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All State Specialty Contracting, parental alienation, and kids

Well, I have no idea if the kids will actually move here or not. They are. They aren't. They are. They aren't. They "have no help there". They "can't make it there". They're "staying". And me? I'm torn. Sure, I'd like them here. Sure, I'd like Little Bit closer. Yes, I'd love them to be closer so that I know that they get to eat every night. Her mom will take her younger brother out to eat and ignore the rest of the house. And when they buy food, her brothers will polish it off in 2 days and then they're back to scenario one. I sent them home with Little Man's baby fridge out of his bedroom (he volunteered to loan it) and enough groceries to hide in it for the 2 of them to eat for a week till next payday. If they're smart, then they'll buy meals from week to week and keep it hidden in their fridge. Although, I don't know that they're smart enough to plan things out like that. I'm going to work with Ruth on it though if they don't move this way. Things like planning meals and shopping on a budget. It shouldn't be much for the 2 of them to eat if they shop smart. They might not be eating steak, but they'll at least be eating. And that's more than they've managed here and there in the past. And I don't quite get it but then like I said, her mom is a busy woman and she's out and about and doing things. She works long hours and goes out when she's not working. She's actively dating too. And she eats out almost every night. But, me? I couldn't let anyone go hungry - let alone kids living in my house no matter how old they are or what choices they made. And yes, they have to learn to budget and shop but someone needs to show them and give them tips on how to live on a budget. And as her mom makes the kind of money that the kids won't see for years and years, a tight budget is not something that her mom has had to deal with. I'm sure her mom just doesn't think about it. When you're making more than $30/hour, getting $500/month in child support and living in a $900/month apartment and another couple is paying you $800/month in rent to live in one bedroom, tight budget is not part of your vocabulary. And since I haven't seen any "extra" money in my budget in more years than I can count- this is something that I can teach the kids. And do it well.

On other notes, NK (new kid) got a great birthday present. He found his dad. I will say here that they more I have to "deal" with the fall-out from his mom. The more aggravated I am with this woman. I read about parental alienation. I hear about crazy women not doing right by their kids or their dads. I am not one of those women. I have worked desperately to keep the lines of communication open with SD's family. Even though not one of them has made so much as minimal effort to reciprocate. NK's mom told him that he dad "didn't want to be a part of his life" The his dad had "sent back the pictures that she sent him". That he "didn't pay child support". For whatever reason, this kid has such a good heart that he still wanted to meet the man that he'd never seen. And folks, I fault dad for this too. He should have fought harder. I watch all the court battles you ladies go thru and I know that he could have gotten something. If not all that he wanted, at least something. But, by his own words, he waited for the kids to go looking for him. So, NK's girlfriend found some numbers that might be his dads. He was too afraid to call them. Afraid of what the reaction would be. So, I picked up the phone and started calling numbers. And I found him. Well, I got his girlfriend who asked me to call back the next day as he was already sleeping. Yeah, bad me. I called at 10:30 at night. So sorry. Wasn't looking at the time, just jumped on that horse and rode with it. So, the next night, I called back and spoke with the dad. Dad was thrilled to hear from me and wanted to talk to the son. Dad has been paying $350/month in child support on a child that got kicked out of the house a month ago. Now, dad doesn't mind paying support. But, he wants the support to go to his son. Its not his ex-wife's pleasure money. And this stuff makes me madder than I can say on this blog. Women like her make us all look bad. Its why my ex throws a fit about giving "me" his money. So, dad asked NK yesterday for his mom's number. Dad already paid child support for Oct and the kid hasn't lived with mom in Oct. So, dad thinks that mom owes the kid the money. So, NK asked me if he did right in giving his dad the number. And he's so worried that he did something wrong. I told him that he didn't do anything wrong. His dad is right. That money is for him and what he needs. She threw him out so she is not entitled to any of that money anymore unless some of it is for back support. Dad did call him on his actual birthday yesterday. We didn't make the initial contact with dad till Friday night so there would have been no way for dad to get a card or anything here even if he wanted to. But a phone call is more than my kids have ever gotten. Dad wants to see him. Don't know if he's going to go to his dad's house (4 hours away) or if dad is going to come here to see him but they do want to see each other. They want to meet which is a positive. I would think that dad would have to come here at this point as NK's truck is broke down in my driveway. He has a leak in his radiator and the transmission is slipping. If mom gave him the child support due to him, he could fix his radiator at least. I'm sure the transmission is going to cost him around a grand. But the truck is drivable with the transmission issue. It still wouldn't make the 4 hour drive to dad's but it would get him to work and around town here. Anyhow, I will end this part of my post by saying that I am extremely disgusted with this child's mom if even 10% of what I've heard is true.

Well, back to fixing things that the movers destroyed. I will say that I have spent no less than an hour a day for the last 3 months working on the damage that they did. They cut my carpet 14 inches from the seam line. Why? you might ask? Don't ask me. Mr. Wayne Gilliland has not answered a phone message in months. He has refused to make good on the damages. All State Specialty is obviously a business doomed to end up in court. Vix and Cal are filing suit on him. We have been putting all the paperwork together that we need for the court case. They have been consulting with an attorney. The sad part is, all of his insurance and bond information is listed in his wife's name so even though this lady has had nothing to do with all of the damages, she will be listed in the lawsuit with her husband. Folks, I'm not talking a few hundred dollars here. I'm talking more money in damages than they charged us for the job. When they cut the carpet 14 inches from the seam line, they destroyed the padding underneath. They shredded the carpet. It is unfixable. Well, it is fixable, but at almost the cost of replacing the carpet. Additionally, they damaged the carpet with their work boots doing the job by tracking wet mud and clay all over the house. People were too lazy to lay plastic down or something. In 3 places, they put the house back together with the carpet between the 2 halves of the house. They shredded the carpet in the back bedroom too. The damage to the ceiling is so extensive that the whole ceiling will have to be scraped, re-textured, and the re-painted. The damage done to the ramp by cutting the 4x4's with a chainsaw is over a grand. The contractor to fix the dry-wall damage that they claimed to fix and never did is going to cost $45/sheet for the contractor to do it. There's 6 sheets that are damaged beyond repair. The tub surround that they broke is over $250 to have installed. It's $89 service call per appliance just to have them come look at the damage to the stove and fridge. That's not counting the actual repairs. They damaged the shed and I am still waiting on the estimate to that. Do you know how this fly-by-night company damaged my shed? Because they took a pick-up truck and rammed the back of it to get it up onto the trailer. Great group of people right? We're waiting on the rest of the estimates and then Vix and Cal are filing suit. Right now, it's looking to be right around 10 thousand dollars in damages. And do any of you have any idea how much I hate the fact that this guy misrepresented himself and his company so much and that he's forcing us to go this route. All we wanted was fair treatment and the house in the same shape that it was in before they started. Just put it back together like it was in a different location. That's what we paid him for.

Well, back to work ~ hope y'all have a great day!

All State Specialty Contracting Damage photos

These are all the photos of the damage caused by All State Specialty Contracting. Wayne Gilliland is the owner of the company. Feel free to look at what I've had to deal with for the last 7 weeks now. I have photos up of the original damage and then after 6 weeks when they came to "fix" it and the job they did or rather didn't do. It's horrid! The man and his crew are unprofessional and shouldn't be allowed to continue to do business.

http://www2.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=501301249007517028/l=3108186008/g=26012797/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=1142420008/a=26012797_26012797/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=140%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaacccccccccccccckkkkkkkk. (for now at least)

Where the hot water tank went thru my wall in my back hall

damage done to the ceiling. They just ripped the trim off and didn't bother to cut along the caulk line.

this is what they consider fixed. Slap some drywall mud up there and don't worry about the fact that the texture is destroyed or that the colors don't match. And don't ya love the dirty handprints?

Remember the new walls that we just finished down the hall? The new shelves in Little Mans room? This is the wall AFTER supposedly being "fixed"

Remember picture one up top? Where the hot water tank went thru the drywall? This is where they "fixed" that wall. Yep folks.... This is the type of job the crew did. Great isn't it?

We're in town.

Staying at Vix and Cals.

Ice Cube, Ruth and Little Bit got in yesterday.

I got to watch Little Bit last night while the kids all went out.

I'm glad to be seeing my kids. I love to spend time with my boys. They're all good kids. Perfect? Ummmm no. Not a chance. They're young men working to find their spot in life. They do stupid, male things that make a logical female type mind go .... "say what?". And please don't tell me that men are more logical than women. In some cases, they may be. But in the case of adolescent young men vs a mature old lady- not. I'm ready to be at home though. And we're not leaving to go back to the land of sanity for 4 more days yet. There are certain perks to being here besides seeing the boys. Working internet that doesn't eat my pictures when I try to post them is one of them. So, look for a few pictures here and there as I manage to get them all off my camera and up online which has to be done here with a real internet connection. Cause let me tell you folks something --- satellite internet is nothing worth writing home about. High speed internet my tail. The lag time is horrible!

Tonight Ruth has gone to see her grandma. Ice Cube is gone to hang out with one of his friends. I'm going to sleep - maybe. Depends on if Cal gets up tonight and blares the tv till 4 am as is his normal schedule. See, they sleep till 2. Seriously. Every day. They normally go to bed between 4 and 5 and Vix doesn't even begin to consider opening her eyes till 2. P.M. that is. Me- I'm up by 8. I can go to bed at 5 and be up at 8. It's the way my body works. I have to have my kitchen cleaned, the laundry mostly done and the house clean by noon or I flip out. It's the OCD in me. If I over-sleep and don't have my house in order by noon, I'm a wreck all day. Now, let me tell you how much fun that is when I have a joint disease that prohibits me from moving at all some days. *laughing at myself here* You want a good laugh you should see me hobbling around some mornings, unable to stand up or even walk holding onto things for dear life as I try to start a load of laundry. And while making sure that laundry got done on a daily basis may have been a life altering thing when all 5 kids were at home, it sure the devil is not a mandatory thing when you are down to 2. It just doesn't matter. I might have 1 load of laundry a day now? I mean, how crazy can I be to not just let it go for one day? Chances are I'll be more mobile the next day anyhow. Or - my boys are perfectly capable of throwing a load in the washer. They've all be taught to do laundry. I'm a good mom that way. I taught my boys to cook basic meals, they can read the directions on a box if nothing else. They know how to mop a floor, clean a toilet, and run the vacuum. And they know the difference between a white and a dark. But, me? I feel the need to do it anyhow.

My mom is a wonderful woman. She is the best. But we grew up old school. Mom stayed home and did all the cooking and cleaning. We were only allowed in the kitchen as far as the bar to set our dirty plates after dinner. We were not allowed to cook. I cleaned our bathroom and my younger brother vacuumed the family room floor. Those were our chores. And I thought that she was mean for making us do that much. HA. How stupid we are in our youth. My dad was promoted to vice president and general manager of a wiper blade factory just after my younger brother graduated. Little brother was 17 at the time and he wanted to get his own place in the area we had grown up in. Not move several hundred miles away to another state for goodness sakes. I was already working and had my own place and Little brother ended up with an apartment not too far from the one I was in. He called me one day flipping out. It seems that he had blown up his microwave. He was trying to cook a hot dog. I kid you not folks. He blew up the microwave trying to cook a hot dog. He put the hot dog in there for like 20 minutes instead of 20 seconds. Killed the poor microwave. All because he'd never had to cook so much as a hot dog for himself before. Me? I ended up with the fire department at my house the first time I tried to boil chicken. Serious. Yes, you can laugh. Seems like you have to actually keep water in the pan while the chicken is boiling. Hey! What did I know? Apparently not near as much as I thought I did. If it didn't come out of a can or a box, we didn't eat it for years. I probably warped Tara's growth as a child feeding her mac and cheese (which I absolutely hate now) and canned ravioli (something else I refuse to touch now) for the longest time. Because I could not cook. Anything. So, my kids- they know how to cook. They won't be setting fire to the house (I didn't really- just filled it up with smoke) or blowing up a microwave when they move out. Nor will they live in filth because they have a clue. They know that the toilet has to be cleaned on a regular basis to avoid nasty odor. Their wives will thank me one day right?

Well, off to check on the boys. They're fairly bored here. Little Man has been ready to go home since yesterday. Seems like the new place is growing on him faster than I expected. He hasn't even started school yet and he's already making the transition.

As for Wayne Gilliland and All State Specialty Contracting --- well, nothing yet. They still have not finished the job. He still has not replaced my pool. He still will not return our calls. We are still moving forward with a law suit against him. I'm also going to turn him into the BBB. Hate to be the wicked witch in the scene but this guy is morally bankrupt. He's a con artist out to rip off as many folks as he can it appears. And he seems to have no intention of following thru on his obligations. So, thanks to all of you who have told me that I should sue him for the pool and damages. I didn't want to but he's leaving me no other alternative. I am poor folk. It took me almost a year to save the money to get the kids that pool. I just flat out can't afford to replace it. God bless all!

update on All State Specialty Contracting and Wayne Gilliland

So, a couple of guys from All State Specialty contracting showed up yesterday afternoon. They had the shed. Now, in spite of Wayne Gilliland's excuses that the reason that the shed hadn't been delivered in the last six weeks was that he didn't have a trailer to haul it, they showed up with the shed on the same trailer they've had here the last 2 times. With a 4x8 section of the back of the shed broken out. They also tore up the corner trim on the front of the shed. Wayne didn't come with them at all. At this point, he hasn't answered his phone or returned a call in 10 days. Both Vix and I have left him no less than one message a day. Well, they managed to unload the shed. They took my fencing out of it and threw it out in old town at the old property. So, then when they get here, the 2 guys open the shed again. And Little Man came in and said - "mom, the fencing is gone." Well, I had already heard from my old neighbors that the guys had opened the shed and dumped the fencing on the property. So, I walked out and asked them what happened to the fencing. They tried to play dumb with me. They tried to tell me that they didn't know what happened to the fencing. Well, I had to call them out on it. I told them that I didn't appreciate being lied to. That the neighbors had watched them unseal the shed and throw the fencing out. Then the 2 idiots still tried to lie to my face. Bad. Idea. I have raised way too many kids and these 2 young guys are younger than several of my old foster kids. And I ended up talking to them like I would have one of my kids. "No. Sir. I have witnesses who watched you open my shed and remove my belongings. I do not know who you think you are talking to but I do not appreciate you standing there trying to lie to my face. You can let Wayne know that he will be held responsible for the stuff that you un-nailed the shed to remove also. " I believe that dumb and dumber were a bit taken aback by my bluntness and lack of fear to call them on their lies. Well, dumb and dumber spent yesterday afternoon putting the right tie downs on my house. Yes, you read this right. For the last six weeks, I have not had the proper and legal tie downs on my house. And I seriously believe that the only reason I have the right ones on here now is because I emailed Wayne to let him know that I intended to call the state and go after his state bond. I still intend to call the state and file a complaint on him. And the BBB. So, dumb and dumber thought that it was ok that they had put one of their jacks thru the back of my shed. They weren't real thrilled when I informed them that I expected them to replace the section of wood that they had put their jack thru. Tough.

So, after a few hours here, in which they accomplished nothing more than putting the correct tie downs on the house - something that legally should have been done six weeks ago - they left to "go find home depot". And never showed back up last night. They told Little Man that they would be here by 8 this morning. They didn't make it. They finally showed up just before 10. I will say that they spent more time eating, joking around and looking stupid while they tried to figure out what went where than actually doing anything. They did slap the trim and door jams back up. They didn't FIX anything. They didn't replace the broken trim with not broken trim. they just slapped the broken pieces back up there. They didn't replace the broken drywall. They just put the broken pieces back up there. It. Looks. Horrible. Around the edges of the trim, it's ragged and white where they peeled the paint off. The paint and paper is pulled off pieces of drywall. Where they had ripped the center trim down off the ceiling and tore the texture off - they slapped mud up there but no texture so I have white smooth places sticking out horribly on my should be textured ceiling. I would post pictures but my satellite internet connection is not very good and the last few times I've tried to post pictures, I've been unsuccessful at getting them loaded. I'll be back staying with a friend next week and I'll upload some then. All I can say is - you wouldn't believe how bad it is without seeing the pictures. You would never believe how unprofessional this whole job looks. As for the shed, they did replace the wood. Of course, they left all their garbage and mess for us to clean up. However, they didn't bother to fix that right either. They put untreated wood on it so now I will have to repaint the whole shed. The chances of me matching up the paint color on a 8 year old shed is none to zero. So, more work for the already over-worked Amy.

As for my friend that was seriously PMSing last week.... She has seriously apologized and is back to acting like the lovable sweetie she usually is and not the throwback to the wicked witch of the east that she was acting like last week. I was pretty forthright with her when we spoke about it after the fact. She said she'd been having a "bad day". I'm pretty blunt and told her that she ruined about my next 3 days acting like that.

On the plus side, the kids 2 cousins (girls -age 8 and 11) have been here the last few days. These are Tia's girls. They are absolute sweeties. They have also been no end of help. They helped me move most of the stuff from the house that needed to go to the shed. They helped me pick up a bunch of garbage out of the yard and move some things around. They are good girls and my 2 boys dote on them. The 11 year old has some serious health issues and actually acts like the younger of the 2. She was born with only 1 kidney, 1 eye, and a heart defect. She acts like she's about 7. She has some neurological issues that make her act a bit younger than she is. The boys think she gets annoying from time to time but they love her to death. She's very tiny for her age and actually she and the 8 year old wear the same size clothing. The 8 year old on the other hand is absolutely beautiful. She's won several beauty pageants. The 2 girls are as different as night from day. They are actually Tia's nieces too. They are her sisters children but Tia and her hubby adopted them after their mom passed away when the girls were 2 and 4. They are both loving, sweet girls and we love to have them here. And Tia is most grateful for the break.

Ice Cube and Ruth are bringing Little Bit to old town to see us for several days next week. So, I will get to spend like 3 days with the baby and the kids (his parents). We leave Tuesday to go watch the Rangers play Detroit. Thurs the kids are coming in with the baby. I'll have internet for the week we're back at old town so I'll get some pictures posted of Little Bit and the house damage then. Take care all and thanks for all the support.

Now, can anyone tell me where to find a money tree so that I can get these boys some new clothes to start their new school with? Yeah, I know - wouldn't we all like to find one....

You might not want to read this....

I tend to not post when I've had a bad day or a bad week or.... well, you get the drift. I guess I withdraw and just try to muddle thru. For years, people have asked me how I do it. And I can generally laugh it off. I just take it one day at a time and try really hard to not stress the small stuff. And honestly, in the long run - most of it is small stuff. But, for some reason, I'm feeling really overwhelmed here lately. I wasn't. I was doing ok. Money problems? Eh - with 5 kids and living on social security with no child support - I'm used to them. Kid issues? They grow up and get a brain. House problems - a little bit of thought and work and I can usually fix it myself. So why all of a sudden does it all seem overwhelming?

It started Tues night. I was back in old town staying at someone who I've always considered my bestest friend. I was on the phone and all of a sudden and with no warning, she went off like a banshee in heat. She was screaming and cussing and making absolutely no sense. To this day, I have no idea what the devil set her off or why she acted like an escapee from the loony bin. I came within 2 seconds of walking out the door. My friend that I was on the phone with was in shock. She couldn't believe that anyone would act like that for no apparent reason. I was humiliated and embarrassed. My friend, that should have been embarrassed, isn't. I don't know that she even registered that someone else that she doesn't even know heard her rant. We're supposed to go back there next week and meet Ice Cube, Ruth and Little Bit. I am dreading it. Not just for that reason but for many others. I'm jealous that Ruth and Ice Cube live with Ruths family and her brother who hasn't seen his own kid in over 6 months even though he lives less than 30 min away - babysits my grand baby all the time. I'm upset that I have to ask for pictures when her family sees the baby every day. 2 things that shouldn't upset me and usually wouldn't. But right now make me not even want to see my son or Ruth. Maybe there's something wrong with me. It's really not like me to let any of this stuff bother me.

Friends rant- who knows what it was. She wasn't really mad at me. I was just available to rant at. We've been ranting to each other for 25 years. I know not to take it personally. But I sure am right now. Maybe it's the fact that Wayne Gilliland and All State Specialty Contracting still haven't shown up to do their job and I'm having to work to set up a law suit. I have totes piled in my house still six weeks after moving and 3 chainsaws, a weed eater, 2 shovels, an axe, a hatchet, and a rake that have taken up residence in my back hall blocking my laundry area because my shed is still not here. Yesterday alone, I had to install a water filter system, put a new handle on the shower in my bathroom, fix the boys toilet, move some wood outside, as well as painting Little Man's room (part of it at least), laundry, dishes, cooking and regular cleaning. Then when I was trying to talk to the same so-called friend trying to tell her what I had been up to, I was again rudely blown off. In the middle of a sentence - interrupted with a question and then when I tried to answer the question she herself asked- blown off. Rudely. Maybe another reason I'm thinking about staying some place else next time we go back. Of course, that would open another can of worms because she would never understand why we changed plans.

Then I had another person ask me to do something that they would never in a lifetime think to even begin to do themselves. It equated to asking me to kill a grizzly bear with a stick and a worn out rubber band. I know I'm good. I know that I have managed to accomplish a lot. But why would anyone ask someone to do something that they themselves would never think to start? This is a person that is so laid back that most folks would consider her lazy. The chances of her even thinking about doing half of what I've already accomplished at this land are ludicrous. It just would never happen. Ever.

Anyhow, I'm still here but hiding from the world. Sorry about the not so happy post. I'm seriously sick of looking at my house. I really want to get all I need to sue All State Specialty Contracting. That way maybe I can start getting it put back together. Have a good weekend all!

more house updates

I can't believe that we lost Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson in the same day. Is that weird or what? I really feel old right now. I grew up on Charlie's Angels and Thriller. RIP.

Remember my predictions for SD and mentally ill daughter? How long ago were those made? I got the call today. Daughter's thief convict of a bf supposedly stole $100 from SD's girlfriend's purse. Fighting ensued and the thief convict left town leaving daughter behind. Tia was in town to see her dad for Father's day last weekend. (Her dad would be SD's dad too and my kids' grandpa that they don't know.) Tia and her hubby got roped in to giving daughter a ride back to her thief boyfriend. They were lied to to get them to agree. They were told that dropping daughter off was "right off the interstate on their way home". This was not true and Tia was not a very happy camper. Then, daughter tried to carry a bag of marijuana into Tia's car to take home with her. This did not happen. I have already gotten a call from another friend of mine from the small city they were all in who had heard about the theft although she hadn't heard yet that the 2 thieves had bailed and left town. Now thief boyfriend may have taken the fall for this. He may have been the one with his hands in the cookie jar (or purse as the case may be) - however- do not think for one second that daughter was not involved in this up to her neck. Because I'll lay odds right now that she was right there watching the whole time she's going to be there helping him spend it too. The story I heard was that she 1. swore up and down that he took the money. Then she 2. swore up and down that he did not take the money. Then she 3. swore up and down that she couldn't live without him and she had to get back to him. (Please excuse me for a second while I go throw up) Anyhow, when I got the initial text from Tia this morning it just said that they had a late start and were in IL. I immediately sent a one word question ... "daughter?" And she responded.... "how did you guess?" Then when she wasn't forthcoming with further information I guessed that thief bf had gotten into it with SD and that he had left daughter in the town and they had had to drop daughter off with the thief. Tia was amazed that I had been so able to accurately call what had happened. It really wasn't that hard to figure out. So, SD has banned the thief from coming back to his house. I could have warned him that he was going to get robbed but .... hey, where would the fun have been in that? Besides, he wouldn't have believed me. And on top of that.... Karma's a bitch. He had it coming. So, give it a few weeks and daughter will be trying to suck up to me again. Someone do me a favor and smack me hard if I even consider it. Promise? Thanks!

House updates:

1. The water pressure has been fixed. I can run the washer now and no longer feel like I'm living in the 1800's lugging water to wash clothes.

2. The propane man was finally here yesterday. Again, no more of that 1800's feeling taking cold showers. (mind you though, it's been 102 degrees here so cold showers weren't too awful bad)

3. All State specialty moving has STILL not been here nor have I, personally, heard from them. Wayne Gilliland did deem it smart to respond to the email I sent him threatening legal action by calling Vix and talking to her. I guess he went with who signed the checks. He is forgetting who signed the contract. *grins evilly*

4. All State Specialty Moving (Wayne Gilliland) claims that they will be here on Sunday. They say that they will be picking up my shed and the rest of my ramp from old town on Saturday and arriving in new town on Sunday. Please excuse me if I do not hold my breath. I wouldn't look very good as a smurf.

5. I sent both Wayne and Sandy, his wife, at the All State Specialty email and their personal email, pictures of the damage done to the house. This is a separate email from the one where I threatened legal action. No response from that one either although it did prompt another phone call to Vix. Funny how that works huh? I send an email to them and they call Vix. Whatever works.

6. I am seeing the end of the boxes and totes. We have gotten all the boxes that I emptied out to the dumpster and the pile of garbage that was in front of the house is mostly gone. I found out what day garbage runs which is a plus.

7. and I'll make this the last one even though I'm fairly sure I'm forgetting something... The orchard is doing well. We're watering it nightly and we've already gotten some fresh blueberries off the bushes planted over spring break.

I still intend to post picture of the damage but it may have to wait until I get some place that the internet works decently. Which would not be here at this point. The satellite internet is iffy at best and the only other option at this point is dial up. So.... It may have to wait till next week when I go back to old town for a few days. I am going to go to the Rangers game and try to meet up with the older 2 boys.

Have a good night!

If it can go wrong.....

It has. First we were supposed to be in the hotel 2 days - in the house by Monday. But the rain slowed the movers down. And we didn't leave Vix's house till Monday. Then, we were going to be in the house by Weds. But they electrician was an idiot and put the power pole to the house on the wrong side of the property. Enter wonderful neighbors who moved the pole and hooked up the electricity to the house. Enter wonderful electric company who came back the same day to hook the pole up so that we had electricity. So, then it was Friday. But wait- no AC and no water. My plumber came to hook up the plumbing and the company that moved the house had run over the water lines and the septic line- both were destroyed. So, plumber says- no can do. Also, moving company had cut the lines to the house At. The. Tee. So, there was no possible way to hook into the lines to the house. We'll be in the motel now till Sunday. It's Monday. We're at the house. We're not happily at the house but I'll get to that. The plumber followed thru on his word. By noon Sunday, he had hooked up all our plumbing. Another wonderful neighbor who's an AC man came on Saturday and repaired more damage done by the moving company and got the AC up and running. Cause let me tell you folks, 97 degrees in Texas and no heat = no fun!

Why are we not happily in the house? The pump to the well is not working right. I don't know why. It was nothing that my plumber could fix. He fixed the lines. He could fix the pump but that involves him coming back. And honestly, it should be the fool that put it in to fix it. If it's fixable and not that the well is going dry. The water is yellow. I'm not drinking it. I'm not cooking with it. It tastes fine. But it looks funny. Plumber was telling me that we could put a booster and filter on the pump. That would help if the well is still good. I have no idea how to tell if it's the pump that sucks or if it's the well going dry. What I know is that I have no water pressure at all. I can't do a load of laundry without taking buckets of water from the sink to the washer to help the washer fill. Plumber tells me that I need to clean the filters in those water lines. That would be good if moving company hadn't broken the shut off valves to those lines on top of everything else they destroyed. They destroyed my house. Broken drywall, broken trim, broken water lines, they cut the AC line with a hacksaw. 1/2 of my wheelchair ramp, my shed, my steps are still in the old town. The house never got tied down. And Wayne Gilliland, the owner, will not answer his phone. I've given him a week to answer his phone or come out here and make it right and he's done neither. The company is All State Specialty Contracting. And if you ever need work done- do not use them. I know most of my readers are not in TX but just in case anyone surfing the internet happens to search their name - they need to be warned. I will be posting pictures of some of the damage probably tomorrow. I am still taking pictures. Every time I think I've found it all, I find something else ruined. They cut the carpet between my bedroom and bathroom which was expected. What I didn't expect was that they'd put the house back together with the carpet in between the 2 halves. It won't come out. They didn't tie down any of the appliances. The water line to my ice maker is broken. When the water got turned out, we didn't realize the line was broken, it's not like it spewed out or anything. I got up this morning and the freezer door was iced shut. There's about 2 inches of frozen water in the ice tray.

We paid, and have a contract for, the movers bringing the shed and the ramp. He's in breech of contract over those items. As for damages, he has insurance. He can make them right - which apparently he's choosing not to do - or I'll file on his insurance. And it's illegal to leave a house not tied down. So, he's in a real bind over that. Or rather he will be if he doesn't get back here this week and make it all better.

On other notes, the Dr is talking about inducing Ruth on the 13th of next month. If they do an induction than I'll be able to be there when the baby is born and not have to worry about missing it while trying to drive down there.

Both of the younger boys are unhappy. The Hughesnet Satellite internet I got is not working right. On top of that, the 360 live doesn't work with internet satellite. The only other option out here is dial up. I'm not a popular person with B right now as 360 doesn't work with dial up either. So, his 360 live subscription is basically a waste of money. And Little Man just didn't want to leave his friends and all the trouble he was getting into. I really think that they'll like it a lot if they'd just give it a chance. But, they haven't been willing to do that at this point. So, time is what it will take. Time for them to come around. Everyone we've met around here has been really nice! God has blessed us with wonderful neighbors! I think the boys will like the school. And if the kids are as nice as the adults have been then it will be a great experience for them. So, I just need to be patient. Just a little bit of patience is all I need.

Help me find it please folks! I'm running out quickly