Haircuts, Hairy moments with a tenant.

Well, I cut my dad's hair today. I guess that is a switch from what I said yesterday. I guess I was feeling sorry for him.

Yesterday my mom and I went over to my parents rental property. The tenants are moving out, and were really nasty to us. First we could not get in the house, because they had changed the locks and not provided us with a new key. Earlier in the month, the tenant gave 30 days notice and gave us the difference between the security deposit and the monthly rent. However, that's not how a tenant is supposed to do things. She claims because she had never had her name on the lease, she could do whatever she pleased. Anyhow, the house needs some work, but most of it was normal wear and tear stuff, or was related to the fact that the house is nearly 37 years old. That's not her responsibility. However the tenants mother got involved and was playing the race card and was complaining that they needed to move on from this house and whatnot. Even the high school age daughter had to say "Grandma, stop it". So far the place needs a new fridge (the existing one broke and the tenant called and told us that she would buy a new one on her own), new wall oven (37 years old, parts inside are starting to rust out), wall paper removed, new carpeting on the stairs, painting the entire house, some patching on the walls, etc. Overall the place was not in awful shape, but not in great shape. It looked like five years of a renter living in it.

apparently Maryland is getting on board of signing the Eisenhower Interstate Highway shields along interstates in Maryland. I was wondering when Maryland would, considering most other states already do. So far I have seen them on I-95 Northbound near mile marker 3 and 28, on I-97 Southbound near mile marker 22, and on I-270 near mile marker 1.

Also, according to Rem, the plywood was taken off 2211. Someone got in there. I hope no one took any historical molding or whatnot.

Well, I wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope everyone stays safe tonight.

My dad hates me

My dad admitted he has a vendetta against me just a few minutes ago.

He is blaming me for why our house is a mess. He told me to move out. My mom got very upset with him. I said we need to go to family counseling. He told me I need to go, and he does not need to go.

Forgive me for actually caring about him when he was in the hospital, forgive me for caring about him when he got out of the hospital. Forgive me for helping him get out of chairs and get off and on the toilet. Forgive me for installing a different shower head on the shower so he could bathe himself. Forgive me for driving to get his prescriptions. Forgive me for making lunch and dinner for him when I am home. Forgive me for having the house spotless for Christmas. Forgive me for taking off work to pick him up from the hospital. Forgive me for caring about my father.

Instead of pointing out the good I have done for him, he just finds small details that are not perfect and making me feel like I am a terrible person for it.

I don't like to be around my father. He's a nasty bitter person. He constantly tells my mom and I "f--k you" and gives us the middle finger. He fights any progress my mom and I try to make on things.

At the end of the day, I don't believe I have a father. I just have a bitter man living with my mother that knocked her up and gave her a few kids.

300 miles to friendship.

Today was a very interesting day. I got together with my friend Dan and we went on a road trip around Southern Maryland. We started at my house near US 301, drove South to MD 5, followed MD 5 to Mechanicsville and continued on 235 though Lexington Park on towards meeting MD 5 again. We made a left, followed MD 5 to Point Lookout, visited the state park there, turned around, followed MD 5 though Leonardtown to Mechanicsville, made a right on MD 235, followed that for a mile or so, made a left on MD 6, followed that West, over MD 5 again, though La Plata and Welcome down to the end at the Potomac River. Then we made a U-Turn, followed MD 6 to MD 225, followed MD 225 to MD 6, took MD 6 back to US 301, made a turn South, made a turn East on MD 234, followed that to Leonardtown, back down MD 5 towards Pt. Lookout to MD 4, followed MD 4 North to Upper Marlboro, made a turn South on 301 and back to my house.

Dan has not been driving his car very much, and it needed a long trip. Today afforded that opportunity, putting about 300 miles on it. I paid for his gas, since he only works temp work.

Afterwards, I took Tara to dinner. We ended up at the Red Lobster in Columbia. We had the best server with the worst service. Our server was being held down by a cooking staff of one and a bartender that was cleary overworked. She warned us when she came to take our drink order that they only had one cook plus the manager trying to cook, so things were slow. Our food came out "fresh" though, so at the end of the night she ended up with a $15.23 tip. The manager had to comp some of our stuff, not because our server was bad, but because our food was not great (over cooked, etc). I could tell by the other tables with other servers, that their food was coming out slowly too. Couple this with it being her first week as a server (and only her second week total working at a restaurant), she had it. After Tara and I talked to her and gave her a pep talk, we told her a little about ourselves, and gave her our e-mail addresses. She was genuinely touched by our genorosity (25% of what our meal should have cost) and our understanding. I remember being a server, working one of the worst nights of the year, and being killed by overworking and slow cook staff. Most people penalized her for problems beyond her control. However Tara and I recognized that she really was not the problem and she was really trying to be part of the solution. I think Walt Darden would be proud of this server. It's too bad this week has been so rough on her that she was talking about quitting tonight. But waiting tables is not for everyone. I only lasted six weeks at it.

Well, time for me to go to bed.

Level 70

I made it to the 70th level of RC Pro Am. I thought the game stopped at 48. Maybe it does, but by the token of my 3rd place finish, the game never ends. Or you must be perfect in every round. Who knows.

The hunters returned. I actually had a sympathetic 911 dispatcher today. However, three hours later (and counting), they are still out there. These are the same people that I caught dumping back in 2001. And when they come to hunt, they dump stuff too. Are the police being dispatched? Are the police being lazy? I can't believe that they are having such a high call volume that they can't have a patrol car drive by and see someone trespassing.

The rear disc brakes on the Camry had to be redone at a cost of $550. Esentially we were stopping on the roters. hehehehe. My dad, out of cheapness or ignorance did not have the rear brakes changed when the front ones were done, and it cost them dearly.

My dad is getting back to normal. That is, being a very nasty mean person. Oh well.

I guess everything is going good.

Jackée, Alan O'Day, Traffic and the Smurfs.

My TiVo actually found an episode of The Smurfs!!!

Also, my TiVo thinks an average of Boston Public and Three's Company is 227. Jackée as Sandra Clark. I'd like to make a movie with Jackée and Fran Dresher opposite each other. That could be quite annoying. Just like the traffic.

The idiots have taken over the roads and the shopping malls. And the Wal Mart. I'm sick of idiots. I think the idiots are taking over the world. We have mad-cowboy disease for the next four years. I need to figure out an idiot free zone.

A blast from the past happened last Friday night. I was in the Harris Teeter on Glebe Road in Arlington. What came on the background music was nothing short of obscure. Alan O'Day's Undercover Angel. I was singing along to the lyrics in the store. People were staring at me. What business does a mid 20 something have singing an obscure 1970s song. And they were wondering how I would have all the lyrics memorized.

Well, if I don't update between now and Saturday. Merry Christmas!!!

243,580

243,580 = My high score on Pac Man.

We had the first snow of the season. It gave me about 1" of the fluffy white stuff all over the place. It looks great up against the Christmas lights, and it covers up all the cords all over the place.

There was an RFP meeting today. It did not seem to go too well. I am strongly opposed to how the houses would be assigned.

I am about 70% done with my Christmas shopping. I still need to get presents for my mom, my dad, my brother and my sister. I should be able to nail that stuff down this week. I had better, because Christmas is on Friday for my family. On last Friday, it was friends Christmas. Tim got me an electric razor, Tara got me a sweatshirt, Trish got me a 1966 Tornado ornament, Steve and Robin got me a sweatshirt and Rich got me a bottle of chocolate. Tara was happy with her X-Box game, Tim was happy with his remote control and DVDs, Trish was happy with her box of chocolates, and Robin and Steve got rattles for Anna.

Anyhow it is time for me to bid you a good night.

A blah blah here, A blah blah there...

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas. The idiot drivers on the road, the thoughtless people in the stores,etc. At least it physically will look more like the season, the DC area is expecting snow on Sunday and Monday, and more importantly, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

In the past three days, I have had the middle finger extended to me while driving three times. What's crazy is one of these individuals was behind me in a SUV (I was driving the Camry) and I had someone in front of me slowing down to turn. He was so preoccupied with me slowing down that he flashed his lights. Then when the person that was turning pulled over into the very short (for a 55 MPH posted highway) turn off lane, I hit the gas. This person was so angry with me he went around me on the inside and gave me the finger. WTF? On my drive between Upper Marlboro and Arlington last night, I counted 15 vehicles with their bright headlamps on. On the way home, I noticed at least four. Tis the season to be obnoxious.

I heard from a old friend this week. He chewed me out for living with my parents, not having a real career, etc. He said I will be unemployable. He thinks my parents are using me. Well, my dad got out of the hospital. He can't get out of a chair on his own. If he has to sit on the toilet, he needs help getting up and getting down. He can't walk and hold anything. My parents are very needy. It is quite possible that they will have to live in an assisted living facility in the not too distant future. I strongly feel as if I am doing the right thing for my parents. And they expecially need me right now. I don't mind taking off of work for them, or going to work late, just so they can live their life. I think the person that is telling me I am doing the wrong thing, helping my parents, has serious regret issues for not helping out with a loved one that was needy.

I had friends Christmas last night. Tara gave me a sweatshirt, Steve, Robin and Anna Marie gave me a sweatshirt. Tim gave me an electric razor and a CD wallet, Trish gave me a model car ornament (1966 Tornado Coupe) and Rich gave me a bottle of very high fat chocolate.

Anyhow. I need to go get used by my parents.

My dad is home

My dad is home from the hospital today. Thanks to all my friends that have been keeping him in their thoughts and prayers.

I've been watching the Simpsons a lot lately. Now Principal Skinner drives a Merkur. Yes, the Merkur Scorpio is going to be on my used car lot from hell. At least the superintendant drives a current design of the Camry. He used to drive an Accord. Falafel was mentioned in the Fleet a Pita episode. Whenever I hear the word Filafel, I think of O'Reilly and his sex scandle. Do we want some Lingonberrys with our sex? LOL

Anyhow, it is supposed to snow on Sunday night and Monday morning. Let it snow. It will make things look more like Christmas.

Again, thanks for your thoughts and prayers during my dad's health ordeal.

Silver Screen Test

I got my ass kicked on there. I pulled Barbara Hammer out of my brain as an answer during the second episode. What would be really cool is if I could get Brick to do a special episode with my brother and sister and I all competing. Anyhow, I have no idea when I will be aired... I'm getting a DVD copy of the tapings. hehehe

2225 Denied

We won the zoning hearing for 2225 Linden Ave.

My dad is still doing well.

Chattanooga

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention in the previous posts. I did not get to go to Chattanooga this past weekend. Trish, Tim, Adam and I all canceled out on our trip. I was the driver, and with my dad being in the hospital, it really was not a good idea to leave town.

Dad's OK

My dad's heart sugery went well. He ended up needing a triple bypass. My dad had to be sedated when we were visiting him. He had tubes down everything. Not a plesant thing to go though. He will be OK though I think. The surgeon said everything went perfectly.

We will know in the next day or two the fate of 2225 Linden Ave. I suspect that the zoning change will be denied. There were 14 e-mails written in, along with testimony from Adam and Vicky.

Well, I am off to bed.

Waiting for my mom

I am patiently waiting for my mom to get ready. My dad is having his surgery now. My sister and nieces are waiting at the hospital.

Just for a distraction:


You are a Siamese! You are fun-loving, playful,
energetic, talkative, and exotic. You are the
center of attention and you love every minute
of it.


What breed of cat are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Finally, I can log in.

Sorry about the long delays between posts. It seems that blogspot goes down quite frequently.

I got censored on some of my posts, I assume for using cursewords.

Anyhow. My dad is in the hospital. On Tuesday November 30th, I took my dad to the hospital complaining of chest pains. He was finally transferred Washington Hospital Center on Saturday December 4th. He had an angiogram the following day, and it revealed he will need heart bypass surgery. He had a triple bypass surgery done twelve years ago. It was botched, and two of the bypasses failed. Since 1992, he has had countless angioplastys with stents put in. His heart condition may explain why he was being such a jerk. It does not give him an excuse, just an explanation.

Robin had her baby. It was a girl, 8 pounds 12.5 ounces. Her name is going to be Anna Marie ______ Embry. I can't remember what Anna Marie's middle name is, unfortunately. I have too many other things on my mind. At least the baby was completely healthy. Mom is recovering well. Dad is very proud of his handiwork.

Indian Head Maryland has made the national news. Ecoterrorism is the key word. A whole bunch of luxury homes have been torched while under construction. Dumb point, but what if burning up the homes ended up catching the woods on fire, burning down the Magnolia bogs, the same ones they were trying to save from destruction? Dumb, dumb, dumb. Lets be honest here. Suburban sprawl is here to stay, and the bogs are in a state forest. There was a buffer planned into the community. I was pretty satisfied with the plans. And honestly, if I hear one more time that close in suburbs should be developed first, I will scream. The close in suburbs in Virginia and Montgomery County are developed. In Prince George's County, there are very large plots of land that are undeveloped, inside the Beltway. There is a reason for this. The quality of Government services, the quality of shopping and the quality of recreation in Prince George's County is lacking. The county is hemorrhaging white people at an alarming rate. I honestly can't think of any white person that is racing to buy a house in Prince George's County. If I hear them talk about moving somewhere and buying a house it is either in DC, Virginia, Montgomery County, Baltimore or one of the outer ring counties (Charles, Calvert, Anne Arundel, Howard, Frederick). If you take this into consideration, it makes sense that these properties were located where they were. The developers are giving people what they want. Ecoterrorism is not effective in the long run.

Speaking of quality development. I wrote a letter into the City of Baltimore in regards to the zoning hearing on 2225 Linden Avenue. I stated my reasons of why it should be denied. One of my favorite lines from the letter was "outright capricious disregard for zoning laws." Hehehehehe. I think his request will be denied.

Anyhow, I have a long day ahead of me, with a lot more to complain about, but at this point, I need to cut it short.