9/14/2012

Check the year above...not 2013 but 2012.  It was arguably one of the saddest days in my life.  Ahead of that was 3/25/07...Lilia Sue died that day.

September 14, 2012 Del Ponte sold its entire equipment inventory at auction and received less than half of its market value.  Yikes.  That shortage did not come close to the $$$ amount we owed Wells Fargo for our SBA loan and the future looked mighty bleak.

Phil Davey never gave up hope and talked me in to pursuing a new career in insurance claims adjusting.  One year later we're on Long Island, NY working in the industry and enjoying life.  I reflect often on the events that occurred and while I believed that God had a plan...I just couldn't wrap my head around it.  Today I may be closer to understanding.

The people that we've seen this week have suffered so much in the past two years, it's unimaginable.  Hurricane Irene rocked their world then Sandy came one year later.  Some that we have seen have mostly rebuilt their homes and are looking to the government for reimbursement.  Many, however, had no $$$ to do anything and are making the best of their situation.  Yesterday we inspected a property that is standing as it was shortly after Sandy (sheet rock cut @ 4 feet, appliances removed, etc.) and the owners can't do anything else because they can't afford it.  They actually live in a rental FEMA trailer on their own property and they just look at their real house.

Another couple has done nothing and both sleep on couches on the main floor.  He has cancer and can't do stairs so she stays on the main level with him.  They're so positive ... these are good people.

Yesterday we attended St. Kilian's for Mass and the Gospel touched me.  I'm not biblical so bare with me.  The rich man (who ignored Lazarus) went to hell and begged Abraham to help him get out of hell.  That was a big fat 'no-go" and the Priest explained that the rich dude's sin was "not even noticing Lazarus at all while he had the chance".

I guess we've been given a chance to notice those who are suffering and try to make a difference.

That is all, Amen.

Peace & Love & Pray for Storms!

New Job

I think it's Thursday ... we just had a day off ... YAY!  It wasn't planned, but it happened and we're very happy.

The update is that since last Sunday Anne has been working in the office doing ADMIN stuff ... pretty decent pay rate, so makes it worth it.  Worked mostly 6:30 - 6:30 for a few days helping the team catch up on paperwork.  Strangely, the hours passed quickly and AD was still happy hanging with her DAD during the day.  

Wednesday evening we were informed that we were finished on the current "storm" and that hopefully we would be reassigned to a new project.  This morning we got the "go" to transfer to the next project which is in The Hamptons (also on Long Island).  So cool ... better commute than we had so that's totally happening!  Don't know if Anne Davey is going to work in the office on this next assignment but we'll know more Friday morning.

Phil here - So, off to the "rich folks playground", your president likes to play here!  All of the beautiful people are gone for the season, so I suspect we won't see anyone fun, but oh well, we are still here....  Hopefully the "team" will be back to work, Phil, Anne and AD, we all have a role, we can pump out the work! 

The weather is GREAT, Phil is in charge of the unit and of course AD, she suits up in her Bronco cape in the morning (cause its cold), and is sad when I take it off in the afternoon....  

Sorry we don't update regularly ... it's really crazy.  We leave before 6:00AM and don't get back home until after 7:30PM.  Don't eat right, don't sleep right ... but most importantly ... Adjuster Dog adjusts to whatever schedule we have and we're all one big happy family.  Let me check to see if we have any cool pics to share ... stand by ...

AD sleeping on her plastic bottle ... no toys to play with

On our Thursday day off Philoberto went to a barber ... an actual barber where they shaved his sideburns with a straight edge!  Next door to that Anne Davey got a mani-pedi for $25.00.  Next door to that we washed two weeks of laundry using the wash/dry/fold service and that was $32.00.  Nearby we recycled aluminum cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles.  In NY they have a 5 cent deposit on those items at the purchase.  Crazy!

We have been in this RV Park for 2 1/2 weeks and have moved 4 times!  It's a real pain ... you have no idea.  We have to move again in 1 week (if we're still here) but it is to the site beside us so that is a little less painful.  They have very strange rules in this County-run RV park.

AD enjoying the Sun!

In closing ... we're still here ... AD is happier than ever since we moved to a site that actually has SUN ... and we're busy and happy.  Until later ....

Peace & Love & Pray for Storms!

Clueless

Yep, we're totally clueless here ... weird.  Did I tell mention that Trent & Amanda are here?  They are parked across the street in our campground but we NEVER SEE THEM!  It's so crazy ... up at 5:00 AM so we can report to the office daily at 6:30 AM ONLY TO SIGN PHIL'S NAME ON A PIECE OF PAPER!  Then everyone is on their own till sign out time at 6:30 PM daily.  It adds at least 3 hours of driving time just to sign that paper.

Traffic ... they honk for everything (and we're never sure what they're trying to communicate).  HONK (I'm here), HONK (go), HONK (you're stupid), etc.  People are pleasant, kind and helpful ... it's cool.  Today a good Samaritan helped me back out of a tight parking space (long story) and the Trader Joe's manager gave me a NY shopping bag! 

Speaking of Trader Joe's ... we hoped to pick up their signature wine, "Two Buck Chuck" but the manager explained that the State of New York says that only one location in the state can sell wine.  That happens to be Manhattan and we're not there so whatever.

We have no idea what the plan is here; we're almost out of inspections so we could be released soon.  Don't have any AD pictures to share ... Will update whenever we know anything.  So ......

Peace & Love & Pray for Storms!

We're on Long Island!

We started this post 4 days ago when we landed in NY then ran into major data problems.  Very sorry for the delay but I think we're getting back into a groove again.

We left Toronto on Sunday the 8th and headed West to pick up the shotgun.  It was retrieved without incident; in fact it was painless!  Then we sailed through the US border with no problems and made our way South.  Drove through Detroit, MI, Toledo, OH and landed on the OH/PA border.  These are pictures of the campground where we spent the night.  These were taken on our way out the next morning; it was a cool campground.

Packed up Monday morning and made our way to Long Island.  We had a lovely drive through the Poconos (we're crossing so many sites off our bucket list!) and arrived in NYC during rush hour.  Amazingly, that traffic was NOT as crazy as the Toronto traffic.  We crossed some bridge (too traumatized to remember which one) and drained our cash on hand to pay a $13.00 toll (used quarters on hand).  Oh, this is important to note ... THEY ONLY TAKE CASH!  Later we crossed the George Washington Bridge and were informed that our toll was $27.00.  OMG, we were out of cash, the dude rolled his eyes at us and asked for license & registration cuz he was going to write a ticket which included the toll fee and a big fat fine.  So, I jumped out of the truck, ran back to the unit (holding up traffic but nobody honked at me), found a stash of cash to hand over and we were free.  What a wake-up call!

On Tuesday 9/10 we spent the day getting organized, finding our way around the campground and trying to decide what to do on 9/11.  We really wanted to go to ground zero but locals advised against it so we listened and toured Long Island instead.  On the South Fork of the island is NY's oldest Lighthouse so we went there first.  It was a scary climb ... had to hang on to an old dirty, oily rope all the way up and down.  The stairway is pretty much one-way so that increased the fear factor. 

Commissioned by President George Washington

View from the ground

View from the top

View from the top

From there we jumped on a couple of ferries and checked out the North Fork.

Ferry ride to wine country

Crazy expensive ferry ride

We reported to the office Thursday morning for an all day briefing.  We now must report the the office daily at 6:30AM to sign in and 6:30PM to sign out.  Very bureaucratic operation so we play by the rules (which change hourly).  We were told to plan on three weeks but who knows?

That's about it for now here.  We're praying for all you CO friends and family peeps.  Your storm is the news headliner daily (even with the Seaside Heights fire).  Hope everyone stays safe; please keep in touch!  So ....

Peace and Love and Pray For Storms (but not in Colorado)!

WE'VE BEEN RELEASED FROM TORONTO!

It's true ... after what was supposed to be a three week gig - which became an eight week gig ... we've been released!  We're excited to return to the USA ... really looking forward to it in fact!  Knowing that we would start heading South on Sunday, we took Sadie to the vet for her vaccinations on Friday. Also knowing that it was going to rain on Saturday, we packed up all of our outside stuff (cool tree, picnic table cover, rug, camp stove, etc.) and even got the inside ready for travel ( meaning Phil packed up the mess he made in the office), we packed the printers and computers ready for travel!

After finishing that chore we checked our phones and found that Crawford Cat had called and emailed.  Apparently they needed us elsewhere, so we're on the move again!  This is the cool part about our job, you never know what's around the next corner and obviously timing was perfect!  We're headed to Long Island on Sunday!  We've never been so we're looking forward to the new adventure; especially getting back to the US!  We'll be working for FEMA, we really don't know what we'll be doing, just spending some tax money to make things right after Sandy (the storm we just can't get away from, hooray!)

We used today to do our Toronto exploring and it was cool.  We left AD at home hoping to be gone only 6-8 hours.  (Happy to report that we made 6 hours).  We decided to tour the Casa Loma Castle and we're glad we did.  It was very cool and I can't remember many details but we were there for 3 hours.  Try this link if you're interested in Casa Loma:  www.casaloma.org/. The Castle has 98 rooms, the guy who had it built was waaayyyy ahead of his time and we loved the tour.

After that we attempted to go to an underground Farmers Market (it was raining like crazy so underground was great) but we couldn't get near the place.  Seems the Toronto International Film Festival is happening now and the beautiful Hollywood people are residing downtown. We detoured and came upon China Town.  Man that was cool.  Looked like most China Towns but it's always interesting, dang it!  Wish we could have stopped for eating, but not to be....

AD's New Broncos Jacket

Cool Jacket moving into the Fall

The Beer Store.  Need I say more?  You can only buy beer here and if you want "the hard stuff" you go the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario).  It's very inconvenient but that's just how it is.  Crazy expensive booze here!

Tricked out Gremlin I spotted in The Beer Store Parking Lot

Tree beside us being cut down

Dude doing the cutting

Top limb being removed

My two favorite Brits, Lucy and Alaina - gonna miss them!

Stuck forever at a train crossing.  Cool sky!

Her Highness wrapped in my hoodie.  It got really cold, really fast here.  Ready to MOVE!

So, we head West to get the evil gun tomorrow morning, then back East to NY.  Camping on Long Island is difficult but we'll make it work.  I think it may be warmer there so that's a good thing.  We'll update as we can so until later ....

Peace & Love & Pray For Storms!

Labour Day

Hope you all had a fantastic Labor Day Weekend!  Ours was pretty stupid; Philoberto worked, AD and I guarded the campground.  It's really difficult being the campground monitor!  The CG was full this weekend (as anticipated) and at 10:00AM most of the RV's were out.  At five till noon the tent people made an exodus; I had to wait in line to throw out the trash!

Abandoned CG at noon on Labor Day

I was able to snap a few pics during the long weekend; after all what else am I gonna do as the official CG monitor?

Canadian phenom ... guys don't wear shirts!

Dudes playing boccie ball

They played for hours and had a great time together

Philoberto starting a fire on Labor Day evening

It was chilly, dang it!  So we had a fire and Philoberto made chili con carne.  It was really good especially on the cold evening.

Philoberto's chili con carne

AD napping ... great entertainment!

AD showing off her beautiful tail plume

Adjuster Dog has an appointment with a Canadian Vet tomorrow.  She needs a couple of shots to get back into the USA.  Don't know when we get to head there but technically her rabies vaccine is expired.  Hope it goes well and we get home soon.  Until later,

Peace & Love & Pray for Storms!

Sunday Confessions

1. For the 2nd weekend in a row I watched Meet The Press.  Many of you know that I despise the show; have hated it forever.  I think it's because my Dad has always been addicted to news-like talking heads and they just hurt my ears.  Phil says I need to call the Judge and let him know of this anomaly.  That may or may not happen; I'll prolly call him but can't promise to talk about the show.  Although, both weeks were interesting (MLK I have a Dream Speech last week and The Syria crisis this week).
2. I watched Joel Osteen for the first time ever this morning. Did you know that it is about 20-25 minutes of no commercials?  That was cool. Today's message was about how God does not like sloppiness whether it's in the way we dress, keep our home, work at our careers, etc.  I was inspired to clean the house this morning; yet here I am outside blogging. 
3. It's cold and dreary and foggy here.  I confess that I hate dreary days. Stupid dreary days = watching too much TV.  
4. I desperately need a pedicure.  Can't wait to get home cuz I have a certificate waiting for me.
5. I don't eat breakfast sort of stuff for breakfast.  This morning I had a steak and avocado burrito.  It was yummy ... I'm not sorry.  On that note, thanks for the Avocado Saver Pam!

Top Side

Bottom Side

I'm finished confessing so until later,

Peace and Love and Pray for Storms!