See posts, 9-24-23, 12-21-23

 Yup, I need refresher on these rules. I totally ignored my own advice and chimed into a conversation taking place at my desk area. What a fuckin Schmuck.  👏  .  You see, it's an unnatural act for me to keep mouth shut when in this scenario. then my natural reaction is to over compensate and become an introvert.  But I can't do that on this job, I must inter act and be cheerful with customers.  I really feel like going to central park and digging a deep hole to sit in... Yes I'll be obsessing this all morning, maybe all day. This is what I usually do.  I keep repeating the conversation in my head expecting it to some how change and I  feel better about the situation.  duh.  Excuse me while I Punch my self in the face. 

Do more in 24.

 Very catchy and original phrase.  👌.  

I'm sitting here pondering my plans on Chester river boat trip. I mentioned this idea a few years ago. I keep coming back to it. I keep telling myself this is the year.  I should plan it for April or May before crabbing season gets into full swing.  I'm only figuring a single overnight trip, bit I'll be packed and supplied enough for a 2 night trip.  I will obviously take fishing gear and target some blue cats and pertch.  I'm wondering if I should take 30 net ring traps and sample crab areas as I explore my way around. It would be early season so I'd likely find at least a few over winter crabs . 

I mean what else is there to do on a extended trip ?  I don't like to just ride wide open .  So I'll be considering the crab idea. Definitely taking a few catfish rods and bait.  I'll anchor upon a shoreline for overnight and cast out a few baits and see what happens.  

Next boat topic. I see fisherman and crabbers getting many views on their YouTube videos.  Seems people like to watch these videos.  I'd like to make a few of crabbing,  fishing, eel potting, setting my hoopnets and retrieving them and maybe setting my fish trotline .   Making the video is easy enough. posting is also easy. I'll do a few and see what happens.   Also boat ramps.  I was thinking a series of videos on some boat launches showing the ramp, dock etc.  Boat ride and exploring would make a good video also. 

Random Thoughts at work.

 Random thoughts while at work today. this 3rd day of year 2024. 

 Just for perspective,  I walk in the place at 0430 so at this time it's 0745 and it seems like mid day to me.  so here goes with my silly mindless observations and thoughts throughout the morning. I'll try not to force feed myself any thoughts just for the sake of writing here. 

0748, I should post the time of each thought. 

0750, I remember back in my drinking days I once wrote notes while I proceeded to get drunk. I was parked at the yacht club sitting in my old white van. slamming beer and puffi g weed. I would write thoughts that I thought were clever or good ideas so I could read them next day when sober. Wow. I learned a drunk has dumb thoughts but thinks they are smart. I did write and even after sober realize  that Viagra and Vagina are very similar words. 😳 

0810, Wonder how much an I pad costs ? we have a few at work and I'd like to get one for watching videos and TV.  Guess it's googly time

0845. Just had people,  clients, and management having a group conversation in my work area. I immediately reminded myself of my rule.  Keep my distance.  See previous post.  

0849, I'm only working till 10am. I won't post after that.

. Some. Actually many super hot women here at work.  Many younger ones also.  I sometimes wish I was younger.  I wonder what these younger ones think of an older guy like me.  Would they have sex with me ? I think this comes under the heading of "my fantasies ". 

0950, Well it's almost quitting time. I'm gonna sign out of work and then walk back and lift weights.  I'd like to give a shout out to all my imaginary readers and thanks for tuning in. 

KEEP. /kēp/, verb.

 Keep your distance from other employees. 

Keep your mouth shut. 

Keep ignoring ignorant people. 

Keep opinions to myself. 

Keep opinions of co workers to myself. 

Keep smiling. 

Keep my thoughts and feelings private.  

Keep words to a minimum when communicating at work. One sentence is usually sufficient.  Don't repeat yourself. 

Keep from flirting with the lovely ladies ! Difficult !

Keep the employee mindset.  I'm not a supervisor,  im just another employee.  Don't make suggestions. 

Keep perspective.  It's a great winter job that might go further.  

Keep learning the tech side of job. 

Keep out of conversations.  Just cuz you're standing there doesn't mean you're included in the conversation.  

Keep in mind,  most people are fake. They smile and lie all day. They have practiced this for years in the workplace.  You are new at this . Put on a facade as they do.  

Keep in mind. this is a gravy job. 👌 

Van dwelling/New job.

New job is going well.  The early start time will keep me tuned up for next years crabbing season.  3:45 am.  

Had a tree limb  reak out a window a few weeks ago. One of the 3 roof windows.  I still haven't replaced it.  Lazy.  Duct tape for now. 

Bought a bunch of stuff from online estate auction.  Still listing and trying to sell.  

Thinking of setting out 4 hoop nets soon. Give them a 7 or 8 day soak and hopefully catch some catfish.  

Put my Mr. Buddy Heater in van today.  Will be needing it soon. 

Letters on a screen.  Words. Thoughts. Sentences.  

Thinking of video recording boat stuff. Crabbing,  eeling and setting hoop nets.  There's plenty of videos on trotlining but not much on running net rings or topless traps.  I'm figuring take the video as a "ride along " type .  Some pointers on using the gear and showing  the catch .  I posted a video showing one eel pot and the catch. It had 3, 2 lb eels in trap. YouTube posted it in shorts format and it got 2400 views overnight.  I have about 3 followers so this was a surprise amount of interest.  So  I got to thinking about a ride along type format. Every trip out, Crabbing,  eeling or hoops I'll just record as it happens and post up the highlights.  No editing or fancy stuff.  I need to find a head mount for phone. The one I bought from Amazon points the camera too high .  I see how many views these Crabbing and fishing  videos get and I'm surprised.  Eels, bushel of crabs, 60 net rings stacked in rubbermaid, for catching crabs, and dirty eel pots going back to get cleaned. 

A few weeks changes everything.

Nov. 5th 2023

 After my negative thoughts about job at laundromat post things changed.  The woman was in negotiations to sell the place same time I applied.  That's why she didn't respond to me. I actually talked with her in person the day of settlement.  She's a very nice lady and explained things to me. She passed my job application to new owner.  I also had mentioned nonchalantly to the owner of my.gym I was seeking a winter job.  So you guessed it. They both contacted me a day apart.  Originally I was going to take both jobs and juggle the shifts. After some thought I opted to pass on the laundromat job and take the position at the gym. 

The job is basic enough,  front desk clerk.  Check people in when they enter , update payments, wipe down cardio machines, etc.  I report at 0430  do the morning routine then open gym for business at 5am. Yeah, nice early hours just like commercial crabbing.  Wake up for me is 0345 . 

The sweet part is I get to parking lot early , have a coffee while waiting for 430 so I can enter. I have a code for front door but I don't want to enter any earlier then suppose to.  Once inside I have my very own bath room for morning routine.  As a vanner this is GOLDEN !!!!!  I do the assigned tasks pre opening.  Basic shit, check paper towels,  squirt cleaner into toilets, wipe mirror and sinks. Both male and female bathrooms 🚻.  10 mins. Turn on music for weight room, lights,  check towels and paper cups in weight room ✔️  . Upfront of gym, turn on the multiple TV sets, lights unlock front doors. BAM !  Ready for business 💪.  There's a few more chores throughout the 5 hour shift but again, very basic stuff. The rest of the time I'm forced to look at very attractive women whom are dressed in spandex .  😁

I'm also back in to the auction hustle. I just bid on and  won many nice items from an online estate auction.  👌.  I'm gonna post on Face Crook mkt. and sell along with word of mouth and of course direct contact with the lovely women I meet at my place of employment. 

  The buy and sell auction hustle is a lot easier these days with a smart phone in everyone's hand. I was buying and selling at flea market level before we had the giggle button . I kinda had to know the mkt. back then . Now I can see items that are interesting and just search online for price comps. BAM !!! Easy peasy. 

 I drive my van as a daily driver. I park at my gym when using the gym and have been since I bought my roadtrek. I don't live on the lot.  Before that I lived in my white Ford cargo van and parked that same place while using the gym.  I think a few people have figured out the van is my house.  I park out and away from gym front doors, mainly to keep cars from dinging me.  I really don't care who knows my deal but I don't advertise it.   Funny story,I was doing laundry 2 weeks ago . Lady who also was doing laundry   asked me point blank " do you live in your camper van " . I smiled and said Yes I do, for 13 years now. She's into the tiny house thing on TV.  

Years ago there was a guy in my gym who was a van dweller.  He parked his van behind a gas station a quarter mile from gym . Never moved it.  It was parked in plain sight on a very busy corner. No one ever noticed what he was up to. He had permission from gas station,  that's all he needed.  We'll my buddy knew Tom, I didn't. We all belonged to same gym. My buddy was telling many people about Tom's set up, unbeknownst to Tom . Remember this is before it hit YouTube and became trendy. Flip phones were still the thing.  Tom was a private kind of guy but friendly.  

I started considering doing the van house thing after I learned of Tom . I was a long haul trucker for 15 years. Before that I was an Army paratrooper in the infantry.  I was  made for van dwelling.   So I started researching on my old dial up desk top computer.  Wasn't much to read back then on van dwelling.  This was probably about 2004 .  I ran across a few cool blogs and started following them.  Hey Chris Harne 🖐  . Well back to my original thought.  Lots of people knew about Tom and his van set up.  He remarked to me " man I been doi g this shit for years and NOBODY knows . " I informed him I've known for a few years and lots of people know thanks to our friend Kenny.  He wasn't amused.  So I wonder how many people over on that side of town know my set up . 🫢 No worries 👍 

So this little job is made to order for me, and the auction hustle is also a worthwhile venture.  

 August of 2011 I started this van life. I do not want to own a house again.  I fell for that scheme once, that's enough. 💯 

 

Positive direction.

 Had productive days last week, 9/21, 9/22. Crabbed Thursday with very good results,  a bushel and half catch.  Had a Facebook contact about a hauling job. Originally booked for Friday 5pm.  Kinda shitty time but wasn't going to refuse.  I decided to jot crab on Friday since poor weather was forecast . So I messaged customer and got load time changed to Friday am. Perfect.  The job took about 30 minutes to load and was a 10 minute drive to county landfill. BAM ! My 1st paying hauling job in years. Made me happy to be hauling junk again. 

I have a regular crab customer that buys my jumbo size crabs, and I usually steam them for her. I did the hauling job and unloaded at landfill, parked truck in storage yard then steamed the dozen jumbo crabs.  Plan worked perfect.  While she, my lady customer was in local liquor store buying beer she calls me and says Hey, this guy working here wants crabs. I sold him 3 dozen of Ex large and larges. BAM AGAIN !  Sold that bushel toot sweet.   I had 2 dozen medium size left for sale so I posted them on Fakebook and 2 hours later BAM , sold.  Crabbed Thursday,  did hauling job and steaming  and selling out of crabs Friday.  

So now I've revised my post on Fakebook to include moving services.  I will use my enclosed trailer for this service.  I feel positive about the potential of the moving and delivery service.  I have a few more weeks of crabbing ahead but after October I'll rely on hauling and moving jobs, maybe a few days of commercial catfishing,  hahaha. Yeah, still holding onto that fantasy.  

I'm also considering advertising leaf removal and yard work, clean ups.  I'm very familiar with that already.  I know how to price the jobs I  could also install mulch , gutter cleaning etc. 

***The talk to much post was a saved draft that shows September 24th posting date.