IrishAyes
IrishAyes's JournalWhich McGyver out there can tell me the cheapest best way to make a riding lawn mower?
I mean one suitable for an older lady with a lot about 1/4 acre. The one with a reel mower where the front tire of a bicycle goes wouldn't work for me. I'm not mechanical so it needs to be simple and cheap. Can't tether a goat because the dogs would attack it. Actually I'd love to buy a Yard Bug because it has a rear engine and nothing in front to block any vision. But they're a tad spendy too.
To a certain degree I've been through similar.
Went from a huge house on a ranch in AZ to a merely big house in the Midwest. But then I had the added incentive of trying to stay alive when it turned out my cash buyer was a drug dealer who tried to force me out early because he wanted to move in wayyyy before my time was up. He started telephoning and harrassing me, even drove up and down the road waving a shotgun out his vehicle window. I put a no trespassing sign on the gate so I could shoot him if it came to that.
Everything possible went wrong. I'd been packing for weeks but on moving day we had to load the van with that fool driving by and watching us. Made things very nerve wracking. We'd dragged everything out in the yard because we didn't know exactly how much could be crammed in the Penske, and I'd promised my friends anything left over. But they were in such a hurry to leave that we simply took what wouldn't fit in the van and made a nice little bonfire. Even the volunteer fire department didn't show up for that one because everyone knew the situation.
From what I heard later, the buyer didn't exactly thrive. The Hells Angels HQ was less than a mile from the ranch. They didn't appreciate competition or the way that nutjob riled everybody around. People like that have a way of disappearing. He also got hit by a severe flash flood because he tore down the berms that slowed ingress and egress on the property. For some odd reason he wanted to be able to do that rapidly at will. I pretty much figured if the law didn't get him, the HA's would soon enough.
Anyway, instead of paralysis, I wound up downsizing in a frenzy!
In Los Angeles,
I used to visit the nursery on trash day because once the dumpster was curbside, it wasn't stealing for me to remove easily reached good prospects on top. I know which plants are easiest to revive, so those are the ones I took. Had beautiful gardens for nothing but a little timing and elbow grease. Heck, I wouldn't even buy anything at a thrift store unless it was marked down at least 50%.
Sorry about the job loss. But I'm sure a smart survivor like you will come through fine.
Yes, there's a lot of difference between doing something for pleasure and doing it to survive. Been there, done that too many times to count. I'll spare you the long list. But the only thing that got me safely to early retirement on a wing and prayer was the fact that I'd always saved as much as possible, and I sucked it up enough to make a sea change in my retirement plans.
I could move to the beloved Northeast and rent a room, hoping for some kind of job but likelier being forced to live on savings for 3 1/2 years, then facing an extremely painful early retirement. Or I could turn my sights to flyover country - aka the Bible Belt - and buy the nicest house I could score in an economically depressed area and live as a stranger in a strange land but at least with my privacy and elbow room. It's been hard as hell but still the right choice under my circumstances. I've planted so many trees and bushes that I can sit on my front porch in absolute privacy and pretend I'm home in Maine. Same climate as southern ME. Despite the challenges and occasional heartbreak, plan B turned out best for me all considered. I count my blessings and am happy enough most of the time, occasionally quite so.
That's why I have no concerns about your doing well in this challenge too. The method you formerly practiced for pleasure has been a good teacher and will prove a true friend now and forever.
No offense, but you're one of the last people I know that I'd worry about.
Weird postscript on my earlier computer problems
Remember when my ancient MSI computer running Win7 started smelling like something on the inside was burning or at least about to? It seemed that unit was toast so I managed to get a donated refurbished Dell that all too soon started progressive graphics card problems like THEY usually do. By that time, however, the MSI had enjoyed a layoff of several months. In desperation I tried it again - low and behold it works fine now, no burning odor at all.
So after returning to the MSI for several months, I started thinking - which usually gets me in trouble - wonder how the Dell might do after its long rest? The graphics card problem still presents but much less so for the first several hours of operation. By the end of the day it goes from a slight wiggle of the task bar to leapin' lizards on the screen. A day or two on vacation and it calms right down.
Weird; at least to me.
The MSI hasn't reverted at all, thankfully. Much bigger laptop screen than the other. Now I'm fascinated to see just how long it decides to run. I have a Chromebook waiting in the wings for any emergency. But it's even smaller than the Dell.
That is NOT a squirrel, I'm tellin' ya!
I don't know what it IS, but it can't be a squirrel. That thing would give me nightmares, especially since I used to kinda sorta tease normal size ones back when I had my chows and a huge oak in the front yard. When the dogs and I were indoors looking out the kitchen windows onto the front porch, there'd be a squirrel running up and down the rail, challenging them dirty lowdown hounds to come out and fight, dammit!
The dogs would bark and try to jump through the window. The squirrel would practically froth at the mouth, and I'd be laughing my head off. It made the squirrel go into orbit when I'd wave my arms at him/her. (The neighbors couldn't see.) But the squirrel(s) would get revenge their own way. When we were outdoors, they'd tease the dogs and play chicken by scampering across the yard right in front of those poor old chows; and when I walked anywhere under the oak tree, I swear they THREW acorns at me. Lordy, how I loved them.
But that Indian critter and its American cousin? I don't think I'd dare mess with them.
Glad to see you again. I always appreciate and enjoy your posts.
Deciding which fools in GD (and elsewhere) to cross swords with has to be exhausting. Just remember what my dear old dad always said; only a jackass answers every donkey that brays.
Great writing doesn't need a sarcasm symbol. And I must agree with you
that REAL MEN just chew their coffee beans.
Trouble is, the RWNJ's want him to talk like John (ugh) Wayne, but he keeps sounding more like Alan Alda - MY idea of a true man.
ONLY good thing about this is that MAYBE it will help prevent something worse in the future.
If President Obama or anyone in his family ever gets hurt, I wonder if I wouldn't need locking up myself. The teabillies here would be shooting off fireworks in celebration, and there's only so much I can take.
I take extreme exception to your portrayal of President Obama. Just know that.
Too bad I don't have time tonight to verbally box your ears, but you could use it.
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleHome country: US
Current location: retired to MidWest
Member since: Mon Feb 18, 2013, 10:15 PM
Number of posts: 6,151
