Monday, November 10, 2008

Monday Musings

Another Monday. I feel like I am treading water again. My mortgage repayment plan is in limbo until my tenants decide to pay. Note to self: Next time when writing a rental contract, make the late fee more than just $50. Perhaps $50 a week would have been better. Once the tenants are late they have no reason to pay me. I've learned a lot from this experience. The biggest thing I have learned is that I don't like being a landlord. I'm not going to quit though. Hopefully I'll do better with the next tenants.

I did not get much accomplished last weekend. It was cold and very windy. Not great painting weather so I didn't start painting the shed. I made some cookies because it was finally cool enough to use the toaster oven for a long period of time (yes, I only bake 6 cookies at a time). I don't use the RV oven because it uses too much propane and I hate going to get more propane. The fridge is still on propane and one container of gas lasts 2 months if I don't use it for other things. I only use propane occasionally for the stove top. My furnace is gas too but I have a portable electric oil filled radiator that I use instead. It works very well but it takes a while to warm up. I have my alarm set for two times. At 5:30 I jump out of bed, turn up the heater and dive back under the covers. Then I try to get another hour of sleep until I have to get up at 6:30. The RV is nice and warm by then.

So, anyway, I am trying not to think about my mortgage or my tenants and I'm just trying to appreciate the good things about Mondays...like the TV show Chuck. There's not a lot of choices with only 6 TV channels so I take what I can get. I tried watching Chuck on-line but it just wasn't the same. For some reason I like it on TV better. (In it on right now which is probably why this post doesn't make much sense). I have to go march around the RV and watch the rest of Chuck now!

7 comments:

Over the Cubicle Wall said...

I have two of those oil filled heaters that I use until it gets cold enough for the central heat. One for the front of the house, and one for my bedroom. I was thinking of buying a timer for the one in the bedroom. Maybe I will do the two alarm method you use instead.

Daizy said...

Hmmm, that reminds me, I do have a timer somewhere. The two alarm method is over-rated.

Sharon S said...

Hi there-I hope this tenant and rent situation is sorted asap, how frustrating for you :-( keep your chin up my dear!!

Over the Cubicle Wall said...

careful with the timer (and cord) - make sure it is rated to handle the electric load from the heater.

Lizzie @ her homeworld said...

Hey Daizy
I have just watched Stephen Fry in America, an episode called Real West. He visited some brilliant properties (then flew on to Tucson, so I tihnk he is in your neck of the woods) made from compressed earth with truck tyres, and other walls of mud & bottle or mud and coke tins. The homes were amazing. It worth looking out for even if you are not a fan of Stephen (sacrilege!). Can you perhaps download it form BBC Iplayer?
Lizzie

Daizy said...

Hi sharon rose, I still haven't heard from my tenants. Last time they claimed they lost my phone number. I will be glad when this is all sorted out too.

Hello lizzie, actually, I have to admit that I had not heard of him. I looked him up on wikipedia and it said he was in a comedy act with Hugh Laurie (I know who that is) and did the narration for Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (which I saw) and I haven't heard of his show about America either. Sounds interesting. The house you describe sounds like an earthship. They are very interesting but I think I would get very tired pounding all of the dirt in to tires! Maybe I can find a husband who would be interested in doing the hard labor.

Lizzie @ her homeworld said...

Eartthship, that was it.Pretty amazing.
aha, thats what I did! Choose one that is pretty good with his hands, if you see what I mean! I love Stephen Fry. Best friends with Hugh Laurie too I thnk, they went to uni togther. Check it QI if you have chance.