What a week

I was talking to Jim this afternoon. Jim is 24 years older than me. We could share some stories of the things we have seen. Even with all the stories that might seem horrible to others we agreed we were blessed because we have had the pleasure of showing the love of God to some who are living without the knowledge of God's saving grace. 

 

Even though I treasure every week that I can interact with people who need to know the gospel it doesn't make each week pleasurable in every way. On Monday Daniel told me the water pressure was so bad in their shower that the water just dribbled down about 3 inches from the wall. When we bought the house we put all new water lines in. The plumber who did the work told me there was a piece a galvanized pipe that was going to need to be replaced at some time. I thought that day had come and I called Irv and told him we needed to replace an underground water line. Irv called the water department  and set up a time to pull the water meter that afternoon. I talked to Daniel again to tell him when everyone would be there to fix the water pressure and he said "it's just the shower, everywhere else the pressure is fine." Uh Oh, put the truck in reverse and start cancelling that new underground pipe and the water department pulling the meter.

Yea, the shower valve was plugged. It was a more expensive shower so it had a turn out valve. Yea, that wasn't going to turn out. I am looking at this one piece tub and shower thinking, I am going to be cutting this tub out of here with a saws-all and spending a couple of days getting this fixed. I had a busy week and this was not going to fit my schedule. Then I thought, if I cut the wall out of the laundry room could I get at this thing from the back side. usually you can not because the screws are driven in behind the shower surround wall. Nothing to lose so I cut the sheet rock and low and behold it could be removed and replaced from the back. Daniel was excited to see the water hit the other wall when the shower was turned on and I was excited to get the job done in under 2 hours.

 

On Tuesday we evicted Austin and Scott, Ok, I would call them tenants except they never rented the house from us. They just moved in. I had to have them served by the sheriff wait 10 days then go to court to get them evicted. Living in the house, using my utilities except for the water which they had put in their name. Water bill in their name gives them tenancy. Had a discussion with the water department about putting the water bill in the name of someone I had not rented the house to. The water department was not sympathetic and would not turn the water off even though they are going to bill me because, guess what, Austin and Scott are not going to pay that bill so it becomes the owners liability. I told the water department they were helping these guys steal from me. Yea, that's the policy.

My attorney told me the judge would most likely give them 3 days to move their stuff out. The judge was not amused and gave me immediate possession and ordered their removal and all removal costs to be paid by them.  On Monday Scott called to ask what time the sheriff would be coming to remove them. I told him I had to give the sheriff's department 24 hours notice so we would be coming on Tuesday at 10 am.

I stopped by the house 8:30 Tuesday morning and Scott told me they were going to start moving their stuff out. When I drove up at 10 am the deputy was already there and the doors were open. The deputy said they had requested an hour to remove their belongings. I had hired 4 people to help me carry the house empty. I was not about to pay 4 people for an hour to sit and wait.  I told the deputy. "they knew yesterday that the jig was up. at 8:30 they told me they were going to move out. That was an hour and a half ago. I want them out NOW!" 

We carried all their stuff out and put it by the curb. Someone hired a U-haul and loaded it up and took it away. It is said that the law favors the tenant over the owner. I don't see it that way. I know I had to go to court to throw out what were basically trespassers, but there does need to be some legal protection against unscrupulous landlords. At the end of the day, if you abide by the law the owner always wins. That night I slept in my house, those guys were homeless.

I feel no guilt about that, because neither of them has a job. Both able bodied young men who do not seem to want to work. I had the opportunity to share the gospel with them and tried to help them figure out how to find housing. They were not interested in what I had to say or any help from me. They just wanted to stay in my house. But don't live in my house when I did not rent it to you and you have not paid rent and do not plan to pay rent. Don't expect me to work while you do not even look for a job and steal from me, because at that point I will look for justice. 

Our houses are all nonsmoking houses. They were there for 2 weeks and this is what the furnace filter looked like. That filter is brown, not because of dust, it is smoke.

Had to patch this wall because, well evidently you pass the time by throwing knives at the wall to see if they will stick.

Put in a new bedroom door this morning. The one that was there had been kicked to pieces. The back door was kicked in as well. Frame broken out. I might know how they got access to the house. Scott stayed to load up their stuff but Austin was last seen running down the street. Run, buddy, run.

 

I went to look at a house that is for sale. It is at the very high end of our price range. It would have to be move in ready. When you drive up and see the spray foam insulation around the windows, you know it is not move in ready.

When the front door is splintered and cracked you know it is not move in ready.

When the cupboards, including the sink base have no doors or drawers, you know it is not move in ready.

When the ceiling light fixture has obviously been replaced, ceiling not repainted and the new fixture is only attached by the electrical wires, you know it is not move in ready.

When one of the the bathroom lights is missing and the other does not meet the wall, you know it is not move in ready.

When the back of the shower has been painted dark blue, you know it is not move in ready.

 

That does not even include the need for a new furnace, central air, and roof. Yea, we are going to pass on this one.

  

Couple of months ago I broke a tooth. I was hoping it could be capped. I was still thinking it was going to be capped when I was sitting in the dentist chair. I was told it was not savable and it was pulled. About 10 years ago I had an infection in the tooth right behind this one and it was pulled as well.So Wednesday I had 2 implant bases put in. That is the toque ratchet that was used to turn the implants down into my jaw. I could feel the pressure as it was turned in. It almost felt like my jaw was starting to bend a little from the pressure. I am thinking don't strip the threads on those babies and don't break my jaw. 

I had a followup on Thursday. Eric and Tammy both said, "Oh, good your face isn't all swollen up." Hey, nobody told me that was a possibility. I am a little concerned because Eric keeps saying, "I think the implants will work. I am not going to bill you until we know it is not going to fail." I evidently have a weird jaw bone, which is causing an issue.

At least my week ended on a good note. the house we emptied Tuesday is cleaned and fixed and rented.

 I stopped by Steve today to replace a failed GFI outlet. He has pulled up the carpet in his living room to find hard wood underneath. Some glue is on the floor.

he is spraying it with water a patch at a time and scraping the glue off. Steve has a couple of dogs so non carpeted floors are best. I really appreciate that Steve took the initiative here and is doing the work instead of having me do it. It's tenants like Steve that make my day.

Jim was telling me today that life is like a bicycle built for 2. If you put Jesus in front to steer and you ride in back and just keep pedaling life will work out. This week I just kept pedaling. If I had tried to take the handlebars and steer, I think I'd be in the ditch.