Thursday - mid afternoon

Got back from Gurdon and was greeted from the front of the truck a very, very loud, constant noise like something extremely loose.  Whatever it was, it was quite noisy.  I sent a video of it to the mechanic and he called me and asked me where it was coming from? the front of the engine somewhere, I can't tell, it's too noisy.  That engine is already noisy as all get out without whatever is going bad on it.  The have stethoscopes you can use to pinpoint noises, nothing I'm interested in buying. Get a mechanic out here and have them use their tools, this ain't my truck and not my responsibility beyond reporting it and getting the ball rolling.

As for Gurdon, I was second load but slated to be there at 11 am.  I got there at 9:50 am.  I figured if I had to wait, no biggies, I'd be ready to jump on it as soon as the first load driver was done, I could play my game while waiting. 

Instead? There was no truck there.  But I knew gut feeling that whoever was the first load hadn't shown up yet.  I didn't care, got weighed in, got to the delivery shack, hooked up the air pressure line, went inside and got it signed off, came back out and got everything hooked up and got the resin flowing.

It was 10:20 am by the time that was all done and the resin flowing.  Then? The first load truck shows up.  Nosympathy.com, they should have been there an hour and a half ago at the very least.  If they wanted to chat with me, they could certainly get out of their truck and come do so. They did not. New drivers, they don't seem to last long.  It was an hour and a half before I was out of there, shrugs shoulders and moved out of the way once I had everything completed.

The delinquent renter finally paid last night.  I had the boy go over there and get it from her, I owed him some money for doing that dirt work anyway.  She still shorted it $15 and I immediately called her out on it. "Oh I was fixing to get to you about that.." as if somehow I wouldn't catch it.  

I intend on going over to the park tomorrow morning and getting some mowing done and also trying to get a mechanic out there to look at it. That was the end story of that, our mechanic dumped it on me to find someone.  There are plenty of truck mechanics in my town and tomorrow is Friday so it shouldn't be terribly difficult to get someone to come look at it.  

 Tuesday evening

Of course the manager thinks he's somehow doing me a favor by switching things around so he dumps me with 2 load tomorrow. This is nothing unusual for him, I more than half expected it when I checked today.  Like, driving up there, spending the entire day and driving back - that's almost 6 hours of driving  and the rest waiting for the truck to be repaired - is hardly some sort of favor and frankly, the way I was going to do it would have worked quite fine and I would have had first load.  

Turns out, anyway and there is nothing I can do about it, a bit too late now, that what was causing me to fly all over the place every time the truck hit a bump was the shock absorbers on the cab.  Cabs have both air ride and shocks.  Work pretty much like a car suspension.  I thought the air bag retaining nut was gone, but it also turns out the front axle is set up differently for those things than the rear.  Weird. 

Anyway, he pulled those shocks off. They weren't just bad, they were completely separated.  The top wasn't attached at all to the bottom on either of them.  It was basically a trampoline effect.  Hit the floor of the trampoline - hit a bump - you fly up.  Dramatically. It was the straw that broke the camel's back in getting things repaired. The other PITA was the safety release valve on the trailer. It kept going off at 14 PSI when it shouldn't be going off at the lowest 25, but really 30 PSI.  They fixed the door switch for cab lights - it was staying on all the time.

__________________

This is not Tuesday evening now, lol. Just started that one and decided why ditch it to the infernos of everlasting non-published-ness?  That isn't a real word, but you get it.  

It is now Wednesday evening, steaks are on the grill and we are about to eat a fabulous dinner.  Steak, corn on the cob, a little salad and a few potatoes.  Light on the potatoes please, lov'em but they are so stacked with carbs.  Trying to change the way I look at food. An occasional steak I will do for sure. I'm hardly eating beef or pork at all as it stands.

Oh, and this morning? This first load dude didn't show up until 11:00 am.  I was already there and tho I waited quite a while to get loaded, I would have had to wait a LOT longer if I had arrived when he did.  His bad, so sad, don't care, arrive on time and you won't have these problems.  

The saga of the non-paying "renter" goes on.  She claims to have the money but she keeps pushing the run around endlessly.  I gave here the low-down earlier, I have dealt with people like this and I know how they play. They just keep leading you on and on and on and...on...and..........onnnnn...............

You will be trespassed from the property and the sheriff will be called and I will show them the Texas Statute.  You trailer will be hauled off the property by a tow truck and placed in an impound yard.  Yup, I said that to her and that's because she lied to me multiple times and I have really no reason to believe her now, except now?  Is the time to get rid of her.  

UGG. 

Much later now.  Almost time to go to bed. 

 Tuesday - mid morning

At the yard in El Dorado.  I'll be here a while.  First off, I got a late start.  The alarm was set and it was going off - but it wasn't making any noise.  At 6:00 am I woke up without the aid of the "blaring" alarm and realized instantly that it was much later than it should be.  The light of day clued me in on that.  When I looked at the clock, I jumped out of bed and started my morning routine in a very rushed manner.  

I tried a different route up here, more direct approach but slow speed limits and lots of small towns to go through, definitely the scenic route.  I ended up taking 2 hours and 45 minutes to get here anyway, partially due to a road I was on having a washed out bridge.  Louisiana is notorious for that back in the boonies where old bridges prevail and they are grossly underweighted.  Built back in the days where no heavy trucks were going through there or expected to, you can see bridges with max weights as low as 5 tons.  

They've slowly been replacing them, painstakingly slow.  Oh, yea, the sign for the washed out bridge? Right before the damn bridge lmao.  Had to figure out how to turn around on a narrow 2 lane highway.  Got up here and here were 4 mechanics working on a single 5th wheel plate, trying to dislodge it.  In fact, 5 minutes after I arrived and standing there watching them, they got it off but said they had spent that last 2 and a half hours first trying to get it off of the trailer and then trying to get it off of the truck.

Apparently the driver didn't get under the trailer correctly and the kingpin was barely being held in there.  Catastrophe waiting to happen, if that driver hadn't been up here switching trailers, he might have had a loaded trailer disconnect from the truck while driving down the highway.  

Anyway, they wouldn't have started on my truck before that so getting here a little late wasn't an issue at all.  

Yesterday - crazy.  

First off the dentist office. They took a bunch of x-rays and then said I had no major issues - thankfully - beyond the need for crowns.  Then it was a cleaning - rather painful when the lady was digging that thing down into my gums, but necessary.  She said "If at any time it gets to be too much, i'll back off immediately".  I replied, no, I'll just eat the pain, would rather have it done right.  After that, the dentist came in.  Looked at everything on the x rays and paperwork and then started examining my teeth.  

I knew the idea of putting on 4 crowns would be costly, but what he came back with with crazy.  You're going to need to raise the gap line so the crowns will actually fit on there, which means we would have to replace all the crowns - 13 of them - on the upper row, plus a bridge on the missing tooth, plus gum work, plus we would have to grind down the bottom row.  That was an immediate no for me, they've been grinding my teeth forever, they aren't doing that anymore.

Which was confirmed by him anyway, he said if they get too short, I'm concerned about tooth sensitivity.  You know, when you drink something cold or hot or whatever and you get an unwanted sensation in your tooth or teeth? Yeah, that. No thanks double down now.  The cost wasn't the biggest issue to me, even tho he stated between 10 and 15k.  It's this idea of gum work and grinding already ground down teeth.  

The other option, he stated, was a bridge. I knew he wasn't fixing to tell me dentures, because I'll have none of that either.  I'll pay for implants before I go the dentures route.  I don't want removeable teeth.  A bridge is basically permanent.  He showed me a pic of a man's mouth, but before he showed it, he said he wasn't happy with it but the client was.  I looked and saw no way, no thank you, that looks as fake as the scam phone calls telling you you owe the IRS blah amount of money and if you don't pay now, they're going to come arrest you.  

However, the client had chosen them to look that way. The dentist said he would have opted for far different.  I want my teeth looking natural, not obviously fake.  He said he could do that.  That took 2 hours and I have another appointment to start that process.  They wanted to wait for my insurance to determine how much they would pitch in for that.  As it stands, yesterday's visit was free, thankfully, all of that was covered under insurance.

I went straight home after that, got the dog and went to the vet.  Was there 8 minutes early and still ended up waiting an hour before they got to me.  

There was a dog that had been brought in for an emergency so they pretty much dropped everything to deal with it.  I can empathize with that, if they are overbooking I not only don't empathize, I get pretty vocal about it.  Anyway, they gave him all shots.  Including a dose of heart worm preventative medicine = Heartguard - that is 12 months.  You can get it for shorter duration, and it's extremely expensive regardless, I just forked over the money for 12 months worth, won't have to worry about him getting heartworms. 

They tested him and he came back negative - because I had had them give him the 12 month dosage last time.  The only thing that was out of normal was his ears.  I knew they were doing  something funny so I had them inspect them, the vet said he has yeast infections and they gave drops to put in there once a day for 10 days.  The bill for that visit is what floored me. I was thinking $300-400, the bill was $698.  For shots!  It was the Heartguard. That was $316 alone.  I also got him Bravecto - lots of mosquitos in these parts, I wanted him to be a bit more comfortable outside.  Double dose, double the price.  $160 worth of that stuff and it is only for 3 months.  Still, in 3 months it will be winter time so no need for it.  

Yesterday was busy and the dentist and vet visit were last minute stuff that they got me sneaked in same-day, glad to get it done really. Especially the dog, He was a bit past due for the shots.  

 The park is completely full once again.  A student at a local tech college moved in, he's only there a few months they said, but whatever. I'll take it filled over nothing.  Someone else will leave sooner or later and it's just a constant thing.  The nature of RV parks, people come and go.  That doesn't concern me, it's when I have a lot of empty lots and I'm thinking, why am I expanding?  Oh, yes, because they'll fill back up sooner or later and then I'll be turning people away again, that's why.  

Too late now, I already spent the money on the new septic system, It's a go regardless.  It may be a slow-go, but it's a definitive go.  These things take time and money.  Just the way it is.  I want to get a couple more lots in as fast as I can tho, I need to get that dozer work done and now I have the end of that particular tunnel in sight, at least.  

That new driveway is going to be costly.  Now that I have determined the only real way to go is to create a new driveway all the way to the street, I'm going to have to not only have the gravel all the way to the street, I'm also going to have to lay drainage pipe and create a new entrance.  That will be thousands of dollars in and of itself.  

I don't know where the money for that will come from, not an issue right now.  I can install a couple new lots as back in lots and use existing driveway.  I have no choice, I don't have 20k for gravel right now, or I kind of do but I can't be spending it all on that.  

Diet.  Going well actually.  I'm doing a strict version of keto temporarily.  No heavy amount of fats this time around and I won't be doing it too long.  Just enough to take advantage of being in ketosis and maybe trying to get down to 200 and then switch back to alkaline diet.  Or my version of it anyway.  It was working, just pretty slow.  

I don't know what else?  Oh, I've got 3 days off coming up now.  My manager called to figure out this week, he switched me from having to load today to getting the truck fixed and loading tomorrow, delivering on Thursday and since I basically demanded the entire weekend off? I have 3 days off coming up.  I was perfectly fine with that, even tho the manager was like, well I'm not trying to give you too much time off for your paychecks....no worries at all.  

Since Saturday is going to be taken up and Sunday I pretty much don't do anything unless my job is making me do so, Friday off will be good. I can get the mowing down at the park and try to get the weeds hacked down for the dozer work.  Then I can have the dozer delivered and get the dude out there to smooth it out.  He knows what he's doing, I need to get him over there and tell me what to do to get it dozer ready. I know about the weeds, I have a question about some of the trees I want to take down. 

Would it be better to cut them down with a chainsaw or can you push them over and get the whole thing out and no stumps?  If he can do that, I'll just wrap ribbons around the trees I want to keep and he can spend the day out there getting that job done.  I'm also going to want him to fix a part of the main driveway that is uneven and has humps and dips in it.  

Well that's enough. I'm going to play my game.  

 Monday - morning

Day off.  No way I'm taking that truck up north to get it fixed, it can wait until Wednesday after delivery.  I had thought I was working today but I was wrong and glad I'm not.  

Finally snagged a spot to get Obi - my Great Dane - in to the vet to get him his shots and get his ears looked at.  Probably just need cleaned out and whatever they put in there, drops if I recall correctly, for whatever is ailing him. The dog is in obvious discomfort and he also shakes his head half the night and keeps me awake.  I did not sleep very well last night because of it.  

Well well well. The manager just called and asked me to plan the week.  I said sure, I'm loading tomorrow and delivering on Wednesday and then going to take the truck/trailer to the yard to get stuff fixed.  He said well what if we have you come in tomorrow and get it fixed, load Wednesday and then have 3 days off? Yes, yes and yes.  

This is actually a much better deal for me. I get paid to go up there and get the stuff fixed, get a load and then have 3 luxurious days off. Saturday we are going to a giant indoor water park, end of summer for the kids and we decided to give them a last hurrah to usher them into - the joys of school.  That starts Monday I do believe.  I'll be glad for that, on my days off I can sit in the house in peace and get stuff done without constant this and that from kids.  

Friday I'll devote to the park, Sunday is church day, get back to some sense of normalcy.  

Actually, maybe I can find a dentist to take a look at my teeth on Friday, I need 4 new crowns to replace the disastrous work the previous dentist did. That's a great idea, actually and I'm going to look around for recommendations after I finish this post. Probably just go to the gossip group.  

The other guy in the house quit his job and is waiting on 401k payout.  Then he's going to fix things around the house and end up in some trucking school in Arkansas.  He was going to do this a long time ago but things didn't work out. Now?  Well, he thinks it will make him a lot more money and I wish him success.  He tried to start his own side business but there is a lot of competition around here for the type of work he was doing, even tho it's skilled labor, just a lot of people are doing it.  

Once he leaves, things are going to change around here quit a bit.  He won't be home to help out with the kids, tho his job kept him out late every day anyway - but - he had 3 day weekends.  Not complaining just sort of allowing room in the space of my head for probably a different sort of landscape around here.  It will help they're in school, that's basically most of the day for her - the lady of the house - to get her stuff done. I am usually home in the afternoons when they get home from school so usually it's all covered.  There are friends of family that live like a block away and they are always willing to help out if they are available.

Anyway, I couldn't wait, called a highly recommended dentist office that is literally 2 blocks from my house.  They are, of course, busy so I just left a message, trying to get in on Friday.  If not, I'll make an appointment for 2 or 3 weeks from now and take the day off.  

So now that I have 3 days off, that's going to make this week go by pretty fast.  It's only 3 more days of work and one of them is just take the truck up, sit around picking my nose for 6-8 hours and then go back home. The next morning head over to the washout, to the plant and then deliver the day after that.  I'm all good with that.  

Well, let's go all out today. I've got an appointment, new patient, for a different dentist than the last one who gave me buck teeth.  I'm assuming they'll want to do x rays, cleaning and consultation about how much crowns are going to cost. Not cheap, I already know that, somewhere around a grand per tooth.  I don't like going to dentists, hence I haven't been to one since I had an emergency extraction. Oh, I guess I'll have to get something for that too, probably a bridge.  There is nothing there atm, lol.  It's costly, I'm looking at 5k to do all of that easily.  This time, however, I'll be asking about a warranty or replacement or whatever to understand that I am spending this much money and if one breaks off, then what?  

So, this afternoon is all of a sudden busy. Nothing I wanted to do, things that must be done.  

Tomorrow, I'll get up at 5 am, head up to the yard, be there around 8:30 am, spend however many hours waiting on them to repair everything - they must fix the airbag and the pop off valve and the door switch, the rest is whatever.  

You know what I feel like doing? NOTHING.

 LOL

 Saturday - evening

Up early this morning, got down to Nacogdoches, over to Lufkin and back up to here in about 6-1/2 hours.  That's about as good as it gets.  Work again tomorrow and then Monday off. Tuesday and Wednesday working, presumably Thursday and Friday working as well and then the weekend is off. The weekend is off regardless of what they say, I've already informed them I'm not working next weekend. I didn't ask, I informed them.  It's 4 weekends in a row now and I'm just not doing this. As I said in previous post, I'm not going to just sit here and eat this and not be able to go to church and let junior drivers take precedence over me.  I ate the after-vacation garbage, time to be done.  I ate it this weekend as a good-will gesture for respect but that's it.  

I've got a dozer operator in the park, I remembered, he's allegedly pretty good, so I'm just going to rent a dozer, have it delivered and have him do the work.  This is easier than finding someone and he has an operator's license for dozer work.  

_________________

Just going to do Sunday here. 

Sunday - afternoon

Got up early, went to Gurdon, unloaded, came back, texted the manager and the mechanic there are several things the truck needs done to it, I'll be bringing it in after next load.  

I won't go into the whole list - it's mostly minor stuff - but today I finally got so annoyed with the truck bouncing like a ping pong ball all over the place every time it hits even a small bump, I started doing an exhaustive search for the issue.  

The mechanics couldn't find it, hence it's been like that for a while now. I knew it HAD to be something with the suspension, I just wasn't finding it.  This time, I had an idea pop into my head.  The airbags have a stud on the bottom of the assembly that goes through a metal crossbeam and attaches underneath with a giant screw.  I started checking them and walaah.  One of them broken off.  It was after that that I said no more, let's get all of this fixed.  

I have tomorrow off and then a run on Tuesday, so I can go to the shop on Wednesday after I get done unloading.  

On another front, this person that moved in.  I won't go into all of the details, but she lied to me about having the rent after someone had already pulled the thing over there.  When I finally got her at the door after several attempts, she handed me $85.  Fast forward what, a week later?  And I'm still getting the runaround except today?  I told her to get me the money or get that trailer out of my park.  End of story.  "Oh, I'm sorry I should have been up front with you at the beginning, I don't get paid until the 5th".  

That set me off, but we were texting thankfully or I would have filled her ears with "information" that she wouldn't particularly want to hear.  I did tell her I was annoyed and how many times I've been over there and yes, I'm done with this.  I am giving her til the 5th since it's the 3rd already and I told her if she doesn't have it, be prepared to move the trailer off the lot immediately.  I didn't threaten the Sheriff, but I will if I have to.  

I'm a bit tired, got just short of 6 hours of sleep last night which isn't enough.   I can sleep in tomorrow but I was also annoyed I was working on yet another Sunday.  I don't like Sunday work and dislike it even more when you figure 3 out of the last 4 Sundays I've both worked and missed church.  

 Thursday - night

Late load today, but it was scheduled to pick up at 11 am instead of 1 pm.  Hadn't seen that before, got home at a reasonable time.  I'll be showing up at the plant around 10:30 am tomorrow morning, that should give ample time for the first driver to unload and I'll still get home at a decent hour,  around 2:30 if it works out. 

Day 4 of fasting is now completed as of - right now actually.  I have a chicken broth I started in the crock pot going, 18 hour cooking time.  I'm going to end this tomorrow, I figured on either 5 or 7 days, I'm not going to make it 7 days especially considering I have been scheduled yet another entire weekend to work. If I weren't working, I would probably try going 7.  I'll save 7 for a future date.  I figure in a month or 2 or I'll do another extended fast and will probably do 1 or 2 day fasts in between.  

Oh, speaking of my job, I informed the manager today that I will not be working next weekend, that I have been working entire weekends since I got back from vacation excepting last weekend where I worked Saturday but not Sunday - still weekend work and that after this weekend I'll have worked 4 weekends in a row.  I expected to get some crappy work after vacation, but enough is enough.  I wasn't asking for next weekend off, I was telling him I'm not going to work.  He responded in the affirmative and that he was sorry and would get me back on my normal schedule.  Thank you.  

About time.  He would have just kept doing it unless I had said something.  I just couldn't believe he had dumped me with another weekend of work, I think I have paid them back in crap runs.  The last load up there I was stuck up there 5 hours and it was incredibly hot.  I think the temps have come down at least up there, not here.  

I had a new person move in, but I didn't have time to collect until yesterday.  I stopped by and this person handed me $85.  Uhh, you said you had the $400?  Oh well I"ll have it tomorrow.  She wasn't there today so I contacted her telling her I need my money.  I'll get direct with people when I need to, if they think you are a pushover some people will just walk all over you.  She eventually replied and said she was at the hospital with her father and that she would be back later. I had already been there twice today, I responded I'll be over tomorrow.  

1 more week and kids summer is over.  I discussed today with T about taking them to an giant indoor water park about 60 miles away, of which she replied in the affirmative, let's go!  The man of the house, whom I'll call J, quit his job - I'm not sure how long ago, a few days, a week?  Not long ago.  He was tired of the way they were treating them and he wants to get into the trucking business. Not any of my doings, I don't recommend trucking to anyone for a variety of reasons.  But he's intent on it and I'm not going to try to talk him out of it, he figures to make a lot more money than what he was making at his previous job and I suspect that will definitely be true.

But the real deal was tonight, he came into my room and handed me his phone telling me to read it.  The company he just quit? Is closing down.  Now there's a 6th sense? He was talking about all of the stuff that needs to be done on the house and I definitely agree. I don't want to pay for that kind of stuff for it isn't my house.  I mean, I could see myself adding on to this room by 10 feet to the north side, yet that would cost a small fortune.  

Nope, my money is tied up in this rv park and will be for some time. If I'm buying a pool, it's for the park, we can all use it if we want to - over there.  I do intend on getting a pool, it's just been put on hold until I get more revenue coming in from the park to help pay for the monthly expenses.  As I have stated previously, I have no intention of maintaining it, it will be handled by a service to come and keep the ph levels and chlorine accurate and keep it clean and such.  It makes no business sense to put one in until I am "rolling in the dough", or at least, making a nice sum out of that place and wanting to attract higher paying guests who want access to a pool.  I was quoted 105k for a medium sized one (it's very large) so I think I'll downsize that but I will also shop around. Plenty of pool builders in this region. 

I figured 60-70k is the max I want to spend on one.  Or I could go the cheap route and put in a large above ground pool and have a deck built around it.  Talking 15 - 20 k doing it that way, but I'm not sure about the appearance or the quality.  Maybe if there is a professionally built deck around it.....

I'm not there yet and won't be until I at least get these 14 new lots in.  That is going to take some time and I"m in no huge rush because of the intense heat.  Those 14 lots will be costly and I will have to do it in spurts of 2 or 3.  It's the gravel and electric that is high dollar, can't get around it but it will limit me from attempting to get all 14 done in a short period of time.  I can see 20k in gravel and 15k in electrical alone.  

However, I couldn't even begin to think about starting until I got that septic system in .  One step at a time.  I figure approximately 2k per lot doing it myself.  And then I'll have the extra problem of needing another bathroom.  

Anyway, it's getting late - 10:00 pm - I don't have to get up too early but I'll still need to roll out of bed at 6:30 am.  

 Wednesday - evening

So, today, people at the plant in ?Gurdon were taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion, stroke, etc.  This hot weather isn't playing any games and I want no part of it.  The plant manager was visibly overheated yesterday, I sent him off after he was helping me - thanks for the help! He left immediately, presumably to go iuto his nice cool office and get some relief.

I got my stuff done today and that was that, I haven't been outside for more than a few minutes at a time since then.  Evening time now, I'm sure it's not near as hot out there. 

This company has me working the next 4 days.  I'm going to be telling the manager next week that I want a full weekend off.  This will make 4 weekend work in a row, with 3 of them being both Saturday and Sunday and off.  I don't know what is going on here, but it's going to stop.  I need the work so I'm going to take it, he's setting up my schedule so that I will have to do weekends. I haven't said anything to him about it, hence he thinks he can get away with it.

No more.  Getting ridiculous.  

Fasting got so hard for me today that I had to watch several YouTube videos of doctors walking everyone through 5 days worth of fasting.  The real benefits start tomorrow. Yes, there are physical benefits that have started already, autogaphy should have started yesterday, I'm in full throated ketosis now and other things, but the T cells and other things don't start until the 4th day, which starts for me in about 30 minutes. 

Now that I've made it this far, I fully intend on going 5 full days.  Anything after that would be icing on the cake, but I'm only committing myself to 5 days.  I don't think I can make any more than that.  Since I started that diet maybe 5 or 6 weeks ago, I'm down 13 pounds. I am guessing some of that in the last few days, I dunno, I didn't get new batteries for my scale until today. It shows 215.  I was near 230.  My goal, if attainable which I know it is but it seems daunting, is down to at most 190 pounds. 185 would be better.  

I'm just happy that eating fruits, nuts, vegetables and mostly fish and some chicken/turkey has paid off.  I would like to think my cholesterol levels are also coming down.  I'll have it checked again after I've done 6 months of this.  

Ketosis throws a monkey wrench into the works.  It's highly effective but that wasn't really the goal here.  The goal was an internal reset, the real reset according to 2 doctors I watched starts on the 4th day and continues on into the 5th.  The videos motivated me to stay on the fast and now it's 8:30 pm so it's not going to be a problem finishing the night out without eating, I will be going to bed in an hour.  I'm quite fatigued from this venture, can't wait to start eating again lol.  

Well enough of this.  I am really tired it was just too early to go to bed.  Hoping tomorrow might be better.  I think the problem is ketosis and I'm no longer fat adapted like I used to be and that can really drag you down. Oh, well the conundrum of being in ketosis is whether I want to continue with it after this fast is over?  It would be really restrictive tho, because I am also trying to bring down cholesterol.  It would be a diet of mostly vegetables and meat.  

I'll have to make that decision when I get done fasting, I'm only going to eat some salad, bone broth and soup to break the fast.  You can eat a bunch of stuff when you break a fast, but it is highly inadvisable.  I like the diet I'm on so I am thinking I'll just dump the ketosis.  I like my fruits and bread options as well as the fish and veggies.  We're talking low carb, not ultra low carb such as keto is.  

Oh, brain fog should be clearing up pretty quick here. It hasn't yet, that was another main goal was to get rid of this fogginess.  I think a lot of that is sleep deprivation and the last couple nights, I've slept really well. I figured I would doing an extended fast.  You see? Lots of benefits to fasting, hardly any cons beyond maybe a little muscle loss and obviously being in hunger, that comes and goes.  Just seeing food sets me off. I'm staying out of the kitchen as much as possible, lol.  

 Tuesday - late morning

Slept almost 10 hours.  The benefits of fasting, I guess, you get pretty good and fatigued.  Plus I had a horrible headache yesterday which I can still feel the remnants of, but it's not near as bad.  I guess the headache wasn't only tied to heat, it must have been connected to this fasting as well.  It's day 3 and I'm neither feeling good or bad, not terribly hungry but it's there.  Trying to make it 5 days at least for the health benefits.  That's one of the main reasons of doing this, super health benefits if you can last long enough.  That's the hard part, lol, lasting long enough.  The end is worth it, but getting there is tough.

Going to Lowe's today and then over to the property.  I had a tenant's circuit break go on the blink so I stole one from another outlet yesterday since it wasn't being used but I don't intend on leaving it like that.  This guy had suffered all day long without electricity, so as crappy as I felt, I didn't have a choice but to swap those breakers out.

At least I didn't have the added pain of having to go to Lowe's as well.  I'm going to buy 2 of them this time and keep one as a backup, it's really inconvenient many times to have to go to the store to fix something when you know that those things are going to keep breaking.  And in the middle of a hot summer, it's just not something you can let wait, people want their ac working and I don't blame them.  I don't have a magic ball as to when any given breaker is going to go out, but it's notable that it's always the 30 amp breakers, the 50 amp breakers never seem to quit.  

I've got one lot open and it's been "taken" twice, only to have no one show up.  this is getting old and I have been asking for a deposit, but these people were showing up the same day, or so they said, so I didn't force it.  But, the last one, the guy claimed the spot and said he would be there several hours later only to have him bow out of it - and - I had a call after he claimed it from a person looking for a place. This is why I am considering deposits for holding them at all. First come, first served unless you put $100 down. You lose that $100 if you don't show.  

I had another call yesterday but they wanted a pull through and all of those are filled ATM.  

Anyway, if I can stomach it, I may get on the tractor and brush hog the areas up front to have a dozer come through with.  I need to have that all mowed down first, I am told, before they can come in and do their work.  I honestly would rather fast tho and do that for my own health's sake than get this project moving forward.  It takes time to do these things and so I just haven't been in any huge rush.  At all.  If the temps were cooler I"d probably be out there more and longer. 

As yesterday proved, however, staying out in that incredible heat - humidity driven - just takes it out of me.  

I'm still feeling pretty fatigued as it stands.  I just want that lot available for use in case someone calls, if they want 30 amp, it isn't available.  

$760 water bill - 2 months.  Ridiculous and outrageous.  I am on Mark's @$$ to find out why the bill is so high.  I am not there, HE IS.  Get this back down or I am going to have to take actions you may not like. Not something I want to do, but I will if I get shoved into a corner, not even going to mention what that action is, but it would definitely remove that headache out of my life. 

Just losing money now over there. 

Nothing much else, or if there is I can't think of it.  Really feeling it all of a sudden.  I was very glad I had today off, the 3rd day is usually the hardest. 

 Tuesday - late afternoon

Today was a total mess, putting it nicely.  

When I drove into the plant in Gurdon, I was greeted by the site of a giant crane blocking access to the delivery shack.  Great.  I have been around cranes for many decades now, if they are there, they are going to be there for a long time.  I still tried to have them let me pull up and attempt it.  No, was the answer after 15 minutes of waiting.  

So, I waited. And waited ..... and waaaaiiiiittttteeed.  Finally, one of the plant managers came out after several hours asking if I had "unloaded that thing yet?"  NOPE, they won't let me.  

He walks off muttering about getting something done.  Mind you, I had been there over 3 hours waiting at that point.  Then the head manager comes out and says something to which I said yes, I've been waiting for many hours now . He got agitated, not with me but how long this was going on. Finally, an apparent manager drove up of the crane company, he looked at him and pointed at his wrist, motioning there are things to do and time is ticking. 

The man told him to tell me to do whatever I needed to.  I looked at him and said why didn't they say that 3 hours ago?  I pulled the truck up, but way too far.  No worries. I have another 20 foot line on my truck rack. Pulled that down, the plant manager helped me set everything up and walaah.  

Meanwhile, the crane operator and all the crane employees had disappeared inside of an office building. They couldn't have cared less about anyone else, in fact, two of them had been standing in the middle of the driveway, stared over at me and started laughing.  I bit my tongue seriously hard on that one, I would have liked to express myself to them in no uncertain terms, but I withheld.  

It was blazing hot, I mean I was sweating so bad my clothes were soaked.  I eventually got a heat headache and I still have it now, many hours later. Probably doesn't help that I am still fasting, but I know it's a heat headache, have had them before.  

I would have sat there over another hour if they hadn't allowed me to hook up.  I'm telling you, it was all I could do to get home with that horrible headache going on.  I'm sitting here now, in my cool bedroom, resting and this headache will either go away or I'll go to bed and it will disappear by morning.

I remain undaunted by today's mayhem. I am still fasting and now that's it's almost 5:30, it would seem such a ridiculous waste to give into temptations to eat something.  No.  I am having a cup of coffee, no cream or sugar, have been drinking ample amounts of water all day long, that's going to be it.  Oh! Thank you for reminding me, I need to go consume a little salt.  I've been sweating and not replacing electrolytes.  I took a supplement this morning with potassium in it and I had some salt, but I think I need a little more salt. 

________

Miserable headache. I'm not writing anymore, going to go lay down.  

 Tuesday - early

So, I would have had the park full again as of last night but the man claimed he "couldn't get a hold of me" - after we had already discussed earlier in the day that he was coming and taking such and such a lot.  In other words, he found a place better, closer to what he is doing, whatever.  All well and fine, I don't hold that against anyone, but while he was engaging in his disappearing act, I told some other folks on the phone that I was "completely full", anticipating these people's arrival.  

I don't really know what parks are "better" than mine in the area.  Further away, yes, MUCH further away, places with more amenities but they are also places that charge a lot more than I do.  Some people don't care about that, some do.  Most people are either living paycheck to paycheck or they are saving money for whatever - a house usually - and want the cheapest option available..  

I'm on day 2 of a water fast.  No food at all. No drinks with any calories, in fact, it's mostly water and a little coffee with no creamer or sugar - tho I never use sugar anyway.  The goal is autophagy (you can look it up on Google, a lot of research and articles about it) and potentially, stem cell regeneration.  It also can help with the plaque build up in the brain that is typically found in alzheimer's and dementia patients, and a score of other potential benefits.  

I'm no doctor but I've done a lot of reading about it over the years. The science is slowly catching up to the thousands of years long practice of both short and long term fasting.  I summarily dismiss any notion of harm being done by prolonged fasting, I've done it many times in the past.  You mostly just ensure you keep your electrolytes up, which I am doing simply through the ingestion of a small amount of Himalayan salt and a multi-vitamin with essential minerals.  These contribute zero calories to the event and therefore post no risk in inhibiting the desired outcome.  

I'm shooting for 3 full days, but 5 or even 7 days would be optimal.  Just depends on whether I become too weak today and tomorrow.  I've done this before, I know what happens.  The potential health benefits are what are driving me to start a routine of fasting, but especially doing prolonged fasts on a - monthly I'd say - basis.  There is also the "deny yourself, take up your cross and follow after Me" factor, not religion, thanks, more like relationship in following the Lord and seeking Him.  So there are 2 sides to this and they both can have very beneficial outcomes.

Anyway, I just posted on my facebook that I still have one lot available.  I get a lot of views on that page, Facebook sends me notifications frequently.  I have recently started to update it more regularly than I was because of it. If I ever get these additional lots installed, I'm going to need more guests staying at the park.  

I have also decided that the best route to go is to create a completely new driveway leading out to the street instead of attempting to connect it with the main driveway as originally planned.  This will cost more money but it will be a far better setup.  It will mean buying a thousand dollars worth of pipe - 12 inch pipe in a 20 foot length is at least $400 nowadays, an outrageous price but there is no getting around it that I can see - and I'll need 40 feet of pipe.  Dirt to pack it in is free, lol, I have plenty of that and then a thick layer of gravel on the top.  I'll have to remove some trees but those are trees that I am not in love with anyway. I also have that huge tree that is at a 45 degree angles - it's completely rotted out - and needs to come down.  

Just not sure how to get it to come down without endangering my own life and safety, I'll have to go over there and take a much closer look at it and try to figure out a safe way to bring it down.  The tree poses no danger to humans atm, it started falling in a direction which will not have it snapping power lines right next to the area or the street on the other side.  But, it needs to come down, I just don't want to pay thousands of dollars for someone to come do it if I don't have to.

Work calls. I need to get out of here, heading up to Gurdon to deliver and then back at it again tomorrow morning. 

G'day

 Friday - late afternoon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday - evening

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shrugged shoulders, went to Applebee's alone. 

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

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

___________________

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

 Monday - evening

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Sunday - late night

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday - earlyish morning

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

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

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

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

________________

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

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

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

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

 Sunday - afternoon

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

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

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

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

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

 Friday - late evening

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Tuesday - late morning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

__________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Tuesday - afternoon

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

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

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

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

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

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

Whatever.  

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

 Monday night/Tuesday early morning (1 am)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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