Ok, I’ve had it. Something is seriously wrong with the way we do things in this country.

What finally sent me over the edge is the other day when I’m in line at the grocery and notice the people paying by WIC (food stamps) are “buying” better food than I have in my cart! Then I got to looking at them; able-bodied, no reason they couldn’t be working. Yet, we allow them to collect from the government, from us no less via taxes, with virtually no resistance. I further studied them and notice something even more infuriating. All were large, out of shape. I’d even go so far as to say obese. So, not only are we feeding them, we’re feeding them too much!

Something has to be done. I’m all for helping those that can’t help themselves, but how is it fair that these people are able to exist without contributing anything to society? Oh wait, I know. Election year; and they certainly vote Democratic.

I suppose that it is time to give an update on what is going on at the mall. I have been asked a few times and so here is the latest.

As it stands right now the mall has been sold. The deposit the buyers put down has gone hard. This means that if they back out now they will loose the LARGE amount of cash. That is very unlikely. They were out last Thursday to meet with everyone in the management office. After this a letter went out to all the mall tenants informing them of the pending sale. If all goes according to plan, the closing with be on the 29th of June.

The meetings were held with everyone individually. They are going to be offering Melissa a position as the General Manager. They did not make me an offer but have stated that they want to keep the company I work for, SMS, on at the mall for the time being. See they plan to redevelope the mall. This means that the majority of the mall will be bulldozed and they will build a new mall. Once the mall empties out enough to where the construction is close they have ‘implied’ that they will offer me a positon as Operations Director to coordinate the efforts of the contractors during this construction. Yes, I do realize this is not concrete but I really look forward to possibility. The mall is so old and it would be great to see it redeveloped. I would really enjoy that position and it would look great on a resume. As for Melissa, GM? wow that is  a great thing for her. The problem to her is that once the construction were to begin, there is no need for a GM there. She would likely be out of a job for a time unless they decide to have her work in another aquisition.

We have come to understand that this company buying the mall is one that buys a property, redevelopes it then sells it. That is how they make their money. It is very common for those who were there during the reconstruction to continue employment with the new buyers but it is not for sure. Melissa and I have not yet decided how we want to proceed with this. She can stay with her current employer and begin traveling around the country going to different malls until an opening developes somewhere. Or, she can take the position with the new owners. As for me, if they keep SMS at the mall I will obviously stay there and hope an offer comes later. If not I will stay with SMS and see where that takes me.

So, hectic times for sure. Lots to think about and decisions to make. I will keep posting on here as things progress.

Raak

After arriving home from a long somewhat difficult trip I needed to get the RV moved into the back fenced area of our house. Knowing that our home owners association rules state that you can’t park a trailer or RV in your driveway or on the street in front of your house for more then 24 hours, I had to move the RV soon. I set to work on this and removed the existing gate and fencing next to the house to make it wide enough to drive the RV into the back yard. This existing gate runs at a  90 degree from the side of my garage over to the fence separating my back yard from the neighbor. Once this was accomplished I drove the RV into the back then put up a temporary chain-link fence to keep the dogs from getting out so that I could make a new gate wide enough for the RV to move in and out. I set this chain-link back some 20 feet from the front of my garage so that it could not be easily seen from the street out front.
Once the temporary fence was done I came in the house to answer the phone. This is when my neighbor came over to have a discussion with my wife. The jist of it was to ask, in a not-so-polite manner, if we were planning on leaving the RV parked in the back yard. After she was told ‘yes’ she mentioned that she could see it over the 6′ high fence separating our back yards. My wife explained that this is where we are to park RV’s and such and we are planning for it to sit right here. Not happy with that answer the neighbor next asked if the temporary fence was staying. My wife told her that it was just ‘temporary’ until we get the new wider gate finished. After that the neighbor stomped off back to her house.

After hearing this discussion I decided I better take down the chain-link and construct a nice looking temporary fence back across were the gate is to go. A new fence made of the same fence boards as all the others around. As I was working on this I looked up to see my neighbor crossing the street to take pictures of my house. I suppose she is intending on contacting the association to complain. She can complain all she wants for the fence now looks nice and the RV is in the back yard like it is supposed to be.

I suppose I could be the “better neighbor” and move the RV around the back yard some to give this neighbor less of a view to my RV but after the attitude and the picture taking I am not about to be so nice. Maybe if she comes over and asks in a nice way I might change my mind. Then again I might take some pictures myself of how her dog digs holes under our shared fence that I have to fix. Hmmm….

Raak

This was certainly an interesting trip. One of my freinds, Roy, said I was a brave man to drive a 1978 RV all the way from Ohio to Nevada. He was right but I made it. Not without troubles I might add. Prior to leaving Ohio I had much work done that had a hefty price to it. Mufflers, front brakes, water pump and tires just to start. Then with fingers crossed I headed out to check on the house in Fairborn, OH.

Highlights of the trip were to have lunch with a former work friend, Ed from Premier. I was also able to stop and visit with the Dawson’s that live down the street from our house in Fairborn. I also made the drive up to the UP of Michigan to see my parents. My mother had to go in for surgery. This was to put a stint in her left side to open blockage. She has recovered fine but I wanted to see her while I was that close. This side trip added about 1000 miles to my trip but it was well worth it.

On the down side I did run into some troubles. While in Fairborn I developed a leak in one brake line. Fortunately I was in the parking lot of Auto Zone so they had what I needed to fix the problem.  After that I was off to Indy to meet a friend there. After that I headed north to Michigan. Had trouble again in Nebreska. I was walking around the front to check the oil and got my hand wet. Then I noticed the small spray of coolant shooting from the radiator. Repaired that with two bottles of Barr’s Stop Leak and off I went. Around 7 pm I decided to pull off at a rest area and check the coolant level. As I was driving down the exit ramp I found that I once again had lost brake pressure. I pulled into the rest area safely and found another leak in the brake lines. This one could not be fixed so easily. A tow truck was needed to tow me back to Laramie WY. Yes, 45 mile tow and it was not cheap but was able to get into a shop and get that corrected. I was on the road again by 1 pm the next day. After that I didn’t have any trouble and pulled into the house here in Nevada around 6 pm Friday night.

Over all it was a decent trip. I can say that now that I am home safe. I wasn’t saying that as I was laying on my back under the RV in a rest area somewhere in Wyoming. That was not fun. Nor was paying the sizable towing charge. Fortunately we have towing insurance so that should be reimbursed. I just wish I would have had time to see some sights. Maybe next time and when I have the family with me.

Raak