Hot.\u00a0 Mostly.\u00a0 Humid. Definitely.\u00a0 Although it stayed in the mildly unpleasant range yesterday.\u00a0\u00a0 It was humid all day.<\/p>\n
Did some shipping for ebay.\u00a0\u00a0 Sold some more of a staple item for me.\u00a0\u00a0 Every so often the algorithm kicks me to the top of the list for this item and I have a cluster of sales.\u00a0\u00a0 We’ll see if that happens this time, or if it was a one off.<\/p>\n
Went by my secondary location to pick up some more stuff for the BOL.\u00a0 Hit the Goodwill for a couple of interesting books, and some leather for a project.\u00a0 Got 4 milk crates too.\u00a0\u00a0 I use them for all kinds of things, but I mostly use them to stabilize propane bbq bottles.\u00a0\u00a0 A bottle fits in the crate snugly and is much more stable in the square crate, and much less likely to slide around.<\/p>\n
As I was driving around I noticed a significant increase in groups of men standing around drinking outside of little convenience stores, around the back of apartments, in alleys and near the trash dumpsters.\u00a0\u00a0 Hispanic men.\u00a0\u00a0 I also noticed a marked increase in homeless men, both singly and in groups around my secondary and throughout the areas I drove through.\u00a0 I don’t usually drive around on a Sunday, so maybe it was due to the day of the week, but I’ll be keeping an eye open this week.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The groups of drinkers hanging out I blame on illegal immigration.\u00a0 The homeless camps and growing number of homeless likely has several causes, including economic stress.\u00a0\u00a0 None of it is an indicator that things are getting better.<\/p>\n
Take an extra hard look around you\u00a0 this week.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Take some different routes than you normally do.\u00a0\u00a0 Look for changes.\u00a0 Look for signs of trouble.\u00a0 Graffiti tags.\u00a0 Trash.\u00a0 Illegal dumping.\u00a0 Homeless men, singly or in group camps.\u00a0 Drug dealing.\u00a0 Prostitution.\u00a0 Overgrown lots. Abandon vehicles.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get in the habit of noticing these things, and noting any changes.\u00a0\u00a0 Day before yesterday, one of our long term “urban campers” was begging for money at an intersection near my storage unit.\u00a0\u00a0 I’ve never seen him begging before.\u00a0\u00a0 Changes.\u00a0 Not for the better.<\/p>\n
Headed to the BOL this morning after I get the kids out the door.\u00a0\u00a0 Need to meet with the septic guy to settle up, and with the inspector to get approval.\u00a0\u00a0 I’ll probably spend the day working on gas and plumbing, and spend the night there.\u00a0\u00a0 I can drive home Tues, and hit two auction pickups on the way home, which is a plus.\u00a0 Wife is working from home since she was sick all weekend.\u00a0 I’m happy not to be breathing the same air….<\/p>\n
Work on your local knowledge.\u00a0\u00a0 Get a feel for ‘normal’ and for ‘changed’.\u00a0\u00a0 Stack up the things you need.<\/p>\n
nick<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hot.\u00a0 Mostly.\u00a0 Humid. Definitely.\u00a0 Although it stayed in the mildly unpleasant range yesterday.\u00a0\u00a0 It was humid all day.<\/p>\n
Did some shipping for ebay.\u00a0\u00a0 Sold some more of a staple item for me.\u00a0\u00a0 Every so often the algorithm kicks me to the top of the list for this item and I have a cluster of sales.\u00a0\u00a0 We’ll see if that happens this time, or if it was a one off.<\/p>\n
Went by my secondary location to pick up some more stuff for the BOL.\u00a0<\/p>\n