Well the trucking business was going well and when I say well I mean in the crapper fast. The mobile mansion/office had found its way from my house to the local trailer park. The positive is that Nana decided to move with it. Could this be it? Could I have finally arrived at the moment in time I had dreamed of (excluding the Nana in a fiery crash dream.). Like a warrior arising through the smoke after the battle was over I had scars to show but the victory was mine. I stood at the edge of my little kingdom with head held high and chest out as I was once again king.
For those of us who have served this great country we know the old adage that a battle won doesn’t necessarily mean a war won. It was but a few short months later that the business expenditures required trimming and the expense of the trailer lot was the first thing cut. I don’t see it as a total loss as the trailer ended up at my sister-in-laws (the one I get along with) and Nana came back to roost. I kinda see it as a split win. Nana 99% me 1%.
It only took a couple of weeks before the trailer was sold. My sister-in-law and her hubby were so happy to get the news as they had to keep it in their back yard for two weeks. I told them I would gladly trade the trailer for the mother-in-law. No takers there.
About a week later I noticed the trailer was still in the back yard. I asked the obvious question “Why” and was informed that the buyer wouldn’t be able to pick it up for a few weeks and was paying a little extra for it to be stored there. I said “at least you’ll make a little money off the deal”. Nope, the father-in-law saw it a little different. Even though it was stored on the brother-in-laws property he rightly deserved the cash, after all it was his trailer so the storage money was fairly his. As you fine folks now know I am well versed in his ideas of who deserves what when it come to money and family. I felt bad for them but couldn’t help feeling a little guilty pleasure in having someone else feel the pain of the parents’ n-laws). I should have known karma not only hated me but was coming around again for another round of kicking my ass.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Chapter 15: My father-in-laws new ride
So the Pa-n-Law is now sportin’ a ’99 Mustang on my dime.
But it’s O.K because it is just until he gets a new car after all. I mean if you had a free car with no need to pay the insurance on it wouldn’t you rush to find one that requires payments and insurance out of your own pocket?
Yea, me neither.
Now the car isn’t new. It is in good shape mechanically but we had a hail storm that totaled it out and after I bought it back from the insurance company I had very little into it. A new back window and the magnus lift dimples courtesy of the hail and she was back on the road. Since I knew I would never get it back and if I did it would be trashed I told him he could have it for what I paid the insurance company plus the new rear glass, $1,500. He said O.K. but it would take several weeks before he could get the cash together.
We skip ahead in my little story and stick with the Mustang saga. Don’t worry, I will come back.
About a year later he got into a wreck in it. Still hadn’t paid me a dime for it and I was still paying the insurance. The wife called to tell me the news. She was crying and hard to understand but I got the part about he was hit and at the hospital. I tried to calm her down and ask the important questions like is the car O.K. and was it the other persons fault. Somehow that pissed her off. Seems I was showing too little concern for the welfare of him. I tried to assure her that I had no concern for him what so ever but if it was his fault then the other person can sue us as we are the owners and are the ones on the insurance. Come to find out that a little old lady pulled out in front of him and her insurance company was on the hook. A few days later I had the adjuster go to the father-in-laws work (he had finally lost the business and I will go into that lovely story later) to look at the damage. I’m not sure what words were exchanged but I had to call to find out not only how much the damage was but how long to get the check. Come to find out it was sent to the father-in-laws. I asked why and they said he told them to. I then had to ask the obvious. Why the hell do you listen to someone other than the policy holder? I own the car and pay the insurance. They didn’t have a viable answer but did tell me the check was in my name. So the wife calls her dad to find out what’s up. He says he just got the check and wanted to know how much of it we planned on keeping. WTF. I want all of it. Once again, it is MY CAR. That didn’t set well with him.” Well then I want the car fixed.” He said. I politely told him no and I will take my car back now. A few days later I see the car parked in town with a for sale sign in the window. $2,500 OBO. Now how the hell is he going to sell my car without my approval? Once again the wife calls him to find out what is going on. Seems he bought a newer Dodge truck and needs the cash to pay the taxes. After staring at the wife with my best “you can’t be serious” stare she said “let’s just give it to him and be done with it.” Now I’m all for helping family but this is beyond ridiculous. I decided though to take my loss and move on. I asked for one stipulation. If he ever shows up on my land I get to call the PoPo and have him hauled off to the pokey for trespassing. He hasn’t set foot here in quite a while. Victories large or small; take ‘em when you can.
But it’s O.K because it is just until he gets a new car after all. I mean if you had a free car with no need to pay the insurance on it wouldn’t you rush to find one that requires payments and insurance out of your own pocket?
Yea, me neither.
Now the car isn’t new. It is in good shape mechanically but we had a hail storm that totaled it out and after I bought it back from the insurance company I had very little into it. A new back window and the magnus lift dimples courtesy of the hail and she was back on the road. Since I knew I would never get it back and if I did it would be trashed I told him he could have it for what I paid the insurance company plus the new rear glass, $1,500. He said O.K. but it would take several weeks before he could get the cash together.
We skip ahead in my little story and stick with the Mustang saga. Don’t worry, I will come back.
About a year later he got into a wreck in it. Still hadn’t paid me a dime for it and I was still paying the insurance. The wife called to tell me the news. She was crying and hard to understand but I got the part about he was hit and at the hospital. I tried to calm her down and ask the important questions like is the car O.K. and was it the other persons fault. Somehow that pissed her off. Seems I was showing too little concern for the welfare of him. I tried to assure her that I had no concern for him what so ever but if it was his fault then the other person can sue us as we are the owners and are the ones on the insurance. Come to find out that a little old lady pulled out in front of him and her insurance company was on the hook. A few days later I had the adjuster go to the father-in-laws work (he had finally lost the business and I will go into that lovely story later) to look at the damage. I’m not sure what words were exchanged but I had to call to find out not only how much the damage was but how long to get the check. Come to find out it was sent to the father-in-laws. I asked why and they said he told them to. I then had to ask the obvious. Why the hell do you listen to someone other than the policy holder? I own the car and pay the insurance. They didn’t have a viable answer but did tell me the check was in my name. So the wife calls her dad to find out what’s up. He says he just got the check and wanted to know how much of it we planned on keeping. WTF. I want all of it. Once again, it is MY CAR. That didn’t set well with him.” Well then I want the car fixed.” He said. I politely told him no and I will take my car back now. A few days later I see the car parked in town with a for sale sign in the window. $2,500 OBO. Now how the hell is he going to sell my car without my approval? Once again the wife calls him to find out what is going on. Seems he bought a newer Dodge truck and needs the cash to pay the taxes. After staring at the wife with my best “you can’t be serious” stare she said “let’s just give it to him and be done with it.” Now I’m all for helping family but this is beyond ridiculous. I decided though to take my loss and move on. I asked for one stipulation. If he ever shows up on my land I get to call the PoPo and have him hauled off to the pokey for trespassing. He hasn’t set foot here in quite a while. Victories large or small; take ‘em when you can.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Chapter 14: How could this have not worked
It went down hill rather fast after that point. Drivers that run 4, 5, 6 hours a day past their allowable driving time. Drivers going 300 + miles out of their way to deliver. The father-in-law finally had to drive himself. Times were getting hard. It had been 9 months and the only good news is that the camping trailer found its way from my yard to a trailer park and I usually only had 1 truck in the yard at a time. Then winter came.
I am not a truck driver. I understand though the difficulty in having to drive in adverse conditions and trying to navigate a snow packed mountain trail can have its moments but if you decide to drive a big rig you should have the skill and the guts to drive in bad weather when needed. The father-in-law had eleminated driving in New York , Chicago , LA and a few other places because he didn’t like them. He was fresh out of drivers and the first of the truck repo's had just started. Now he would only run southern routes and no east coast. I told him to drive a bread truck or a school bus. Money was getting tight and he was selling what he could to pay for gas. I tried not to play the “I told you so” game but my God how could this have ever been a good idea. No experience, not wanting to run specific routs, not going above the Mason Dixon and excluding an entire coast and he can’t understand why he wasn’t getting many loads.
I came home one day and his truck was in my yard. The little white Dodge pickup was gone so I figured he went home. I also noticed one of my cars was missing so I assumed the wife took it. I wasn’t sure why as she had a new car and this was my little runaround beater. I walk into the house and the wife said,“Hello”. I stopped and just starred at her.“What’s wrong?” she asked.“Where is the Mustang?” I asked.“Outside in the driveway.” She told me. I told her to call 911 just as the mother-in-law walked up from the basement.“Why are you calling the police?” She asked. I told her someone stole my car.“Nobody stole the car.” She said.“Then where is my car” I asked.
Did I really need to ask?
I am not a truck driver. I understand though the difficulty in having to drive in adverse conditions and trying to navigate a snow packed mountain trail can have its moments but if you decide to drive a big rig you should have the skill and the guts to drive in bad weather when needed. The father-in-law had eleminated driving in New York , Chicago , LA and a few other places because he didn’t like them. He was fresh out of drivers and the first of the truck repo's had just started. Now he would only run southern routes and no east coast. I told him to drive a bread truck or a school bus. Money was getting tight and he was selling what he could to pay for gas. I tried not to play the “I told you so” game but my God how could this have ever been a good idea. No experience, not wanting to run specific routs, not going above the Mason Dixon and excluding an entire coast and he can’t understand why he wasn’t getting many loads.
I came home one day and his truck was in my yard. The little white Dodge pickup was gone so I figured he went home. I also noticed one of my cars was missing so I assumed the wife took it. I wasn’t sure why as she had a new car and this was my little runaround beater. I walk into the house and the wife said,“Hello”. I stopped and just starred at her.“What’s wrong?” she asked.“Where is the Mustang?” I asked.“Outside in the driveway.” She told me. I told her to call 911 just as the mother-in-law walked up from the basement.“Why are you calling the police?” She asked. I told her someone stole my car.“Nobody stole the car.” She said.“Then where is my car” I asked.
Did I really need to ask?
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Chapter 13: The start of something good (and sure to fail)
So I now have the mother-in-law staying in my driveway and the father-in-law over everyday to run his trucking empire. Three big rigs sitting in my front yard and more pissed off neighbors living around me than Israel . What was next I pondered?
Well, since my wife works for a real trucking company her help was enlisted. It appears that the in-laws knew nothing of running a company and except for having a CDL the father-in-law had no other experience in this sure fire endeavor. I asked the wife what she was going to get paid for her efforts and she said “I’ll get 10% of the business”. “My ass” I told her. You will be stuck with 10% of the debt in 6 month time.“If you don’t make a dime from your work that is on you but your name is not going on a single piece of paper for this train wreck.” So the circus began.
The first driver they hired had to pass a rigorous background check. It appeared that with the exception of the drug charges and a few other minor offenses he fit the bill. I told them that I though they had set the bar a little low and I’m sure they could find a better candidate by simply searching the local paper for a list of DUI offenders. Well, at least one truck was on the road. Now the real money is gonna just start rolling in.
Well, since my wife works for a real trucking company her help was enlisted. It appears that the in-laws knew nothing of running a company and except for having a CDL the father-in-law had no other experience in this sure fire endeavor. I asked the wife what she was going to get paid for her efforts and she said “I’ll get 10% of the business”. “My ass” I told her. You will be stuck with 10% of the debt in 6 month time.“If you don’t make a dime from your work that is on you but your name is not going on a single piece of paper for this train wreck.” So the circus began.
The first driver they hired had to pass a rigorous background check. It appeared that with the exception of the drug charges and a few other minor offenses he fit the bill. I told them that I though they had set the bar a little low and I’m sure they could find a better candidate by simply searching the local paper for a list of DUI offenders. Well, at least one truck was on the road. Now the real money is gonna just start rolling in.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Chapter 12: That truckin' bastard.
In all fairness I knew he had a semi-truck and he used it sometimes to haul his equipment (bulldozers and the like) but he had sold it with everything else he owned except for a little Dodge truck. Using that vast fortune he put a down payment on three big rigs and three flats, all of which were now sitting proudly in my front yard. All that came to mind were Jeff Foxworthy’s “You might be a redneck” jokes.
If you have more semi trucks in your front yard than you have licensed drivers in your house, you might be a redneck.
I looked at the wife and quietly mumbled obscenities under my breath. Then the father-in-law gets out of the truck with a big grin on his face. So proud to be the owner of his own trucking company. I told him I’m giving it 6 month to a year, then he’s watchin’ the repo man haul his life away. He seamed more optimistic about the whole thing. He even bought a 40' camper to use as an office/home for Nana. I thought I might be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I may have a gaggle of trucks in the front yard but Nana now has a job and a new home. Halleluiah.
I never noticed the new 50 amp outlet that was placed on the side of my house where the gravel ended. That was where the trailer was getting plugged into about an hour later. In one day I went from a little track of land in a country subdivision to a trailer park truck stop (no offense to anyone living in a trailer park truck stop).
How could this day get any worse.
Why do I keep saying that knowing good and well that it would.
If you have more semi trucks in your front yard than you have licensed drivers in your house, you might be a redneck.
I looked at the wife and quietly mumbled obscenities under my breath. Then the father-in-law gets out of the truck with a big grin on his face. So proud to be the owner of his own trucking company. I told him I’m giving it 6 month to a year, then he’s watchin’ the repo man haul his life away. He seamed more optimistic about the whole thing. He even bought a 40' camper to use as an office/home for Nana. I thought I might be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I may have a gaggle of trucks in the front yard but Nana now has a job and a new home. Halleluiah.
I never noticed the new 50 amp outlet that was placed on the side of my house where the gravel ended. That was where the trailer was getting plugged into about an hour later. In one day I went from a little track of land in a country subdivision to a trailer park truck stop (no offense to anyone living in a trailer park truck stop).
How could this day get any worse.
Why do I keep saying that knowing good and well that it would.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Chapter 11: A step in the right direction
O.K. Where were we? Oh yea, the brother-in-law has moved out and I’m back to the troll under the stairs.
Things were going great. She would eat my food, use my electricity and waste my water and out of it I got to listen to a soothing hum of discontent and enjoy the company of a curmudgeon. Time went on and things stayed the same for a couple of months, then one day the mother-in-law made an announcement. She was going into business with the father-in-law (they were divorced and he remarried, but that never seemed to matter much) as he changed careers. I felt so happy for them as times were tough since he unfortunately got his ass fired for being a dumb-ass without a permit. He did have a good side business excavating and digging basements and all of his equipment was paid for. Hell, he even brought in several loads of gravel and made my driveway big enough to park a semi or two. I tried to give helpful advice by telling him to stick with what he knows and don’t go into debt while venturing into a new foray. Apparently I was to dim-witted to understand not only the complexity involved in reaching this decision but how easy it will be for him to make his fortune. I said fine but when you fail, and fail you will, you ain’t moving into my house (I’ve gotten quite good at standing my ground ;-). I still wasn’t sure what his new endeavor was as I didn’t pay to much attention to their ramblings from that point on. I mean why should I, it didn’t involve me at all.
A few days later the wife said her dad was going to park his truck at our house for a little bit. I didn’t mind this as we had lots of land and his truck wouldn’t take up much space. That’s when I discovered my father-in-laws new business. A trucking company. Suddenly the gravel in the driveway made sense.
Things were going great. She would eat my food, use my electricity and waste my water and out of it I got to listen to a soothing hum of discontent and enjoy the company of a curmudgeon. Time went on and things stayed the same for a couple of months, then one day the mother-in-law made an announcement. She was going into business with the father-in-law (they were divorced and he remarried, but that never seemed to matter much) as he changed careers. I felt so happy for them as times were tough since he unfortunately got his ass fired for being a dumb-ass without a permit. He did have a good side business excavating and digging basements and all of his equipment was paid for. Hell, he even brought in several loads of gravel and made my driveway big enough to park a semi or two. I tried to give helpful advice by telling him to stick with what he knows and don’t go into debt while venturing into a new foray. Apparently I was to dim-witted to understand not only the complexity involved in reaching this decision but how easy it will be for him to make his fortune. I said fine but when you fail, and fail you will, you ain’t moving into my house (I’ve gotten quite good at standing my ground ;-). I still wasn’t sure what his new endeavor was as I didn’t pay to much attention to their ramblings from that point on. I mean why should I, it didn’t involve me at all.
A few days later the wife said her dad was going to park his truck at our house for a little bit. I didn’t mind this as we had lots of land and his truck wouldn’t take up much space. That’s when I discovered my father-in-laws new business. A trucking company. Suddenly the gravel in the driveway made sense.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Chapter 10: Yo yo, Ya gotta go.
So the great white rapper returns “home” after a day of spending money on gas, food and booze. I just had to ask “If you have the money to run around why can’t you pay a little towards bills or better yet towards a down payment on your own place?” I was really not ready for his answer. I’m not saying he is the stupidest person I have ever met but until I meet number 1 he will do. His answer went a little something like this. “I ain’t got no muny left.” “I hadz to buy sum new rimz fo my car.” I look outside and sure as sh!t he was sportin’ 20” I stayed calm and slowly turned to him and said “You seriously just bought rims and tires and are living, unwanted, in my basement.” “You need to grow up.” That’s when the hand came up and from his mouth spewed “I’m a grown azz man and can do what I want.” I was stumped by that for a second. He could not be serious. I looked at him and with reserve and through clinched teeth said “A grown man takes care of his family first.” “A grown man pays his own way.” “A grown man……….what’s the point?” “You are as far from being a man as anyone can be.”
Well not long after that peckerhead and his crack whore wife had found someone stupid enough to hire them and they had secured one of the few apartments in town that didn’t need a background or credit check and I was back down to Nana. Oh happy days are here again.
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