Sitting On Moisture-filled Clay

As I suspected, there was a light frosting in the lowlands overnight which made me all the more happy I decided to get everything picked out of my garden with the exception of two very late tomato plants which I simply covered up. I’m hoping the green tomatoes on them will ripen so I can at least have a few for the table. All the other tomatoes I grew were the San Marzano type which went into the many quarts of tomato sauce I managed to can.

I completely forgot about it being a holiday until I began noticing there wasn’t as much traffic as usual around the hour of eight, but at least the places I needed to drop off gift sacks of bell peppers, were open. The last place I stopped is where I gave the most peppers along with that giant watermelon. All was gladly and thankfully received, and my last words were, “Hopefully I’ll have more to gift you next year.” Personally, I never would’ve dreamed those watermelons would be as well received which will inspire me to grow more next year.

The highlight of my day, was the phone call I received from a gentleman who’s one of the most kind-hearted people I know, and of course every time I manage to cross paths with him, I’m reminded of my long-deceased sister in a very positive way. Perhaps that’s why we’re always able to speak as freely we do with each other.

Yes, there was a great deal of sharing thoughts and comparing mental notes on all of the dysfunctional decisions our City fathers have made which will create long-lasting millstones around the necks of our tax-paying residents. What we both fully agreed upon, was seeing the marked differences between things that others want to do, but can’t, while the select few within the close ‘circles’ in our community, can get just about anything they want, rubber-stamped ‘approved’. We also agreed that it’s high time there’s a full voting-out of all our existing City Council members, just so there’ll be some real accountability taking place. When hearing more than once there being some of those members not even opening up their council meeting packets until they arrive at the scene, that did it for me. Now how crazy is that?

I also shared my thoughts about the publication of an opening for our soon retiring Building Inspector which has the weakest requirements for education, credentials and experience, which is so watered-down, just about anyone coming in off the street would be qualified. That’s not just scary, it’s also the makings of future lawsuits! I have my suspicions as to why those changes were made, which likely has something to do with a current City employee being wrongly raised to a position which is beyond that person’s abilities. As I’ve said many times recently, “When someone in a seat of power gets away with things in the past which they shouldn’t have, soon become all the more emboldened to where they actually think they’re invisible and far above reproach.” Yes, our conversation today ended up being the highlight of my day.

One of my old clients stopped by to drop off a key to a home he owns which was just vacated by a long-time tenant. He’s decided it’s time to sell it, but there’ll be one stipulation, and that being we can’t close on it until after January 1st, which I’m sure has to do with his income tax. I’m certainly not worried about that because the end of this year is only about two and a half months away. First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll be over at the house to get a good look at it, just so we can get it priced to sell.

I had a nice chat with the owner of the Prairie Place unit I have for sale, and since we’ve not had enough good interest in it, I’ll be placing an ad in our local newspaper. I’m still thinking once these cold days continue, there’ll be anxious seniors wanting to get themselves safely situated in that unit before our cold and dark winter arrives.

Since we’ve not had a good offer in 315 Parkridge Dr as of yet, I placed a call this afternoon to a past client who has a relative looking for something of its caliber, so I strongly suggested he keep on the push to get his relative to call and take a look at it. It doesn’t cost anything to look. Right?

I just about lost it when being told a hilarious story today about an internally rotting watermelon which was on a person’s counter for several days, and when that poor soul went to pick it up, it imploded all over the countertop and floor with the most disgusting odor. After getting a good belly-laugh, I couldn’t help saying how careful one must be when buying watermelons because you never know how long it’s been since they were removed from their vines. Thank goodness the watermelons I gifted, were all freshly picked the night before, which is no wonder I received so many high reviews over them. In my mind, I can clearly envision what that imploded slimy watermelon must looked and smelled like. I’m glad I wasn’t the one who had to clean it up.

While watching the birds in my red cedar trees these recent days, I discovered a number of robins eating their seeds and being definitely a first for me, which is likely telling us they’re half-starved, and mostly because we’ve not had the normal amount of rain this season which would bring out the worms they normally feed upon.

Another concern I shared today, was the likelihood some of our residents’ foundations may be settling because they’re sitting on moisture-filled clay, so if our water tables drop far enough, that drying clay will of course compress and sink under the weight of those foundations. Such a thing happened to a number of homeowners the last time we had a drought, so be all the more watchful.

Tonight’s One-liner is: Christopher Columbus, as everyone knows, is honored by posterity because he was the last to discover America.

Related Property:
315 Parkridge Dr Mason City
Joe Chodur

About the Author | Joe Chodur

First of all....Joe Chodur really doesn't like talking about himself but this is what we have found out about him. Joe Chodur began his real estate career in 1981 during the height of the savings and loan crisis. It's hard to imagine how difficult it was to sell homes when…

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