Home Improvements (Part Four) 257

Last paragraph, last post was:

Even more comforting was that he was saying "we" a lot. "We'll come up with the pole," etc. However, E.F. told me to make all the arrangements. Bobolink was contributing positively to the conversation, which was also very comforting.

The problem here is this: As long as they're alive and able, my dealings about this place will be with E.F. Hutton and Abbie. They own the land. E.F. Hutton has said there is a possibility they'd sell this plot to me outright. I think Abbie favors a 99 year lease - in her eyes, there's no difference.

But there is a difference. When the land itself passes down to Bobolink so will the 99 year lease. I don't think Bobolink himself would ever do me wrong, but because men often think with their little heads instead of their big ones, Bobolink could be influenced by some woman to kick me off the property. Especially if the woman is the girlfriend he had up at the shop last Saturday. What if they get married, and Bobolink gets killed in an wreck or something? Then the gold digger wife would hold my lease. What then???

BUT I can't afford to buy this place now. I don't even know if I can afford the home improvements. To me, the bigger problem is improving the place - because it would solve a lot of problems with the trailer itself - but it would be a shame to sink a bunch of money into permanent structures without some steadfast leagal assurance that I could live here until I die.

Mother is adamant about it, and wants all of us to sit down and sort it out; and I suppose a pow-wow is necessary sometime soon. It hurts my brain to think about such complicated affairs. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, etc., and how is it possible to get all parties on the same wavelength? Stuff like this makes my hair hurt.

And on top of all this, technically I don't even have a job. I trust Whatagreatguy's word, but until I'm on the road again, I don't have a job.

In other news, I'm having a relapse of whatever this bug is, cold/flu/whatever. I feel like doodoo today. I've been taking the antibiotics, but I don't think they're helping much.

Home Improvements (Part Three) 256

I've had a cold/flu/something, but last Saturday I felt good enough to take Buddy for a walk. It was kinda late for E.F. Hutton to be in his shop, but thankfully he was - along with Cousin Bobolink and his girlfriend.

I don't personally know the girlfriend, but my impression of her isn't a good one. This woman, who is probably close to my and Bobolink's age (late 40s) was sitting in a chair next to Bobolink with her leg draped over his - as if she were at home, with no regard or respect for E.F. Hutton or me. My notion of her is that she cares nothing for Bobolink, but cares a geat deal for what Bobolink will inherit. A psychiatrist might say she was showing possession, or ownership of Bobolink (and his stuff) by covering him with her leg in such a disrespectful way.

Men often think with their little heads instead of their big ones, so I don't particularly fault Bobolink for allowing her behavior. But she should have known better. We aren't teenagers anymore. This woman figures into the home improvement saga a little later.

E.F. has known about my home improvement plans from the beginning, and I called Bobolink a few days ago to tell him about it. So, when I mentioned my dilemma about moving the service/utility/whatever pole, they both knew what I was talking about. I told E.F. I was lost about what to do next, and it was so comforting to hear him lay out a plan and explain what happens when the service is moved.

One important thing I learned was that the inspector works for Jefferson County - not AL Power. And when the inspector comes out to inspect, he only wants to see that the pole doesn't lean and how the electrician wires the lines into the house.

Even more comforting was that he was saying "we" a lot. "We'll come up with the pole," etc. However, E.F. told me to make all the arrangements. Bobolink was contributing positively to the conversation, which was also very comforting.