and am leaving for the Azores in 30 minutes. It has been a busy 24 hours. Whew!
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Yesterday the building inspector came and approved the site where I will be placing the garage… I had spent the last two days shoveling the 29 x 13 spot that was covered in snow which was topped with 1 inch of ice so my arm is talking to me.💪💪💪
Then after the building inspector left the excavator arrived. He will be preparing the site, leveling the area and placing additional gravel for the garage to sit on. While I was told this was covered with the price of the garage learned it was not.
Don’t get me going on that! 😡😡
However, was grateful to know someone reliable to do the deed. He’s coming Tuesday while I am away and making arrangements with the company for delivery.
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So it’s been a busy 24 hours with lack of sleep. Once I did get to bed I couldn’t fall asleep with all the excitement.
I’ve received some great news as the excavator has an idea to fix the water tanks.
So am hopeful for the first time in a long time.
I eagerly await his proposal and will keep you posted.
Last night Governor Cuomo went out to dinner with his 3 daughters. Wonder what they spoke about? Rumor has it he is on the verge of announcing a run for the NYC mayoral job currently held by the disgraced Adams.
Have joined a local writing group at our Monticello library. Am impressed by the quality of the writing ✍️ from these folks even though I’ve only attended twice. Look 👀 forward to future meetings and hopeful to learn more as I develop my style.
May even start to include the 📕 I’ve begun to write ✍️ in my blogs, so stay tuned. You never know what this old gal will come up with.
Perhaps a chapter a week???
It would be a welcome relief to spending time on current events.
Going to the Azores, a group of islands off the coast of Portugal on the 28th, arriving on the 1st. It is one of the few places on the globe left for me to visit and am looking forward to it. Have no desire to go to South America, but who knows if Gate 1 has a cheapie trip like this one. Paid $800. 6 months ago for this gem.
So, unsure if I’ll be able to write for a while, but will definitely catch up upon my return.
..what you’ll find when you travel 🧳. Came across these lovely quilts at a local library show. Thought we needed a little art and break from reality. I know I do. Enjoy!😉
My favorite- would love to purchase it. Something about 🍊 Don’t you just love 💐 Hawaiian 🌺 Dream SequenceClassic AmishCountry Motif
And took $10 worth of raffle tickets for this one. I’ll know in October.. 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
Let’s hear it for Germany! 84% of their citizens voted in this week’s election! And while president X endorsed the party akin to what he and the vice prez rapist believe they lost big time.
Let’s hope this new train of thought travels across the pond and sparks 🔥 some change in the USA citizens.
Rapist and X followers are starting to loose their jobs due to cuts from the candidate they endorsed.
Change always starts when it affects the pocketbook. 👛
While this isn’t a Stephen Colbert item it is my first draft to an op ed I’m considering sending to the local county newspaper. Since no one reads my stuff it’s a safe place to explore what I will potential forward to the Sullivan County Democrat. And if I mysteriously disappear my daughter knows the name of the contractors. Here it goes..
Welcome to Sullivan County!
Returned to NYS in search of a new life after 10 years of florida maltreatment. Oh the stories which could be told, but for another time. They sure don’t like “Yankees,” down there. So, if you seek the South find a community filled with Yankees for protection.
I digress..
In 2024 I bought a cabin in Smallwood. I knew they’d be work required, but grossly underestimated the amount. Was willing to dish out 50 grand above the 115 price but by now have tripled that figure and as a senior had to return to work full time to restore retirement coffers. I am fortunate to have found Harris Hospital, a good workplace with much overtime for nursing on off shifts.
Moving here has been a disheartening experience when dealing with local contractors. They are quite a bunch, if they return your call, or even show. And while not all, those that are bad, are VERY bad.
My first big flop was from a contractor who had multiple hats. He did marinas, shops, and who knows what else. He was a constant no show, and took 4 months to complete tree removal work. As thunder storms persisted during this period I lay in bed terrified wondering if the decaying trees surrounding the cabin were destined to fall on the cabin roof, and do me in.
With the job going along well decided to winterize the cabin and stay. The next move was a well as Smallwood has seasonal water. After much reassurance I could have a well was unable to locate an engineer to sign off on the permit. Contacted multiple folks over several months for ideas and assistance to no avail. Wrote the governor’s office and was placated when my email was forwarded. Then got a particularly disturbing response from a DOH official named Illing who told me I should have never bought the place in the first place. Welcome back to NYS Mr. Illing, think it’s time for you to retire.
In my search found it was possible to get underground water tanks, but was also told to convert my cesspool first to a septic. Once again called endless folks to do the job and rare to get a call back. Found a local second generation family construction business located in Smallwood who I have paid over $40000. to do the well, and install tanks. Huge mistake. He rarely showed when stated, and it was obvious he did not know how to do the work though he said he did and had done the tanks before.
Found a PA. plumber to fix the septic drainage. However the other piece – the tanks and piping to them are frozen till the spring/early summer I am told. Though insulated they are not under the freezing line. So, I will not have water till late spring/early summer, if then. In my research the freezing point never came up, but think that’s what you have a contractor for?.
Recently, I returned to the Town Building inspector and heard that this Smallwood contractor never received any permits to do this construction. The contractor assured me he did, and stated he was in conversation with the building inspector throughout this endeavor. This was another lie, and I have been cited for lack of permit as well as the contractor. Lesson learned, get your own permits and they need to be posted.
I have contacted NYS mediation regarding money loss due to poor workmanship, however, this contractor has gone “underground,” and they closed the case. Five lawyers have been contacted, even those so called Christian/Catholic ones, and they want nothing to do with this. Small Claims Court allows $3000., while other states give $9000., and NYC is $5000., but unsure if collection on the claim will be possible.
So.. end to story I am obtaining water to flush the toilet and other amenities from the Smallwood Creek. While the firehouse has water, I do not wish to run into another former contractor who associates there.
Want to end this on a positive note. Here are some valuable resources I have found. Use them.
Windows on Broadway
Pia Electric
Travis Helms, PA plumber
Jones Plumbing
Smalls Plumbing
Kerry Bigness, realtor, and her husband Paul does painting
This week I watched daily for Governor Kathy Holcul’s decision on eric adams. What he did was outright wrong, however, the rapist vice president* got off on all he did or has he?.
Recap on what adams did..
Free travel perks, donations to his campaign from the Turks, and dissing building codes on their NYC embassy. Aside from illegal can you imagine what a mess we’d be in if that Embassy burned down with much of their staff inside as they weren’t in compliance with building codes???
So, girlfriend Kathy think you did the right thing letting him sit and stew, take the hot seat, and have the voters decide. Let him do the pretty stuff with the Deputy Mayors running the City.
And.. what more could a lame duck mayor do in 11 months?
We shall see.
*Henceforth will call the rapist the rapist vice president as we have president musk, who I will rename as president x.
Been deluged with requests for $ to get rid of the rapist and president musk. Unsure where this money goes and what is done with it but I read all these email appeals.
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I am saddened by what is happening with our government and worry daily but in the end we truly have no control. After all more than 50% of Americans voted for this and are cheering the rapist on along with President musk.
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The only thing we can truly do is hold on to our hat 🎩 and know this too shall pass.
Young Retiree Needs a Life 