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ROWLETT RAMBLINGS

A good update

6/27/2016

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I just drove by the Homestead and the assisted living project.   I am pleased to report moderate to good progress on both.  Framing has started on one house in Homestead.  I mistakenly assumed this house to be a Weekley house because Weekley was first to start the construction office and the posting of "for sale" signs in the development........but I was wrong.  The sign in front of the framing is Cambridge.  They are also working on the great sign at the Chiesa Road entrance.  I was most surprised to find that landscaping had started.  Trees had been planted in a small park and holes dug to plant more trees in the street median near the Chiesa Road entrance.  It looked like some irrigation work had started.  Final grading, including the lot benching was underway, however I am concerned with some of the grades.  Some of the level lots are fine.  But, some grading seems to suggest additional retaining wall height or double retaining walls.  The "angle of repose" (angle of stability whereby erosion tends to be mitigated--usually about 45 degrees) of some of the lots creates a very steep grade at some of the lot's edge.   You're not going to mow these lots with a typical mower, motorized or otherwise.   I have no idea what the "fix" is here.  Maybe city engineers and the developer's engineers have a solution......but it's probably not going to be good.  I think the retaining walls (where necessary) need to be higher whereby the "angle of bank" can be softened to a lessor grade........one that the future homeowner would not fall out of his lot when mowing.


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  Very pleased to see the "restart" of the assisted living project on Chiesa Road.  Substantially more grading and forming has been done.  Some lanes/parking  are  now ready for steel.   

One of the things I never did understand was the grading of "berms" around the project.  Essentially, a lake was built during the recent rainy season.  After a heavy rain (which we've had much of), the moisture was retained on the project because it's drainage was impaired by berms.   Therefore, this project dried out much slower than normal.  Of course, that played havoc with setting reinforcing steel and final grading of parking and fire lanes.  Understandably, that compounded the problem of concrete delivery.  With concrete in short supply, there is a two week lead time on delivery.  If you miss that delivery because you are not ready for the trucks, you get placed back in line for another two weeks.   A couple of missed concrete delivery dates because the forms and steel weren't ready, because it was too  wet, because of the berms, can add significantly to the production time.  So, the question of the hour is......who ordered the berms built?  The general contractor?  Hardly likely.  The borrower's engineer?  Not if he wanted an endorsement for future work.  Then, who?  The city engineer?  Hummm.   The berms don't add anything to the project.  They should be part of the final landscape, anyway.  With a little break in the weather, framing should start soon......say, a couple of weeks.  Got to pour the approach soon.  Then, rain will be less of a problem.   Rowlett really needs this project.  It will be a great addition to the city and the neighborhood.........in spite of what some think.

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More good news.

6/23/2016

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I drove by the assisted living project again today.  Now there are six pickup trucks and a cat is grading for another paved lane along the south side of the complex.   That is great.  First action in about 6 weeks. 

It was a bizarre place to put construction on hold.  I know concrete is in short supply, but the forms and steel could have been completed.  Therefore, I don't think it was a concrete problem.  I think was either a concrete labor problem or some engineering problem with Rowlett. 

Anyhow, whatever it was, it seems to be fixed, now.

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Kinda interesting

6/22/2016

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Drove by the assisted living project on Chiesa today.   Lo and behold, there were three pick up trucks on site.  No one was doing anything, but there was evidence that fresh cuts had been made for additional drives along the south side of the buildings. 

Someone might be reading this "stuff."

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Some good news........kinda.

6/21/2016

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I just drove thru the Homestead at Liberty Grove subdivision.   The builders have arrived!!!  Both Weekley and Cambridge have moved mobile construction trailers onto the site.  Weekley has built decks on their office and Cambridge are finishing the decks on theirs. 

Driving thru the subdivision, at least one Weekley house is underway whereby they are getting the slab ready to pour.  There are other temporary power poles setup thru out the subdivision. There are approximately a half dozen of these poles erected.  These sites do not have the builder's signs on them yet.  However, other vacant lots thru out the subdivision has "for sale" signs posted.  Cambridge did not seem to have any signage up yet, however they should be up soon.  Essentially, the builders are announcing their arrival. 

Even tho the builders are about a year late, it wasn't their fault.  The subdivision wasn't ready.  This subdivision had a problem getting finished.  A pretty big problem.  It looked to me like they ran out of money about a year ago, and have been trying to finish up with change found in the couch cushions.  They still have to clean up the subdivision, finish the final grade (which they're starting, kinda). finish the entry monument sign, and any landscaping needed.  Weeds will start to become a problem soon, so they need to start mowing.  

As pleasant as it is to report progress, the builder's arrival is only the first step in success.  The developer would have had to produce lots and builders still have to produce houses that are acceptable to the marketplace. 

The really big test is market acceptance.  If the public does not like a Form Base Code subdivision, nor the houses being built, it will be a short success story.  .    .

Picture
Weekley's Construction Trailer
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Cambridge Construction Trailer
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Weekley signs and start of finish grade.
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Forming up a Weekley slab.
I wish the Homestead of Liberty Grove the best of luck.  Gotta ways to go yet, but the first step has been taken.
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Now, not so good news.  The assisted living project just about 400-500 feet south of the Homestead entrance is showing signs of serious distress.  All the slabs are poured and the underground plumbing roughed into place, but all the site paving is not yet done.  There has been no substantial construction activity in over a month.  A temporary water meter is still attached to the fire hydrant and some equipment is left on site.  This project is demonstrating all the symptoms of running out of money.  I have seen projects run out of money before, but never at the slab stage.  I have seen developers loot the construction account treasury and go to Jamaica.   I'm not saying that's what happened here, but somebody needs to do some explaining.  I know at least one lender that should want to know what's going on. Of course, that's assuming the lender has enough administration savvy to know what the hell is going on.  That's a fairly tall order by itself.

However, I'm not worried about the developer  or the lender.  I am worried about Rowlett.  We don't need this.  We've already suffered a couple of black eyes.  We don't need any more.  The City Council needs someone to tell them what's going on with these new developments.  There doesn't seem to be any "feed back" about development progress on deals the tax payers have invested tax revenue or actual cash into.  Somebody on Staff should be responsible to reporting monthly to Council about our "deals."  When I occasionally ask a question of "officialdom," I seem to get blank stares.  Of course, they can't talk about what they don't know about.  We have a hole that needs plugged up.  Council needs to create a "reporter" to communicate project progress.

Picture
Weeds, concrete, and plumbing PVC....and not much else.
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More weeds, concrete, and plumbing PVC...and not much else.
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Abandoned temp water meter and lonely equipment......or yeah, more weeds.
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Well, the news ain't all bad.  However, it should serve to demonstrate a need.  Someone needs to keep the Council informed of what's going on........presumably someone that is savvy about development sites.  The city should be able to walk onsite any time they want. 

Come on, Jennifer.  Let them have it!

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Another link to "walk out."

6/20/2016

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The below link shows the "walk out." This one clearly shows the three congressmen leaving the floor of Congress.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOIWYXDRR7s
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Congressmen not identified

6/19/2016

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I have had several people ask me about the previous post regarding the congressmen that walked out of the House Chamber when Speaker Ryan called for a moment of silence.  

It would appear that none of the networks carried the film clip. I can understand why.  It would not be particularly complimentary to the Democrat party. 

I saw it on FOX Cable News.  It was played several times during the day and evening.  My wife saw it.  The names of the congressmen were not reveled.  However, they were identified as Democrats.  One wore a lighter suit and the other two were darker.  They walked out in single file, approximately 5-7 feet apart, and left the chamber to their left. 

Strangely, I never saw the "walkout" on FOX again after the first day.  Apparently, no one saw the "walkout" on network television at any time.

Folks, that is powerful pressure to keep this thing off the air, especially with FOX.

Got a favor to ask.  If anybody else out there saw the "walkout," please let me know in either the Comments section or the Contact Form.  Surely, my wife and I can't be the only ones that witnessed such behavior.

POST SCRIPT:

After posting the above, I found a clip on the internet.  Below is a link to The Washington Post.  They are pretty friendly to the left.  They accurately portray the news with the film clip.........then spend the rest of the article explaining why its okay. 

Sorry, Washington Post.  I like to do my own thinking.  I don't need you to think for me.  Just report the news. 

See the link below.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/06/14/paul-ryan-held-a-moment-of-silence-then-some-house-democrats-held-a-protest/

Another Post Script.  I thought the above would be the clip of the "walk out."  I just viewed the  clip.  The "walk out" is deleted from the clip.  It happened just before the film clip started.  The Washington Post continued to demonstrate the paper's support for the left.  The printed portion accurately writes of the "walk out," but the film is edited.



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Ashamed

6/16/2016

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I am absolutely appalled and ashamed.

Yesterday, when House Leader Ryan called for a moment of silence to respect and honor the  49 victims of the Orlando shooting,   three members of the House walked off the floor.  What a horrible display of stupidity, disrespect, and dishonor.  They stupidly thought they were making a statement about gun control, when in fact, they dishonored the 49 dead and the 53 wounded victims of Orlando.   Do we still really make people that stupid today?  Is our society such that it creates such ignorance that one can not tell the difference between honor and disrespect?  

I am ashamed and I would join any effort to recall any of the three congressmen.  These three congressmen are examples of the trash we are electing to office.  I apologize to the family and friends of the slain and wounded on behalf of our mentally deficient congressmen.  They were elected to protect Americans.  Instead, they treat citizens with disdain and dishonor.

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War?  What war?

6/13/2016

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Events over the weekend in Orlando just disgusts and angers me far beyond my more normal parameters.   I am not afraid.  I am highly pissed off.  

WAR is hell.  What makes it hell is far more realistic than the living room couch.  Real war is real hell, far removed from having a drink and watching the news on TV.  Of all the hells of war, the worst is the death of innocent men, women, and children.  Coming next is the hell that comes from the death of our service personnel.   Do you think you're an expert on the hell of war?  Well, you're not unless you've been in a fire fight, or answered the door when a representative of some armed services arrived at your door with a Chaplin.  The hell of war for a combatant is watching your buddy's head disappear while he's right beside you.  It is hell to be bawling like a baby while holding your buddy in your arms while he's dying.   Innocents die in war.  In every war known to man, innocents die.  they mean no harm.  They just want to be left alone.......but they die.......sometimes gruesomely.  That is the hell of WAR.  It is not imaginary.  It happens.  It is happening now.   Yet, our leaders call it everything but war.

It is unbelievable to me that after the incident in Orlando, the stupid ass politicians, political hacks, and assorted talking heads have turned this into a political debate.   Folks, you don't have to be real smart here.  We in the United States are at war.  We may not have declared it, but we're at war.  Others have declared war against us.  Who are we at war with?  Come on, now.  Guess.   Would you guess Islam ISIS Radical Terrorists?  I would suggest that that would be a fairly accurate guess.  They have started a war against us.  Does it mean we're not at war because we ignore who the enemy is? 

Well, the current POTUS  and his administration seem to think if we don't declare war and do not identify who we're at war with, the war will go away.  Problem solved.  Change channels.  

Well,  our brilliant leaders have accurately determined they should do something about this fictitious war.   They are going to do something to prove they are on top of things in this non-war.   They need something or someone to blame without offending our yet unidentified assailants. 

So.......they have decided that gun control is the way to combat ISIS terrorists.  They will pass laws making it more difficult for law abiding citizens to own guns.  Gee Whiz......why didn't I think of that!!

By definition, law breakers don't abide by the laws of the land.  Law abiding citizens do.  Therefore, by passing laws making it more difficult for law abiding citizens to own and/or carry guns, the lawful community has just been disarmed and the bad guys still have theirs.  The unlawful community doesn't follow the laws.  Remember?  The bad guys would be delighted.  Just think, they could shoot up any Luby's Cafeteria and not fear anyone being present that could shoot back.  They could kill at their leisure.  Do you think Islam Radical Terrorists  would welcome that law? I don't know why we ask that question.  Presumably Islam Radical Terrorists don't even exist.  If we haven't declared war on anyone, and we don't seem to know who keeps killing us, and seem mystified why 49 innocent people were killed in Orlando over the weekend, one might think we don't know what the hell we're doing.  Obviously, gun control of law abiding citizens is the answer. 

The argument is that by removing guns from the general public, it will cut down on available weapons and will stop the killing of innocents.  Folks, there are millions of guns in this country.  How long do you think it would take to get them off the streets?  Do you think our enemies could figure out a way to get a few guns in their hands?  In addition, do you know what a well placed pressure cooker bomb could do in a carefully selected place?  I have friends that were in Special Services.  They could kill you with a tire tool from 20 feet away or or a fly swatter if they could get close.  A $20 hammer would be a luxury to them.  A knife in a closely packed crowd is very effective.  I am stunned at how clueless our President is, as he flops around looking for some way to get out from under this. 

Folks, I've rambled off the ranch on this blog, but I am very angry.  I am an ex-service man.  I would have absolutely no hesitation to shoot  anyone taking indiscriminate shots at private citizens minding their own business.  The one thought that would not occur to me is the Political Correctness of such a move. 

I own guns and have passed the classroom work and the shooting range work leading to the license to carry.  I had my first BB gun at age 10, and my first 410 shotgun at age 14.  I shot expert in basic training.  I am very familiar with guns.  I absolutely respect them.  They are not toys.  My dad taught me well.  I'm not a big hunter, nor a macho red neck gunslinger.  But, I am a gun owner and fully intend to stay that way.   This becomes particularly handy when fighting enemies that don't exist.

I don't think you have to be real smart to understand my arguments above.  Furthermore, I wonder how smart you need to be and still become President of the United States.  I'm thinking not much.  I'm thinking only a gift of gab is necessary.  A really good appliance salesman should do.

So......who's at fault?  I am.  I didn't work hard enough to keep incompetent, thieving, nincompoops out of office. 

Boy, am I mad (at myself).

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Just a little update

6/11/2016

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It was only a few days ago that I wrote a blog about telemarketers and the need for government to start putting some heat on these trespassers.  I also suggested that the government could bring pressure to bear on all the telephone service providers to provide all subscribers with the technical weapons to fight back with call blocks, tracers, and easy complaint forms.  We all pay substantially higher  phone subscriber fees than we ever did.  We pay these fees to keep our phone service to serve our needs......not provide a database for telemarketers and scam artists.  It is the duty of government and the phone companies to help protect us from these scoundrels.  These interlopers are being imposed upon us by indifferent government officials and greedy phone company officials. The phone companies sell service to these vermin and make it possible for them to attack senior citizens, among others, with threats from IRS or other scams designed to separate them from their money.   These are criminal offenses (per Texas and USA statutes) and the "gangs" should be hunted  down and punished.

Yesterday, our household received three phone calls from persons impersonating IRS agents threatening legal action if we didn't pay varying sums of money. 

If we can send a man to Mars, we can certainly, with a little effort, find and fry the computers and phones of these thoroughly disgusting people.

I have now sent my second complaint to our Attorney General's office.  I asked you to participate in my earlier blog.  I'm asking you again.  The only thing that will jolt government is the loss of votes.  The only thing that will move phone companies is loss of income.  The phone companies can lose income from loss of subscribers, or penalties from government.  Since we need phones, I vote to make government move to make phone companies pay penalties for not protecting their subscribers.  They have the technology to do it.  

Please write the AG, congressmen, senators, or any other government official you may think are responsible (or fears removal from office).  Lay into them!!  You're the only ones that can make this happen.  You can get all their addresses from the internet.  Just Google them.     .

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A nice story.

6/5/2016

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I'm playing "catch up" from my trip to Kansas.  As such, I had to work out in the field on Saturday.  I got off to a good start.  I stopped and had breakfast at Denny's near Jim Miller Road before continuing on to Ft. Worth. 

After I finished breakfast, I paid out and was leaving.  As I walked thru the door, two women in their 60's were coming in.  I held the door for them.  One smiled and nodded thanks and walked thru the door.  The other had almost gotten into Denny's when she stopped. 

She turned to me and asked me if I was a veteran.  I said, "As a matter of fact, I am."  She stuck out her hand and said, "I just want to thank you for your service."  The other lady who had already entered Denny's overheard the conversation behind her and came back to me.  She also thanked me for serving. 

You know, when I was discharged from the USAF,  it was considered by many to almost be a crime for having served in the military, particularly during Viet Nam.   I had a couple of skirmishes off base only because I was in uniform. 

Now, come forward a couple of generations.  It's the difference between night and day.  Saturday, I walked away from Denny's feeling good.  The two ladies made my day.  It was nice and I really think they meant it. 

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