30 amp outlet, big door, proper setup.  I'm going to put a water spigot right there since I have a water line under the ground there and I will have a full hookup setup.  I ordered it because 1, it is much cheaper on the internet for the exact same thing and 2 because I'm not in a hurry now.  I can still use the setup I have out there and since I'm getting a new box, I'm not redoing the setup out there until the new box arrives.  

The reason I put that in yesterday morning was because I was going to have a problem: more people coming than I have space for.  Well, 2 of them never showed up and yes, they paid in advance. And I'm not giving them their money back. Now before you blast me, this is standard in the RV industry.  Why? Because I turned down several other people calling for a place, that's why. If they call in advance a couple of days and say they aren't coming, fine, they can have their money back. But if they are no shows and no call? Same as the hotel industry, you lose it.  I don't feel bad about that at all. 

There, updated Hipcamp once again. I had it listed as 35 feet overall length.  Nahh, bro, I can go at least 50 feet.  I can really go as long as they come, but I want that stuff to stay in the RV park.  This area is cheaper and those units use more electricity. The thing about Hipcamp is that you have to be looking on Hipcamp to find these sites and those rates. You won't find it linked to my website or mentioned on my Google page.  My Hipcamper came in yesterday, hopefully they might leave a good review? They got a smoking deal because of my error.  I was glad it was overcast and had cooled down, I didn't really want to pay for 3 AC units worth of electricity for the money they paid....

There is a lot of time spent on tweaking these online sites, that's what I can tell ya.  I've refined Hipcamp several times over and now I added space 15 for behind the amenities shed.  It is listed as a grassy area behind the shed.  If they don't like that, they shouldn't reserve it.  The campground software wouldn't allow me to upload photos - it wants a specific size in pixels that my resizers won't adjust to.  I tried 7 times and gave up on it. Hipcamp has no such problems, I would think these sites would automatically resize pictures to fit their software?  I will be contacting the campground software personnel to please put that pic on there for me since I can't do it myself.  Neither resizer would adjust to 400x300. It would change it to some other size.  So I tried a smaller size and that wouldn't work either, the software keeps saying it "has" to be 300x400.  Whatever!  

Ok it's getting late. I have been sitting here fooling with my websites.  I put in a ticket with my software company, they can either fix their end of it or I will send them my pics and they can resize them.  I even tried on the iphone now, it doesn't even have an option to resize to their requirements. So, they are demanding some size that isn't even standard.  I also wrote myself another paycheck.  I will be able to write another, smaller one  later on this month. Many of the bigger bill items are already paid.  I still have to get a business savings account going and start transferring money that I will have to pay quarterly, at the end of the year and probably during tax season.  I'm not going to get caught not having enough money to cover all of that. 

I also need to do my resume, I was going to do it this last weekend but I got caught up in RV park minutia and getting that riding mower, installing that outlet and other things.  I can't really go back to work until after my trip to AZ, but I'd like to get the resume completed.  It's mostly just finding the dates of previous employment. The last one I have memorized and I think the one before that started in January of 2005 and ended in September of 2017.  That covers the required 10 years. Then it's just hyping myself up - no truck accidents in any recordable history, all kinds of job requirements I had to learn and did well, etc.  

Yes, I know I have a personal vehicle accident, but I don't have to put that in there.  And besides, they specifically ask - all of them do - for a list of accidents and tickets.  It's not exactly a good look on me, but what can I do? Nothing.  Hire me or don't hire me, it is what it is.  I do like the idea of the hazmat tanker position that has me "home several times a week. Do that for a year, expand the park by at least 20 spaces and then I can live comfortably off of that income.  Trust me, when they start building that Interstate through here, there are going to be a LOT of people looking for places to stay. Yes, some of them will stay at the construction site, but not all of them. 

I suspect all of  the local parks will be filled up for at least a couple of years with that.  Those projects take a long time to complete. Interstate construction is under Federal and state requirements and they are pricey.  A lot of it is starting from scratch, some of it is going to have to completely upgrade an existing loop around the city.  You can't have driveways attached to an Interstate, that's all frontage road stuff and they willl have to build a frontage road most of the way round the city.  I've watched this kind of construction - it can go on for 3 or 4 years.  And a lot of those construction workers come from out of town. Many of them bring RV's with them.  It's a no brainer for me to try and get set up and in position to take those people in.  

It's a high priority goal and if I have to go back to work to accomplish it, so beit.  

Yes, I have work to do today. Pulling grass and spraying it, mostly.  I'm putting off the shed to get this grass situation under control. Not to mention I have to go to Lowe's yet again and get a couple more sheets of insulation plus many cans of spray foam. 

G'day

 So it's really time to get moving with the area behind the shed. Namely, getting the power out there.  The trench is already dug, well a good portion of it anyway. I'm kind of not wanting to tell people I have nothing for them when the park is full. It was 3 phone calls last night I had to turn down - no room, the park is full. Yes it's good the park is full, but let's get it fuller, lol.  

It's early - Sunday.  I'm up early because I want and need to get that 30 amp outlet installed before noon today.  These people show up, they are going to have full hookups. It may not be exactly what they wanted, but it's going to be available. That way, they can't say I didn't have anything for them.  I'm still thinking this is all a dream and I don't have more people showing up than I have lots available. 

I got up early because I want to get that setup done, over with and get to church. Church doesn't start until 11, I am good there. I hope anyway.  It "should" be.....this that and the other thing - easy enough. I always say that and then run into "something". I have all the parts I need to get the installation done, that's what I can say about it. Since I think it will take an hour, I'm doubling that to 2 hours.  

It really is a simple setup, tho, lol.  

Oh, with Hipcamp? What if people don't want to stay with only 110 volt/20 amp hookup? Not my problem. But some of these people are desperate. They likely have to end up boondocking somewhere such as walmart or a truck stop parking lot.  The parks are apparently full, I'm not usually the first one to get the calls. My main competitor has far more Google reviews and tho some of them are nasty, most of them are 4 or 5 stars. When looking for something - anything - I almost always look at reviews. If a thing has 10 reviews and another thing has 500 with the 500 having a 4.8 star rating, that's likely who I'm going with.

Just the way it works.  l look at the reviews not only to see how it's rated, but also to look at comments, find the negative ones and see what they had to say.  Sometimes it's useful info about a product that has a glitch that they didn't like or had to be fixed or whatever.  Ok most of the time it is just whiny people wanting to  complain about petty stuff.  Lol.  Hence a bit of humor out of it as well. Like, dang, this person must have no life to be getting on Google and complaining about this.  

My only goal today as far as the park is concerned is the 30 amp outlet and cut some branches off of some trees for better access.  Meaning, no branches to scratch the sides of a potential trailer coming in.  People don't like that, lol.  

Oh, it did rain overnight. It will be nice and wet in the area I'll be working.  Gag and oh well. Put on the work boots and just get it done.  Just need to dig about a 5 foot long trench to get the line to where I want it.  I hopefully bought enough wire to get it there. I kept upping the number of feet of line I wanted. Like, himm, that might not be enough.  Give me 10 feet instead.  No, that isn't good enough.  12 feet. Nope, 14.  yes, 14 should do it. It's 5 plus feet just to go from the breaker box to the ground, another 2 or 3 feet to the shed and then run the line along the shed (small shed I should clarify) and put that 30 amp outlet right at the corner of the shed.  Out of the way but close enough to plug into.  The sewer outlet is right there as well.  

I actually think I have a water spigot in there. If a really wild hair developed, I'd dig down, find the water line and install that spigot as well.  

Well, I didn't get up early to sit around here all day long....

 This has been a really long day.  When we got to the soccer field, one of the tenants texted me with a pic of a riding lawn mower. It was listed at $200. Say what? Double take on that one. Does it work?  I hated to leave the boy's game but this was the magical moment I've been looking for.  I went over there - about 15 minute drive away - drove right past the thing, texted her and said no, it's not here. I see the John Deere - listed at $1,500 and out of my price range, but no older mower.

It's right by the entrance! Well maybe they sold it already.  No! Okay, I drove back and there it was, sitting under a tree. How I missed it is unknown. What I can say is that once I got the owner out there - real nice, laid back guy, you could tell everything (or think I could tell anyway) he was saying was true.  Sometimes it won't go into reverse.  Ok, no problem. And it needs a new battery.  I said no problem as well, for $200 I'm not gonna start yipping about  a few problems.  

I had $150 on me, I didn't have time to go to the bank, I wanted to get out there asap, someone would surely snap it up if they needed one - or even if they didn't need one, they could turn around and sell it for $500 easily.  I was actually pretty surprised that it was still there.  As I was standing there, 3? vehicles pulled up, looked and obviously wanted that deal as well. I pulled out my cash, this sucker ain't going home with no one but me!

I gave him $150, said I'd come back with a trailer later and the other $50, he was fine with that. We got to discussing things - chit-chatting in other words.  He said he might not be home when I got back, he was just going to put the mower behind the fence and I could come get it whether he was home or not.  Well where do you want me to leave the other $50? I"m looking around - the mailbox? He said yes, the mailbox will be fine. 

But then he got a look on his face and said don't worry about it, the $150 will cover it.

Back to the soccer game, over to Lowe's, over to the "touch a truck" festival downtown - it's where all kinds of trucks, 1st responder vehicles and even heavy equipment are put on display and kids can get on/in them. Home, IHOP, to the property, get the trailer, to the man's house - had to push that sucker up on the trailer by myself, gag.  Back to the property, drop the mower, drop the trailer, remove the old battery, over to Auto Zone, new battery, back to the property, install said battery, turn the mower on and start cutting grass. Works perfectly well : )  I did that for a while, tried to get the oldest boy to learn how to do it but he got a bit flustered.  Yes, he was hanging out with me a good portion of the day.  

Parked the thing, got the hand mower, finished the grumpy people's yard - they had started it but couldn't get the thing to restart - that' s happened to me as well but I was able to get it started - home. Store. Clean the kitchen, put away clean dishes, a phone call from the people staying for a week - ran their card - yayy for money!  and now? I am finally getting a chance to kick back and take a break.  

Oh, well Lowe's was to buy the setup for the 30 amp RV outlet. I got all the materials but I just didn't have time and right now?? I'm burnt out.  I will have to get up early tomorrow morning, go over there and install it.  I'm hoping no more than an hour.  It's really pretty simple stuff. But, simple stuff can go south.  Regardless, I'm just going to run 12 feet of line, enough to get over by the sewer dump station.  That's where these people can hook up to both and if they have a long enough hose, can also hook into fresh tap water.

I do have an underground line right there where that sewer outlet is coming out of the ground, but it is highly likely that I'm not going to be digging that up tomorrow morning. I could, of course, but I would also have to make another trip to Lowe's for another water spigot.  I'll see, but yes, that would add probably a couple of hours to this ordeal.  I will eventually do it, just not tomorrow. 

There isn't really any good reason these people shouldn't like the setup, but, people can get pissy about minor things.  It's whatever to me, it's full hook ups, that's what's advertised, it is in a freshly mowed, nicely grassed area.  I will have an option for them, that's all I can say.  If they don't like it, I will refund their money right there on the spot and they can go find somewhere else to stay.  

I actually think it's nicer than my gravel lots.  I'm not saying that because I'm in a bind. Once I got the grass nicely cut down, it really looks very nice, at least to me. And there's no problem driving on it.  

The only thing that might set me back installing that 30 amp outlet?  It might rain. I'm not doing electricity in the rain.  Tho, it would be pretty easy to get the entire thing hooked up before connecting the circuit breaker to the panel.  

OH, and I did contact the electrician. I wanted to make sure I had this right. 30 amp rv outlet is going to be a single pole, 30 amp breaker with 110 volt.  ;They actually make a 30 amp RV outlet and yes, thankfully, Lowe's had it.  I haven't looked it up yet, but I'm thinking 50 amp must take a double pole. There has to be some reason that there is 2 hot lines running to the pedestals.  The electrician agreed with my assessment but he suggested heavier gauge wire.  I was going 10-2 - he said that would work but 8-2 is better.  Okay? So that's what I got.  12 feet of 8 gauge wire. The 2 simply refers to the idea that it's one hot and one neutral wire - it also has a ground wire but for whatever reason it isn't part of the descriptor.  

And another call for a spot for tonight. I'm full. I would have offered the grassy area but of course the electric isn't available and I'm not rushing over there to deal with it right now.  As I said, it's been a long day and I'm relaxing, waiting on dinner.  

And of course it is. 50 amp plugs have 2 hot inserts, so that's it.  Having 50 amp service at every lot was why they needed 2 hot wires.  They get used quite often. If an RV has 2 AC units on the roof, it's almost guaranteed it's a 50 amp service to hook it up.  Now, I could put in a 50 amp service out there, I had to run 220 volt for the water heater and the dryer.  But I don't know if I want to do that or not.  It's nothing I need to decide right now, but Lowe's also has a pre-made, small pedestal type thing that has a 50 amp outlet in an out door box. They didn't have one for 30 amp, I had to piece together a box and rain cover for it.  

BTW, the consequences of running double pole, 220 service through 30 amp for an RV? Well, it turns out, everything in the RV that uses electricity? Will burn up.  It will fry all of it.  If you can imagine the thousands of dollars it would cost to fix all of that, I would have to hit up my insurance and hope they would cover it.  I won't need to do that, of course, I know what I'm doing now, but it's why I verify everything I'm doing with an electrician and the dude that built the park is happy to help me, thankfully.  

It just hit me. I'm so tired.  Going to take a nap,lol.  

 Still trying to figure out how the system allowed another reservation in on a blocked date.....and everything went up in the air real quick like.  Yes, I know I don't speak proper English while typing out these posts, just the mood of the moment.  

See, these people decided they wanted to come in yesterday.  I wasn't going to be able to accommodate them, but that dude at lot 4 left so that opened up availability.  Another reservation came in and I had blocked that out. Then, another reservation came in for a lot that is already blocked out. 

I'm sitting here thinking, how did this do this? I still have no answer.  Then I thought, I wonder if this person has a 50 or 30 amp connection?  If it's 50, I'm not sure I can have that added onto the shed system, but if it's 30, that's only 1 AC unit. I have a sewer connection I installed over there, a water outlet is approximately 20 feet away and I can install a 30 am RV outlet easily.  That's a double pole circuit breaker, about an 8 foot length of line, an outlet and something to mount it to.

I wonder why I hadn't thought of this before.  I won't do 50 amp because I don't want to overload the underground line.  It's rated at 600 volts but it can still heat up and....melt. It's aluminum wiring.    1 AC unit won't do anything to it.  The point is that there is already a water heater, a dryer and a small ac unit working off of that. I don't really count the ceiling lights because they don't take hardly any power.  

I'll spend the money I make off of that reservation and then some - not too much more tho - and I'll have an extra spot in the grass.  I just mowed it yesterday.  It's sort of part of the hipcamp area, but it would be right next to the shed.  Hipcamp is further out in the grass.  Which reminds me, I need  to up load pics of it to Hipcamp now that it's freshly mowed. It didn't take 20 minutes to mow it and it looks pretty good, actually. 

Ok, so I have a plan at least to accommodate these other people and have an extra spot available from now on.  I won't do long term there, I don't want people staying there permanently.  But I have to tell ya, my open lots are filling up quickly.  I was amazed to look at lot 12 and see it booked up 20 out of the next 30 days.  That is already over what a long term would rent out for.  I've got lot 7 blacked out ... change that, I opened that up for over the next month.  See, I have lot 4 open now - well sort of, these people are staying a week and then leaving.  If a long term shows up, I'll have availability for them after Monday. The only thing I can say is those people that said they "need a lot this weekend!" but refused to commit to my place? Best not be showing up out of the blue and taking a space. I'll kick them right out of there. Sorry, you didn't confirm and the nature of the business: people come and people go. I'm not holding a lot for a person that wasn't committing to it, you're going to have to leave. 

Anyway, after I get that new lot set up, I'll have a lot 15.  Hipcamp will be called lots 16 and 17.  

Oh, and then there's the people showing up for lot 7 today, but the dude that showed up thinking he was in "lot 9" for whatever reason, it certainly didn't show it on the confirmation letter or the site they actually chose themselves took lot 7.  The incoming will get lot 12. I have this all worked out now.  It really gave me kind of a headache to try and figure out what to do with people that are showing up, that paid in advance and were somehow overridden by some glitch in the system?  I know whoever ends up next to the shed probably isn't going to like it very much, but it's solid ground, I can drive my SUV through there even when it's raining. 

Well, I will have to also trim a tree.  It's got some branches sticking out at the exit to Hipcamp, just need to fire up the chain saw and cut those down. But I have it all fixed up, so really, I just need the 30 amp setup which might take me an hour or less to do.  I'll either get it done today - well I"ll have to get it done today, I have church tomorrow. People can't show up to my park before 1 pm I think it says on the site. Whoever is there before them gets to stay until noon. I just try to keep it within the industry standards of check and check out times.  You'd be surprised how many people want to stay as late as they can. And then there's those that are up at the crack of dawn and they are out of there.  

Well it's a damn good thing I read some instructions about wiring a 30 amp outlet for RV's. Turns out, you only use a single pole breaker, only one hot, not 2.  Don't ask me why I thought it was 240 volts versus 110.  Anyway, it's time to go to a soccer game, then Lowe's then to the property, deal with this and get it over with.

G'day

 The shed insulation is done. Psyche! Lol. I have a few more places that need addressing, but it's 98% done.  Even the minutia, the small parts, the endless fitting of pieces into spaces that large cutouts can't and won't fit. I'll have it done next round, probably Monday.  Maybe tomorrow, who knows.  Then I can get started on the spray foam in the cracks - which will be a much easier job. After that? I am done with this nonsense. I will get started on the vanity installation.  

I wasn't testing this person, at all. But I have a - friend? - on Facebook that goes off all the time on political stuff. It doesn't bother me, particularly, I've been reading it for a while now.  I don't necessarily agree with everything she says, but ....today?

She went off on Mexicans.  Yes, the situation at the border is crazy, but going off on the entire nation? I said something pretty benign to her about it and she had a freaking cow.  She went off on me. I am bemused by people getting pissed off on the internet, especially by people claiming they are Christians.  Like what? You are going off like this? She the questioned my Christianity because I 'dared' challenge her. I've spent more than ample time with Mexicans in both Mexico and here in the US, they aren't evil people.  

It got so bad, I just shut off notifications. I did say that something she said was "arrogance ^^^" because it went far beyond anything the conversation was allegedly about.  If you disagree with me on something on Facebook, don't call me names or get in my face.  Rather, say calmly in a manner that isn't about starting fights and arguments what your beef is.  I might say something about the subject matter, but I really won't say something about you. Or at least, I will definitely be trying not to.  

But she went there - I have never challenged her so I never really gave it 2 thoughts. It was really crazy! At the end, I thought it not worth getting myself aggravated over, so yes, I turned off the notifications and that was that. I won't be surprised if she gets into my inbox, or worse, starts stuff with me on my own FB page. She wants input, I don't mind input but not in a way that gets heated up and argumentative. I don't need that. 

Not to mention my mind is on trying to get all of this stuff worked out with all kinds of people wanting to come in on either the same date or dates which might coincide with other arrivals.  Not that that takes precedence over interactions with people, but seriously...getting that worked up over a minor disagreement...ok then. 

It's been a problem with Christians forever - at least as long as I've been in it - that Christians get highly offended and offensive immediately whenever someone says anything. It's not what I see in the Bible and I don't see the need to get so offended by someone posing a differing view, to the point they come  to your facebook wall and say you don't care about the Chinese or Californians?..Ok then....I have a problem with the CCP - the government that kills, beats, imprisons and otherwise despises it's on people. I have a problem with Newsom and the California version of Congress, certain cities mayors and the way the state is being handled, yes. But the people that live there? 

 The size of some of these trailers amazes me.  And you go inside and they are like a house, just smaller version of one.  This dude just called and said his parents live on the same street my park is, do you have anything available for a week starting today? Oh yes, yes I do. But, this guy says his trailer is a whopping 48 feet long! That is a BIG trailer! I think the longest one that's come in so far is 44 feet and those are huge as it stands.  Conversation coming to a close, "let me talk to my wife" etc.  So no real commitment there, but there price I gave him was the weekly price. 

No one in the area has a lower price than mine on weekly.  The reason I stay relatively full - pricing.  I lower and raise it depending on how many lots are filled.  Right now, I have a guy leaving today plus 2 lots already empty.  So, my pricing will probably come down $25 per month to help get some people in there.  There was a person that said they have to move this weekend, but the didn't commit to my park.  So I won't really count them as anything unless they show up.

So funny, too, how people "just show up". And will take a space!  Oh, it's empty, it must be available! some people think without understanding that I have a reservation system and someone could be showing up that day or even a day or more later.  I don't have a sign up out there that says "if you didn't call or reserve a spot, please just take whatever lot is empty".  It was nice to see the place completely filled up last night and lots of people out enjoying themselves with a fire or having friends over.  There were a lot of people outside, amazingly enough.  

However, I think the rain that came out of nowhere and wasn't in any forecast dampened things a little, no pun intended lol.  It started a light rain hours before they said it would and went on until around 2:00 am.  There was just enough thunder to keep me awake.  So yes, I'm feeling pretty much toast this morning.  I forced myself out of bed anyway.  I never could use the "oh, there was thunder last night and I didn't get enough sleep so I'm not going in to work today!" in the regular work force so I force myself - mostly - to not do that now.  If I am feeling really sh****, I will stay in bed longer.  

Strange. This on is perplexing.  Someone just made a reservation for lot 12 for Sunday.  Lot 12 is blacked out, it's not possible - or shouldn't be anyway - to make a reservation for that day.  I don't get it.  I'm going to have to contact the web designer about this, I black the dates out for phone called in dates or other site dates that aren't connected to my software for a reason: So I actually have the damn space available.  If this guy moves out today like he says he is, I can cover it - but  - I won't be able to take in that long term if they happen to show up.  But they never committed so I am not going to worry about that.  I could just cancel this new reservation and tell them there is nothing available - but I'm not losing sales on a person that didn't say if they were coming or not.  

So, the dude moving out today, even if he gets hung up another day, I can accommodate those people.  If this long term just shows up, I'm going to tell them I have nothing available until after Sunday. Sorry, you should have called back.  Please leave, lmao.  No I wouldn't say that to them, just that I can put them up until Sunday, but they'd have to move to the hipcamp area for a day before I could have them stay there.  They won't like to hear that and probably will just leave, but at least I have options.  All of these trailers are self contained and have holding tanks.  Not to mention I have a bathroom available. And I could throw them a 110 volt line out the shed for at least minimal electricity if they don't have a generator.

See, I would allow a generator because it's behind the shed and far enough away that the noise shouldn't really bother anyone.  Of course, these people wanting a week didn't confirm, either. It was "I'll call back later". They can, of course, leave their options open, but the RV industry is pretty fickle about having sites available. One can be available when a person calls and then taken if they call back 2 hours later. 

Bud Light. What a stupid decision they made. I just read the on-going news and shake my head. Whoever is in advertising for them should be fired.  I mean, if you don't give a s*** about what happens to your business and plummeting sales, then by all means, go ahead and take a swipe at your customer base.  Their sales have tanked and I suspect it will continue on a downward slope. Last week reported 26% down, it's highly doubtful they are going to see it rise any and probably will continue to fall, contrary to what the CEO is saying, who believes they'll weather this storm and come out ahead.

Ahead with who? The blue collar workers that drink it? The rednecks that drink it? Most of the stories I am reading say that people won't return to it until Bud Light issues an apology. Well, you know they will never do that, they can't do that.  Well, they could and the backlash from the lefties would be severe, but how many lefties are drinking Bud Light? Lmao, probably not that many.  It's not the left that they pissed off, it's conservatives/republicans who don't believe in the glorification of trans people which is a very, very small percentage of the American public anyway.  

You have the largest selling beer brand in America entering the political foray, isolating it's customer core and they think...what...would happen?  Yes, they say it wasn't a marketing strategy, it was only a gesture to a trans activist.  Ok .... and?  It got out, the people that drink who aren't trans - which is probably most of their customers - aren't agreeable to that lifestyle. Now, you have people saying at a bar or at a supermarket or wherever it's sold saying "you're buying THAT?!!".  There is a video circulating on Tik Tok showing a vendor that sells Bud Light with no line at all at it and a few feet down the way a different vendor with a huge line. 

This isn't Nike where probably more lefties buy that brand and therefore, a boycott won't hardly affect them. I laugh at lefties who say that this will die down and go away and then start to mock the right because of it.  They have no understanding of the dynamics of what's going on here.  Time will tell.  I suspect many people will never return to BL, regardless of their intended, huge marketing ploy.  People get offended? They move on.  I'm not currently drinking any beer anyway, I'm on keto and I'm trying to lose weight, but I didn't drink BL before.  InBev bought out Anheuser Busch some years ago - a Belgium owned company that owns a massive amount of different beer brands.  I just said no thank you, an iconic, American owned company steeped in American patriotism sold out.  

That's a part of my take, I ain't writing anymore about it.  My reach is limited and my blog is mostly about my daily ..doings....if someone wanted to censor me for writing this on here, go right ahead and try.  You won't get very far, lol.  OHH! and then there's this "trans hating" because we don't want to be subjected to this stuff. Not.  I don't hate trans people at all.  I just don't need to see it being pushed down elementary school aged children's throats.  Or giving them the drugs to stop puberty and start "transitioning" without a parent's consent or even knowledge.  This is where the real battle ground is: minors being groomed into believing this kind of mentality is good and they should pursue it and if your parents don't want to help you, we'll do it for them without their permission.

SCREW THAT.  If you are an adult and you want to try to turn into something you aren't and never will be, go right ahead.  Your chromosomes won't be changed, you can only change your appearance.  But don't even try to start telling kids in class rooms that this behavior is somehow normal and should be accepted by everyone.  I'm not going to have politically correct verbiage in this issue.  

Enough.  It's getting later in the morning. I forgot to put my clothes into the dryer last night, hence I'm sitting here waiting for them to dry.  I guess I could have gotten out my 34's and see if they fit, one pair of them does, but it's a little tight.  I'll be going to walmart at some point and still getting 35's, just a couple of pair.  I want to be in 34's again so badly - but for right  now, it's better to get some looser fitting stuff than stuff that is too tight. Very uncomfortable.  

G'day

 So....I'm right where I figured I would be with the insulation.  Another good day of work and the initial installation will be complete. After that will be many cans of the spray foam insulation to fill in the cracks.  But I'm pretty happy with the work I got accomplished today.  

The guy that said he was leaving in a month - almost a month ago - is leaving tomorrow. So that opens up another lot that I was expecting to open up, of course, but not really wanting to open up.  I'm not getting any great influx of people inquiring about long term atm and anyone that is long term that leaves hurts the bottom line - unless I can fill it of course.  

Meanwhile, the 3 nighters showed up, told the eyes that they were supposed to be at  lot 9 but lot 9 is taken. I had to laugh when I got that call from the eyes because I know for certain they were automatically assigned lot 12 and it stated that on their confirmation letter as well. They had to pick that lot to begin with. It makes no difference, really, but it's comical how people will show up, say that and then just decide they will take whatever open lot is available - which is exactly what they did. 

Then an hour ago, some people called wanting to know if I have a lot available for tonight only? Yes ma'am. They are on their way from Monroe, Louisiana.  So tonight, the park is completely full.  Then I get yet another call - people also needing a spot. Can't help them, they wanted to boondock and tho I have it available, one of the long term has a pickup truck blocking the entrance to it. Plus I need to mow it. Those people are leaving on the 12th.

See? I am going to have 4 lots empty and then the other dude who was only staying a month is leaving probably soon as well, which leaves 5 lots open. That may very well drive me to bring down the lot rent pricing a bit to try and get people in there. Yes, it's less profit but less profit is better than zero profit.  I can't have that many lots open.  Well, I'm opening up the blackouts on a couple more lots, until I get someone in them long term, they are going to be available for short term.  I just don't open them up too long so that if a long term does come along, I have something available.  

Meanwhile, the grumpy man just went into the shed to do laundry.  He took a look at the ac and reached up to change the setting. I'm sure he turned it to max cool.  I left it on at about midway setting. Not too cold, just enough to take the heat edge off of it.  I knew he would do that. I don't have a sign saying not to.  It's not going to be optimal in there until I get every last inch of it covered with insulation, but quite a lot is covered now.  

My final large expense will be the riding mower.  I am not sure I will drywall the entire interior for now. I am not that good at it and I am very tired of working on that shed. I still have 6 full sheets of it in there, so I will endeavor to put that stuff up - after - I put in the vanity. I kind of wished I hadn't even bought that much of the drywall.  I can do it, I just don't get really good cuts.  And doing the mud work is not my forte.  And again, I'm just tired of dealing with it.  I can put those last 6 sheets up - probably get them up on the ceiling somehow so I can have extra insulating factor up there.  It may very well be that the rest of the drywall will wait until I can get a pro in there to do the work for me.  

I shouldn't say that's my final large expense, it's the final large expense that I know of and right now? can afford.  I can't really even afford that, I just have to get one.  

I also scrubbed the shower stall today.  First using acetone to get off the silicone around the drain that they didn't bother to clean up and then with bleach spray. It's sparkling clean in there, I'd definitely have no problem taking a shower in it.  I got most of the insulation done in the bathroom. Lots and lots of cuts in there.  I cleaned it up nicely in case any overnighters want to use either the stall or the toilet.  In fact, I cleaned up the entire inside of the shed before leaving today.  k

I'm really kind of worried that that accident I had - even tho it was a minor accident - is going to hurt me trying to find a trucking job.  That is a stain that will stay on there for 3 full years.  Many companies put the requirement of "no more than 2 tickets and 2 accidents" in the last however many years. I am not beyond that, but those companies don't pay as well and they like to keep you out on the road forever.  Seeing home is a luxury in such companies.  

Anyway, up to the park to collect money.  Turns out it's just a pickup with a camper. I don't charge them as much, but I quoted them higher rate for they didn't tell me they were in one and I didn't think to ask them.  Some of these people are on strict budgets, retired, not broke but just getting by. That thing looked like it had a 30 amp cord going out of it.  Not really sure, it just looked like a very thick cable, which seemed strange for a pickup truck camper.  They have an AC unit on it, so it might have been.  

Then I stopped at the other new arrivals here for 3 days.  They guy's AC is going out.  A 1 year old bumper pull trailer and the AC is already shot.  I offered him a contact to a mobile RV repairman, but he said it was still under warranty. Okay then, but you'll have to take it into a shop for that.  I got out my phone and was looking up the temp for tomorrow. Surprisingly, we went from a 2% chance of rain tonight to a 100% chance of thunderstorms and 98% chance of "heavy thunderstorms". If that happens? I'll be awake.  That kind of noise, you might as well have a Boeing 747 engine blasting through your room, I definitely can't sleep.  

He's like, well, 80 degrees is bearable.  I mean, yes if the sky is overcast If the sun is shining, they are going to be very unhappy campers.  Well, there's AC in the shed! I didn't know what else to tell him, we started discussing his dogs and I forgot to ask him why he was in town for 3 days. I know it's none of my business, but I can be nosy lol.  Just curious what brought them here, usually people are more than happy to tell all about what their current adventures are.  

Well that's enough of this. Ruined yet another pair of pants today, apparently I'm lucky I didn't cut myself.  Box cutter. Sliced a nice rip right through an actual decent pair of jeans. I just threw away another pair this morning that I had poked a hole in - somehow. They were old, tho, just used them for work.  I'm really not wanting to buy more jeans at my current waste size. I'm in between 34's and 35's.  I'm down 4 belt notches. 3 is way too loose, 4 is a bit tight but 3? let's my pants fall off my @$$.  

No choice I guess but to get a couple more pair of Walmart specials cheap.  That's pretty much all I wear anyway.  I don't really do expensive clothing, never really have.  Only things I have received donation from others, such as my step-grandpa's wardrobe.  He died and I got all of his suits - that eventually burned up in a house fire.  I would still have them, one of them was made out of pure silk.  Very expensive suit and very nice looking.  

Stopping, lol.  I want to watch a bit of TV and go to sleep early. Maybe I can get a few hours of sleep before these thunderstorms  hit.  

 I was going over American Airline's policies on flight delays, cancellations and overbooking flights to the point passengers are either voluntarily or involuntarily booted off of flights.  I just want this info in case something happens on the way over there to AZ considering 2 layovers and considering the reports of airlines canceling flights, delayed flights and the constant overbooking. .  Coming home is just go to Dallas and connect with the smaller aircraft to the regional airport.  I won't be involuntarily booted off of a flight, I'll agree to it as long as the compensation reflects the inconvenience.  I'm in no hurry.  The park will be fine as long as I'm not gone too terribly long.  James volunteered to help out if anything goes wrong as well. 

I don't much care for the overbooking because that's how they cram flights completely full.  Corporate greed is everywhere, airlines are no exemption. They cram seats in there to the point anyone with long legs - me - are actually in pain by the time a shorter flights lands.  If I had to go on a long flight, I'd have to get up and walk around frequently.  It's really just that they freely admit they have those cabins filled with seats to the point you are literally crammed in there with barely enough room to even get into your seat.  And if the passenger next to you as "extra pounds", you are going to be wearing them. More comfortable seating was double the price.  These flights are only a few hours plus minutes, I will manage.  

Further, if you say anything about that other person's flab resting on your body, you are shamed and excoriated for being intolerant and bigoted. 

Uh, no, I just don't want that kind of contact with a complete stranger.  Most people don't. The people that engage in that shaming aren't the people on the receiving end of it.  I would rather deplane, actually, and take another flight.  I've had this happen before and I was very uncomfortable, to put it mildly.  One of the reasons I never sit in the center seat.  And if I seat at the window, I can force my body up against the cabin wall in attempt to get away from the other person's - skin and sweat.  

Although, the reason I like the window seat is to see the views.  

Anyway, I am going to try and do carryon only.  That saves their rather high checked-baggage price. If someone wants to send something home, I'll package it and send it to myself, lol.  4 days worth of clothing should easily fit into a carryon bag, right? lol.  I just wanted to take one of my pistols with me, but to do that you have to put it into checked baggage.  Phoenix isn't the nice place it once was in the 70's.  

Today's goal: simply keep working on the insulation.  I should be able to get close to done or at least 3/4's done by the end of today.  My sleep was sporadic, but I'm rested enough to work.  I would work regardless of sleep.  Oh and I need to get that grass killer out and do that all over again. That doesn't take more than an hour tho.  

Next up after insulation is the new vanity.  I'm just focused on the insulation because it's going to start getting hot out and that heat will directly transfer into the shed without proper insulation.  Not to mention the fact that I have enough or almost enough - not sure yet - insulation to cover the entire shed from ceiling down to the floor.  I may even be able to keep the AC on in there continuously if the insulation is sufficient enough to keep it cool in there without the compressor constantly on. We'll see.

Finances.  Well, the intake should be enough for over 3 grand a month. I'd say more but the variable of people coming and going makes for inconsistent revenues.  You don't know if you'll stay full or close to full or not.  There are people coming today that will ad to the account and then later on this month that will add a lot more to the account. The travelers are quite the variable and the people calling for a place for - right now - is completely out of range to predict. I didn't make a mistake trying to fill all the lots tho, I'm still struggling to get the 13th filled up with a long termer.  

Well that's enough. I need to get ready to leave. 

G'day 

 The new people already leaving - they've only been there a month and were supposedly staying a while - are moving on to west Texas. Lots and lots of oil activity going on over there.  It is what it is.  I collected the, pro-rated rent from them today.  They are leaving on the 12th.  So I'm facing the potential for 4 spots leaving this month - not a good thing at all.  They were all temporary to begin with, nothing much I can do about it.  I haven't had much interest in the latest go around of facebook ads with the boost that already ended.  

Beyond Facebook and Google, I don't really see much else that can be done to get the word out to people that are looking for long term.  I can only pray and believe more people will show up and stay a while.  I have a 3 nighter coming tomorrow and an 8 nighter coming the 20th for lot 12.  

I got quite a lot of the insulation done today.  It is quite tedious work, especially making the ceiling tiles.  The further towards the other side of the shed I got, the cooler it was staying in there. Still lots to go, I intend on having it 3/4's done - the entire shed that is - by tomorrow. The widths between studs is not uniform - which is kind of weird.  They're usually all the same distance apart. Some of the boards they used are curved so cutting pieces meant putting them over top of where they would go to cut out the insulation for the curve.  And a lot of other things trying to deal with that just made it difficult. 

Not complaining, really, just saying it, like many other things, is taking longer than I hoped for.  I don't even know if I'm going to try to do the drywall in there, but I'd like to get it up on the ceiling. It would help keep the heat out.  I'm not running the AC 24 hours in there. If someone wants to turn it on, be my guest but the thing doesn't get constant use and a waste of electricity to keep it cool in there all the time.  At least for now.  

I threw a bone to the grumpy people today. The maillady stuffed a package into the mailbox, I mean wedged it in there.  I got it out and it was for them.  So, I took it over there, left it on the table and then texted her.  We actually had a texting conversation for once.  It's been a while. I'm not trying to drive them out of there.  They may be grumps but their money is just as green as anyone else's.  

Tomorrow I'm just going to continue on with the insulation, excepting I need a small version of a caulking gun.  I didn't even know they came in 2 sizes, I just picked one up without really thinking about it. The one I picked up is made for giant tubes, the tubes I have are small ones that the big caulking gun round piece won't fit into. I opened a tube up today with a blade and then scraped it onto the insulation with a screwdriver. Yeah, that got old.  

There isn't much else going on right now. The school year is winding down, kids will be out the end of this month I think. Certainly no later than the first week of June.  The vacation is coming up - but still weeks away, not really going to think about that too much except a few new pair of casual pants would be nice or just plain ole' new jeans anyway.  I do think about the airline fiascos I read about frequently now and wonder if there is the possibility of getting bumped off of a flight.  It wouldn't really bother me terribly much if there were perks involved with it.  

 I'm doing everything I can to keep the park full.  But if I don't get at least another long term in there soon, it may not be enough.  It's because I'm fixing to lose probably 3 people who are moving on to new job assignments. I'd rather find local long term than these energy related people, it would be a lot more stable, but they are either unwilling to pay the going rate for a decent park around here or they have old junk trailers that only fit in with trailer-trash parks.  I just saw an old, junky trailer leave and I don't want any of that back regardless of the money. 

People in the park don't like it, I don't like it and the people I got in that junky trailer also were trashy people, not keeping their site clean, not taking care of their dogs, broken windows, open panel doors - ti was a very bad appearance.  Lesson learned - if I'm going to let older units in, I want pictures of the entire thing, not cherry-picked pictures that show the parts of the trailer that are in one piece.  

I see plenty of older trailers that are in excellent condition. This really isn't a trailer issue, it's the people issue. If a person wants a decent looking rig they can make it look nice regardless of age.  If they don't, it seems it's a indicator of what type of person or people that is or they are.  

I have a couple of interested people for renting long term right now, but no commitments. One just said we need to move this weekend and I said, great! I have a spot available!  They didn't say they were going to move in.  That new park that hasn't opened is still on my mind.  Number one, how are they going to fill that place up? They  might attract oil workers from Shreveport, but seeing other parks farther away from town, people don't like it. They like the country feel of park outside of town but they also like to be able to get to town in a few minutes. 

It lends to the idea that if someone could get the city council to build a park IN town, like right along the main highway, they would probably fill up and stay full.  Maybe.  Maybe not, people also like peace and quiet and you definitely wouldn't get that along the main highway, especially with all the trucks roaring through constantly.  That will change - in many years from now - once they build the Interstate and the Loop around the city.  

I really just wonder how that new park - it will open sooner or later - is going to affect mine.  It's too far out of town and they likely won't be able to get high rents there.  No one else can.  Maybe if they turn it into a resort. Right now, it's a park with pads, full hook ups a pond and a large building.  Oh how I wish I could get a pool in my place, it would almost guarantee that my park would remain full constantly.  I'd have to raise my rates but the people that stay would do so for the perks of having a pool.  There are zero parks with a pool in my city's area.  In fact, there are hardly any public pools in the entire region. 

All of this is very perplexing to me and I try not to think too much about it, but last night, in the middle of the night, waking up out of a dead sleep for unknown reasons, those thoughts entered my head and it took a while to eject that thinking.  I can only do what I can do.  I just wonder where all of these people went that were looking for long term when I was telling them no, I don't have any right now and now?  I am getting pretty spartan inquiries comparatively speaking.  

I've got my sites listed with a shower and toilet, but it may be too late.  People start booking summers well in advance.  Laundry is quite important to the long term people.  That is the focus of today, trying to get the ceiling insulation pieces cut and installed and hopefully keep the heat down to a minimum once running the AC. It's starting to get warm here with Saturday slated at 90 degrees high.  If you can imagine trying to be in a laundry room with a ceiling that feels like you could fry eggs on it and an AC unit that can't keep up with it...

That's why my long time friend that has a similar setup informed me that it won't stay cool in there even with AC on high pumping out cold air unless you put insulation in it. I was going to do it anyway, but it sort of ramped up the idea that it "must" be done, rather than "Oh, okay, I'll think about it".  It was 79 degrees out yesterday and it was hot inside that shed.

Talk talk talk, yes, I'm fixing to leave here and go get started on it, I had to buy a ladder yesterday in order to do that.  The little expenses - they are the ones that eat you up.  You start figuring all of it out and you realize you have thousands and thousands of dollars worth of little things.  And I still need a riding mower.  The one I really wanted was finally marked as sold.  I even offered the guy $100 more than what was listed on the ad to get it.  

There are a few listed that look ok and are advertised as good running machines, but they are too far away to risk it.  I don't want to drive 100 miles to get a good unit and find out the thing has serious issues such as smoking engine, oil leaking engine,  poorly running engine, needs new blades, etc.  

Then there is the news.  I loathe to go into any depth of what I am seeing in the media outlets.  I'm just not going to go there, at least not right now.  

I'm both looking forward to going home and sort of not.  I just don't feel like traveling anywhere. I think I'm doing this more out of necessity than anything. Haven't seen mom in 3 plus years and she isn't getting any younger.  None of us are, but she's up there in age.  Still walking the dog every day, still getting around well enough for a person in their 80's. But - yeah- I'd like to ensure I see her while she is still healthy and not be waiting until something goes foul in her body and the end draws near.  I'll do both.  Her lineage has long lives accompanied with it, many living into their late 90's. She has taken very good care of herself for as long as I can remember.  So who knows, but it was time to go, especially considering I am paying nothing for the round trip airfare.  

Several people I want to see as well, my son obviously but old friends as well. Go take a look at the house, but I'm sure it's immaculate as always.  If Mark weren't there taking care of the place I would shut it down and sell it.  Well, right now may not be the best time to be selling houses, who  knows.  The fed is likely to raise the  interest rate again, housing markets are cooling off all over the place and housing prices are coming down.  If Zillow is any accurate definer, my house has shed 55k worth of value over the last several months.  

Well, I guess I best be going to the property and getting this thing started.  It's really quite the pain.  Measure the space to be filled, then mark it on the insulation, cut the insulation and then install it.  But this is going to be additional "pain" because it's on a ladder and it will need glue to help hold it in place.  I am going to make sure I have tight fits that have to be squeezed in there tho, that helps with not having the insulation falling out of place. Still, on the ceiling, it's going to need glue and I will probably end up taping it as well.  And then, adding foam insulation around the cracks.

Off to the races!

G'day

 

 Long day.  Cut out the side of the shed, installed the AC, put in the press-in insulation and then start installing the wall insulation.  It was getting so hot in there, even with the AC on, the ceiling light was emanating a lot of heat.

Or so I thought. I started thinking, no, that light couldn't possibly put out so much heat that it negates the AC unit. I touched the ceiling - it's all thin metal. It was hot.  I don't mean warm, I mean hot.  There is no way I can install the ceiling insulation without a stepladder. The little thing I borrowed from home isn't high enough to get me clear up to the ceiling in the middle. 

Well, I kept working on the walls anyway, but at some point I said no more.  Headed to walmart for other supplies before I was going to go to Lowe's for the ladder. Noted that they have a stepladder for $89. They aren't cheap anymore. Go price ladders - any ladders - it may be shocking see how expensive they are.  

Done with Wally World, I headed to Lowe's.  The only thing I wanted from there was that ladder. So, I found the one that is listed at $69 - all the ladders that were in the bin were the wrong ones. I found the one the fit the description of height - 4 feet tall instead of 6 feet, but I knew I could make it work. Took it up front. Rings in at $75.  I wasn't about to start arguing with associates, I took it back and brought up the one that was listed for $89.  It rung up for $107.  Started looking at it, it was busted.  It was the only one they had. I just leaned it up against a rack and left.  Just not in the mood to try and get the price to where the tag said it is.

Back to Walmart, an actual metal, 6' tall stepladder priced at $89. What am I supposed to do?  I'll rarely need the thing but we don't have a stepladder at home, either.  It's going to be a pain in the @$$ to install the stuff, I just said screw it, get the 6 footer. Walmart had a 4 footer for $20 cheaper but I thought, no.  

I didn't go back to the property, it was mid-afternoon.   Got dishes done and then I finally had a chance to sit down.  

No regrets today, got a lot done and that's that.  Tomorrow I hope and expect the same. In fact, my goal is to get the entire ceiling done and get the heat factor in there dealt with. It's crazy how hot that ceiling was in 80 degree weather. I know, the sun is beating down on it all day long when it's not cloudy, but I just didn't expect it to be that hot. 

Well, Keto has definitely stalled. I'm going to up the ante and cut calories back to a couple of meals a day - light meals at that.  I've had stalls before but this has been going on for a while. The scale moves up and down in a 5 pound range and does that for a long time. I don't much care for that, not with the sacrifices one makes on the strict Keto diet.  I could be doing something wrong - but I doubt it.   I'm not giving up on keto, I just need to figure something out. If cutting back doesn't help, I'll do another 3 day fast.  

Water only fast, that is.  It's not as bad as it sounds. I mean, yes, you get hungry but after a while it tones down quite a bit.  I've got to do something, I'd like to have no gut showing by the time I leave for AZ, or at least slim it down more than what it is now.  In fact, maybe upping the ante is to just go ahead and fast at least a couple of days. 

Well, I kind of have been on and off this entry. It's getting late.  

 Really out of sorts today.  Just wasn't quite right for some reason.  I did 3 hours of grass work and that was the end of any physical labor for me.  I wanted to get stuff done in the shed but that just wasn't happening today.  It took most of the day before I was really feeling normal again.  That waking up  like that out of a deep sleep just does me bad.

I got home after that and went to sleep for a while. I had contacted a few people about paying for lot rent and then contacted some more after the sleep.  The family that just moved in a month ago said they were leaving on the 12th, could they get the rent pro-rated? Yes, and gave them the number.

I've had a couple of people interested in lots today.  One told me he needs to move in long term this weekend. We talked for a few minutes and the call was ended, but no confirmation that they were actually going to show up.  I am not writing them off, exactly, I just don't get the feeling that this is something that is going to happen.  Another wanted pics, so I sent pics.  They asked where it was located, sent that info as well. 

Anyway, rents are collected for what was owed today, which is a very good thing.  

I'm not sure about the grumpy people - whether they're staying or going. Looking at their arrival date, they don't actually owe rent until the 12th.  This dude was inspecting things again.  He thinks I'm a lazy ass and now? I don't really care what he says.  If he wants to get in my space and say something, let's do it. Otherwise, he can mouth off all he wants - for now - but if people start complaining about their foul attitudes, that will become a different story.  

The dude they were trying to influence just paid another month's rent, so apparently he doesn't give a s*** about their behavior.  If the grumpy people leave, I am going to prop up that sight as a "premium RV site" with pics of how much space they will have.  In fact, I will just take a pic of their trailer in that space to show how nice of a setup they have.  They would be leaving to spite me if they did leave and they have already admitted there isn't any place in town that is as good as my place....

Lot 7 is cleaned up.  That's where the trailer trash was at. They ruined a lot of grass and I was still finding cigarette butts and bud light beer caps in the ground today.  I closely examined the entire site and got all those dug-in caps out of the ground, picked up every cigarette butt I could see, mowed everything and that was that. I did, in fact, throw out a lot of trash today.  If I see trash, I pick it up.  I know, I shouldn't have to do it but if I don't, who is going to? I have no idea who the perpetrators are, I just pick the stuff up and throw it away.  I'm not going to spite my park by leaving trash laying around. In other words, get mad because people are throwing the stuff on the ground and therefore, somehow justify just leaving the stuff laying there.

It does get old, however, picking up after adults.  

Whatever the case, I do hope to feel normal again in the morning and get with the shed.  There's still so much to do.  

I also revamped my Hipcamp site with 3 different rental types. One is the RV sites, the other are the Hipcamp sites and the 3rd being the tent camping site. They all have different prices, which is what was tripping me up.  I had to figure out how to have 3 different variables of sites and have 3 different prices.  I got that figured out, done and over with.

I also realized my website says "laundry room in progress" or something like that.  Yes, it's in progress, but it's available now.  So is the shower and the toilet.  So I sent the web designer a request to change that and add tabs to show the newest amenities. I haven't talked to him in a while, I don't really need his services atm.  Changing a few words on the website costs nothing, he only charges for stuff that takes over 15 minutes.  I haven't received a bill from him in quite a while - thankfully - because I opted out of any further stuff being done with the site.  It's just money I can't afford to lose right now and I feel like it's all nicely set up and the rankings are good for Google. 

The fact of the matter is, I create and publish the Facebook ads and also the content on other websites. Hipcamp has been a chore, but I hopefully and finally have it right. Just need to add pics of the Hipcamp site. I didn't take them today because that area should be mowed first before taking photos of it.  I'll try to get that done tomorrow.  I have a bid in on a riding mower with a catcher.  I tried to get on it quick, but others beat me. However, the others haven't showed up yet and the dude said if these 2 people ahead of me are no shows, I can have it.  It's only $400 and in excellent condition. 

Well that's enough.  It's almost 8:30, I'm going to kick back, relax, watch a little tv and go to bed soon enough. Oh, I did fill out the application for the truck driver training position. I might as well try to get the job.  It says I have to have a current CDL and current medical card. Check and check.  But I need to make a resume - I think I have one on my harddrive.  Needs to be updated and finished but I do have one.  I kind of feel like I should just start over and show the last 10 years of work - which is required by federal regulations - and explain in detail my job duties.  I'll get to that in the next few days, apparently there isn't any rush for people to take the training position, it's been up and off and then up again several times. 

Or perhaps, they aren't finding the type of people they want?  I dunno, but the lady is back at my park, staying 33 days this time.  They say they like it out here. Yes, it is probably much nicer than the big city that Dallas is. Or any other large city.  

With that, I bid you a good night.