| From an email I wrote this morning: Yesterday Dan helped me sell many things at the swap
meet. We got there early and found a nice spot that would have many people passing all day long. We got entirely set up, and then someone came by and told us that spot was reserved and that we had to move. She would go find us another spot somewhere. We packed everything back into the truck Dan had borrowed from his father, but the lady never returned. We went in search of a spot but could find none. We did find the lady though, and she said she had found
nothing. She told us another guy, though, had a spot for us. We got over there, and he told us that he did have a spot, but it is taken now. Why didn't he hold it for us? Why didn't she bother to ASK him to hold it for us? We finally found a spot, but it was in a little hole that few people walk. I was amazed at how FEW people visited our spot all day long. However, we still sold quite a bit. Still, I was frustrated that we didn't sell
more. I had prayed that God let us make at least two hundred dollars, and we did that and a little more. Thanks, God.
We packed up early and left. We took much of the stuff left over to the Salvation Army thrift store and donated it. Dan will take some other things, a few boxes of movies and a box of antique dishes, to his sister's store to sell for me. I brought home only a few things: two printers and a few pda's that I can sell on eBay.
Through all the moving, we lifted things eight times! I moved it all once to get it out to where we would load the truck. But Dan couldn't get the truck during the day; so, we loaded everything into our two cars and drove down to his father's house. There we moved it all into the truck. Setting it up the first time at the swap meet was the fourth time we moved everything. The we put it back into the truck and then back out of the truck to set it all up at the
second spot. Then back into the truck after we finished, and then dropping it off either at the Salvation Army or his sister's store or my home. Yikes, I was tired after that long day. My foot hurt very very bad, and my back wasn't feeling well. I stopped at the gym on the way home, but only to soak in the hot tub. My back felt much better after two long soaks, but I could barely walk out to my car from the pain in my foot. I feel much better today.
The back is fine, and the foot has only moderate residual pain.
Jason came over Saturday to help me drop the gas tank from this bus so that we could clean it out. We spent a couple hours but still could not get the tank out. However, Jason was able to peak into the tank to see that not much is in there, and he says that what little there is will likely go through the engine without too much problem. Then we connected a hose to the fuel pump on the engine and placed
the other end of the hose into a gas can. I poured a bit of gas into the carburetor air intake and then cranked the engine. It started up right away and ran perfectly. Wow, I am amazed it started so easily and ran so well after sitting for thirteen years. I did not change the spark plugs or overhaul the carburetor or change the other parts on the engine that I usually change after it has been sitting for a long time. Yay.
Both Saturday and Sunday I spent
three hours at one of my client's house working on his pc and getting his new gps working for him and showing him how to use it. I could not believe that he wanted to spend so much money on my working the weekend in this way. I told him I could wait until Tuesday to do it and save him over a hundred dollars each day, but he wanted to pay me more to work the weekend. I am happy to work weekends and get paid so much more.
So, it was a very busy weekend, all three days
(Monday being a holiday). I am glad it is all done. I am pleased to have all that stuff gone from here and also to know the bus will run just fine. Now I hope the tires will hold up to the move. That is about my only concern now. I can make the deadline, and I can get both buses moving. I will survive this move.
However, I might not even have to move now. Yep, the land lords are reconsidering. I called my previous land lord, the one who
sold this property to the present land lords, to see if he knows somewhere I can be caretaker. He buys and sells lots of property, and he knows many people. He never did answer my question, now that I think of it. He simply asked me why I was moving, and I told him they wrote and told me to leave. He asked why they asked me to move, and I said they told me they don't need anyone on the property. He said that he will call them and find out what is going on.
My previous land lord then told me that he was always pleased with what I did on the property and very much appreciated having me here.
He called the next day and told me that the reason they were asking me to leave was because they had received reports that I was "bringing people onto the property". I don't even know what they mean by that. He told me that he assured the chair lady of the council that I would not do such a thing, and she said she would talk to
the other council members. That meeting takes place either today or Thursday. I hope they change their minds and let me stay. I very much like living here, as you know. That would be wonderful.
If I do have to move, both Larsen's and Teri (Jason's mom) have said that I can park at their houses temporarily. I looked at Larsen's location, and that will work, but without having a hook up for the septic. I've not yet spoken with Teri, but her
message said that I could park close to her house and have full hook ups. That would be better, but I don't know if her husband Mike is much open to the idea. I have to talk to her about it.
At computer club last week, I told everyone that I was having to move and might not be at the club meetings anymore. One lady said she knew someone who was looking for a caretaker for a large property nearby. That lady called yesterday and left a message that the people had
sold that property and no longer needed a caretaker. She told me, however, that another person, one of my clients actually, has six acres and is wanting to talk to me. I don't know why she would want a caretaker on so small a property, but I called and left a message for my client.
So, I do have options, even if I don't really like any of them. I hope that the present land lords let me stay.
Today I have only one client. Business has been VERY slow
lately. Actually, it has been slow since November. I don't know why. Other business people tell me that their businesses are also slow. I am pretty much okay so far, but I can't continue at this rate for long. One thing at a time, though. That has been a motto for myself these past few weeks. One thing at a time. Just go through one box at a time to decide what to do with that stuff. Work on one thing on the bus engine at a time.
When I finish with that box or that engine part, do the next one. That way I wasn't quite as overloaded and scared with the magnitude of this move. And I have been able to get most everything done already. So, I am going to make it okay. Until next time -- Dave Clingman
aka whstler |
