Life Goes On

The "quiet" life continues. I keep on writing. I've worked on my HVAC newsletter this week. The client I work for may actually be getting more people interested in a few months as he coaches some people on marketing. We'll see.

An old client emailed about writing articles again. So I'll do that until better paying jobs come along. I sent out some marketing letters and I need to work on my websites.

The huge tree trunk got it's roots ground up on Monday morning. It was a nifty radio controlled machine about the size of a hippopotamus. It was very maneuverable and he just ground down stump and roots. We were left with a HUGE mound of dirt and chipping. We loaded some onto the pickup and dumped them into the garden for mulch.

At the same time, Tom fired up the tractor to move the tree trunk. He cut it into 3-4 foot sections and then carted them off to the area where the grand-kids were building a fort. We tried to put them upright around the parameter. The tractor was as bit uncooperative and for some... we were just glad to get them over in the area.

This week Tom went to our Midway house and replaced the floor in the bathroom. The toilet was tipping backwards. Apparently there was as very slow leak that rotted the top layers (two of three) of the floor. We bought some vinyl planking-- our new favorite flooring-- and Tom installed it. But this flooring was glued down. The glue was slow to get to the tacky stage, and so the flooring took longer than he'd anticipated. He went back at least 3 times to get it all done.

Last fall I responded to a phone solicitation to go to an all-inclusive timeshare in Mexico. I paid a "good deal" amount for 5 days and airfare. I wanted to try one out. There was a bit of a hassle as the "no presentation" became a "yes, there is a sales presentation to sit through." and the "You have to be under 65 to go" became only one half of the couple needs to be under 65.

But I wasn't hearing back about being contacted for the air fare. My emails went unanswered. Phone calls just rang through. Then... phone was disconnected. Before this business went underground, it referred all business to... and unrelated business. So they know the turf, but aren't at all responsible for making good on any of the promises made by business #1.

It looks like I have the reservations for the nights... but not the airfare. And at $1400 for airfare, that's twice what I paid for the whole deal. I think I'll cut my losses and remember to never respond to phone solicitations again. Never. Again.

Friday Tom and I rode in the van the ward uses to go to the Temple. As usually we left at 5am and got to the temple for the 10am session. We enjoyed two sessions. Some people did sealings or baptisms. We left about 3pm and got home about 8:30 including a stop for dinner. It's a long day, and we enjoyed the conversation in the van with the 9 other people.

Saturday I had a meeting with my Relief Society Presidency in West Plains-- about an hour drive. We are planning our spring women's event.  It had been a while since we'd gotten together and it was so much fun. We got lots of ideas and really got a lot accomplished.