Here we go again

July 22nd 2008

Dad has an ulcer on his leg again. No doubt from all the physical labor of having to rush around and move a farm in 30 days due to these bastards. After all that time and money spent in the hyperbaric chamber to get him fully healed, we have to start all over again.

I’m heartbroken. I’ll pay whatever it takes.

I’m going to buy him some new circulation socks, even though he says he’s not going to worry about it until after the move. I mentioned that maybe we should start the hyperbaric treatments again, but he said there’s no point until after we move.

The neighbors want to throw us a going away cookout on Saturday. I don’t think we’ll be able to go, simply because we want to be out of here soon.

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Worlds Oldest Company

July 21st 2008

On a whim, I decided I wanted to know what the world’s oldest company was.

“Kongō Gumi Co., Ltd. (株式会社金剛組, Kabushiki Gaisha Kongō Gumi?) was a Japanese construction company established by Korean people and the world’s oldest continuously ongoing company, operating for over 1,400 years. Headquartered in Osaka, the family-owned construction company traced its origins to 578 when Prince Shotoku brought Kongō family members from Baekje to Japan to build the Buddhist Shitennō-ji, a temple that still stands. These temples even endured Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. Over the centuries, Kongō Gumi participated in the construction of many famous buildings, including the 16th century Osaka Castle and Hōryū-ji in Nara.

A 10-foot 17th century scroll traces the 40 generations back to the company’s start. As with many distinguished Japanese families, sons-in-law often joined the clan and took the Kongō family name. Thus, through the years, the line has continued through either a son or a daughter.

The company fell on hard times and went into liquidation in January 2006. Its assets were purchased by Takamatsu Corporation.[1] [2] Before its liquidation, it had over 100 employees and annual revenue of ¥7.5 billion ($70 million) in 2005; it had still specialized in building Buddhist temples. The last president was Masakazu Kongō, the 40th Kongō to lead the firm. As of December 2006, Kongō Gumi continues to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Takamatsu. It should be noted that Kongo family still continue to practice as carpenters.”

However, since this company was liquidated in 2006 (man that really sucks):

“Hōshi (法師, Hōshi?) is a ryokan (Japanese traditional inn) in the Awazu Onsen area of Komatsu, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 717, it is the world’s oldest hotel still in operation according to Guinness World Records [1] and the world’s oldest continuously operating company after the liquidation of Kongō Gumi in 2006.”

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Link | Posted in Entertainment and News

Some people shouldn’t be farmers

July 21st 2008

A woman down the street bought a good chunk of our chickens and we gave her our geese since she has a pond.

Unfortunately her dog killed every one of them overnight.

I’m not sure how it happened, I don’t know if he got into the cage or what, but she definitely should have been better prepared. It’s difficult to introduce fowl once a dog has already been established on the property. You either need to bring the dog up with the fowl or you need to work hard to retrain the dog that fowl aren’t toys or food. The latter is even more difficult since certain dogs are very predatory (huskies for one, I’d never own a husky and chickens at the same time).

My pittbull has never killed a bird. He has killed squirrels and chipmunks, which we let him do because we become overrun with them otherwise. And because we allow him to kill chipmunks and squirrels, he does kill any rabbits that get out as well, because they are furry and small, just like the squirrels. But rabbits hardly ever get out, and those that do usually stay out of our fenced in area where the dog’s territory is anyway.

In fact we’d let the chickens out to stretch their legs and eat bugs in the backyard quite frequently, with my dog at the same time, and he’d never even bother to look at them. He just doesn’t care, he expects them to be there.

Ah well, guess she learned her lesson. I hope.

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Link | Posted in Pets

Protected: Suspicious Car in the Driveway

July 20th 2008

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Link | Posted in house buying

Todo List and Hillbillies

July 19th 2008

I went through my todo list this morning, since I hadn’t visited it in a while, and surprisingly a lot of items could be marked off or deleted due to this move. I don’t have to put a new exhaust on the blue bronco, I don’t have to clean out the garage and basement anymore, I don’t have to straighten up my father’s room anymore, the construction projects to this house no longer need to be done.

It’s actually quite nice being able to mark all that stuff off. I love completing items on my todo list, it makes me feel happy and productive. I keep a list of all the things I’ve done at the bottom so I’m reminded that no matter how long my todo list gets, my done list is even longer.

I’m sure new items will be added once we have a place of our own.

Our driveway looks like a bunch of hillbillies live here, which I guess technically is true. We have junk piled up around the trailer to eventually load in. We have chairs sitting out there, a picnic table, old plows etc. My father and I were lounging out there last night listening to Hank Williams and singing along off-key rather loudly. The neighbors may think we’ve lost our minds, but it was good to relax and feel simple and content for once. I like that we can still laugh and be silly despite everything else.

I let our turtles go the other day. I took them to my nemeton and thanked them for spending so much time with us and to have a good journey.

The ex-husband also stopped by and picked up a few boxes of his things. And the Aunt and crew stopped by today to help dig up plants and flowers to take up and plant at their place for now.

I’m becoming increasingly more and more excited about buying a house. Simply the thought of having a house that isn’t condemned, doesn’t have so much work to be done to it, and being able to redecorate…it must have all of my girlie instincts kicking in.

So many neighbors keep stopping by after finding out we’re moving. Everyone is really upset about it, some even say they don’t know how this neighborhood is going to survive without my father. I just keep thinking to myself, all good intentions and no action.

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Protected: No Gas and Chicken Thieves

July 18th 2008

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Link | Posted in Dad, house buying

Protected: Progress in 6 Cord of Wood

July 15th 2008

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Bargaining $500 for an Old Broken Down F-150

July 14th 2008

I called the two gentlemen who stopped by and asked to buy my 1979 F-150 short-bed, and told them they could have it for $500, and they agreed It has a blown 460 engine (which only got 7 miles to the gallon anyway), flat tires, and needs some body work. Not to mention part of the frame was cut out by the previous owner to put the 460 in it (dumbass).

They will be setting up an appointment with my father sometime this week to stop by and pick it up. Which means I don’t have to pay $100 to haul it wherever we end up, nor do I have to worry about fixing it up or putting in a new engine. I can just be rid of it.

I’m curious, however… the guy I spoke with said he -really- wanted this truck. I don’t know what could really be so special about it except that it’s a short-bed, and 79 short-beds weren’t very popular and are kinda rare. It sorta peaked my interest in keeping it, but I wouldn’t have the time to deal with that anyway.

As much as I’d like to keep it and restore it, it’s just not worth it to me for several years. The bronco will come first as far as restoration, and that will take several years on its own.

Bye bye F-150, I will miss you.

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Link | Posted in Automotive, Finance