RIDE ALONG (modified)

                

WHEN YOU MET HER SHE WAS ON THE EDGE 
AND YOU NEVER ASKED HER NAME
SHE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW YOU
SHE THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST MORE OF THE SAME 


YOU WERE HEADED HOME TO BROOKLYN
AND SHE WASN'T GOING DOWN
BUT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ALONE
SO SHE TOOK THE RIDE ALONG

IT MUST HAVE BEEN WHEN YOU WERE ALMOST PASSING SMITH AND NINTH
THAT HER HEAD HAD TILTED TOWARD YOU AND SHE MADE HER MOTIVES CLEAR:

SHE WOULD KEEP YOU COMPANY
AND HER PRICE WAS JUST A SONG
THE MELODY WAS UP TO YOU
BUT SHE WOULD HAVE TO SING ALONG

SHE WASN'T MUCH FOR TRA LA LA 
SHE LIKED MEAT ON HER BONES
BUT IF IT HAD THAT SHA LA LA 
BETWEEN YOUR STICKS AND STONES
SHE WOULD BELT OUT EVERY SINGLE WORD YOU HAD TO SAY
AND SHE WOULD SHANG-A-LANG WITH YOU 
'CAUSE SHE ALWAYS MOVED THAT WAY

YOU SHOWED HER ALL YOU HAD AND SHE TURNED YOUR INSIDE OUT
SHE TOOK YOUR INHIBITIONS AND EXPOSED THEM TO THE LIGHT
SHE GOT THE BETTER OF YOU AND IT LASTED ALL THE NIGHT
SHE'D GOTTEN ON THAT TRAIN WITH YOU
AND RODE IT TO THE LIGHT

SHE WASN'T MUCH FOR TRA LA LA 
SHE LIKED MEAT ON HER BONES
BUT IF IT HAD THAT SHA LA LA 
BETWEEN YOUR STICKS AND STONES
SHE WOULD BELT OUT EVERY SINGLE WORD YOU HAD TO SAY
AND SHE WOULD SHANG-A-LANG WITH YOU
'CAUSE SHE ALWAYS MOVED THAT WAY

SHE SHOWED YOU ALL SHE HAD AND SHE TURNED YOUR INSIDE OUT
SHE TOOK OUT HER INHIBITIONS AND EXPOSED THEM TO THE LIGHT
SHE GOT THE BETTER OF YOU AND IT LASTED ALL THE NIGHT 
SHE'D GOTTEN ON THAT TRAIN WITH YOU AND SHE TOOK IT TO THE LIGHT

SHE WASN'T MUCH FOR TRA LA LA 
SHE LIKED MEAT ON HER BONES
BUT IF IT HAD THAT SHA LA LA 
BETWEEN YOUR STICKS AND STONES
SHE WOULD BELT OUT EVERY SINGLE WORD YOU HAD TO SAY
AND SHE WOULD SHANG-A-LANG WITH YOU
'CAUSE SHE ALWAYS MOVED THAT WAY

                                                                                            tmp

MICHAEL

MICHEAL HAD A SPECIAL FRIEND WHO'D VISIT NOW AND THEN
AND WHEN HE'D COME THEY'D SNEAK ABOUT AND END UP IN HIS ROOM
THEY'D WHISPER LOW BUT I COULD HEAR THEM LICK EACH OTHER'S WOUNDS

NOW I HAD NEVER MET THIS BOY WHO'S VOICE WAS QUITE FAMILIAR
BUT IF HE COULD CALM MY BROTHER DOWN
I'D LIKE TO SHAKE HIS HAND

MICHAEL WAS SO SENSITIVE AND MOM WOULD ALWAYS SAY: "YOUR BROTHER CANNOT HELP IT
BLONDE BOYS ARE THAT WAY" 

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE TO IT 
DAD WENT OUT OF HIS WAY
HE'D PICK ON MIKE FOR LITTLE THINGS
AND BLAME HIM FOR HIS "LOUSY" DAY

MOM AND DAD WERE TALKING
AND THOUGH THEIR DOOR WAS CLOSED
I STILL COULD HEAR THEIR VOICES 
AND AS I HEARD MY DAD EXPLODE
HE STARTING SHOUTING LOUDLY BUT WAS STOPPED BY MOM'S MUCH ANGRIER REFRAIN:
HOW COULD YOU THINK THAT OF ME?
HOW COULD I LOVE YOU MORE?
I'VE GIVEN YOU FIVE HEALTHY BOYS
AND ONE OF THEM IS MIKE
IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT HE'S BLONDE
AND THAT YOU'RE NOT ALIKE
HE IS YOUR SON WHEN DAY IS DONE
AND WHEN MORNING DAWNS ON YOU

THE BEATING STOPPED FOR JUST A BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME
UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN MIKE CAME HOME AND DADDY THOUGHT THEY WERE ALONE
HE PUSHED MIKE DOWN THE BASEMENT STAIRS
HE BLAMED HIM FOR A MISSING TOOL
AND HE KEPT ON ASKING WHAT HE'D DONE
BUT MIKE WAS NOT A FOOL
THIS WAS ALL BECAUSE HE'D TRIED TO GET AWAY THIS WAS BECAUSE THEY BROUGHT HIM BACK ALL IN THE SAME DAY 
THIS WAS BECAUSE HE WAS BACK AT ALL 
YEAH THIS HAD TO BE 'CAUSE HE WAS BACK AT ALL

MICHAEL COULDN'T ANSWER AND HE HAD NO PLACE TO RUN
SO MICHAEL CURLED HIMSELF INTO A FETAL BALL
AND HE TURNED AND FACED THE BASEMENT WALL
I HEARD ALLOT OF "WHY - WHY - WHY - WHY - WHY"
AND AS MIKE BEGAN TO WAIL 
I TRIED TO KEEP MY SANITY SO ONE DAY I COULD TELL HIS TALE 

WITH EVERY CRACK OF WOOD THERE CAME ANOTHER CHORUS OF "WHY - WHY - WHY - WHY- WHY"
AND IT WAS SUCH A VICIOUS BEATING I THOUGHT MIKE WAS BOUND TO DIE

 BACK ON HIS FEET BY NOW HE HIT HIM ON HIS LEGS AND SPINE - THEN WOULD KICK HIM IN HIS RAGE
BUT THIS BRUTAL MAN THAT WE CALLED DAD WAS YET TO WRITE ANOTHER PAGE

"WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GONNA DO"?
"I MISSED WORK BECAUSE OF YOU"
"YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE"?
"YOU'RE WORTHLESS AND YOU'RE NOT MY SON"

MOM WAS THERE - I DIDN'T KNOW
IN THE KITCHEN SOBBING LOW
HOW COULD SHE JUST LISTEN IN
SIT THERE AND WHISPER "IT'S A SIN"

THE BEATING FINALLY STOPPED AS I EVAPORATED OUT THE DOOR 
SEVEN BROKEN SHOVEL HANDLES LAY IN SPLINTERS ON THE BASEMENT FLOOR
MIKE COULD BARELY WALK BUT HE WAS STILL ALIVE
MIKE WOULD FACE ANOTHER DAY BUT HIS SOUL WOULD NOT SURVIVE

MICHAEL HAD A SPECIAL FRIEND WHO'D VISIT NOW AND THEN
AND WHEN HE'D COME THEY'D SNEAK ABOUT AND END UP IN HIS ROOM
THEY'D WHISPER LOW BUT I COULD HEAR THEM LICK EACH OTHER'S WOUNDS                                                                                                  
                                                                                                   tmp

MRS. MARY D.

I THINK YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE CLEAR 
WHEN YOU SET YOUR EYES ON ME
BUT I WAS ONLY TWENTY THREE
AND YOU WERE MRS. MARY D.

I KNOW YOU WENT TO SEE YOUR PRIEST
AND THAT HE CHILLED YOU TO YOUR CORE
YOU CLOSED OFF ALL HIS BLAH BLAH BLAH
UNTIL YOU COULDN'T HEAR HIM ANYMORE
YOU DIDN'T CARE IF YOU WOULD BURN
YOU'D SET YOUR EYES ON ME
BUT I WAS ONLY TWENTY THREE 
AND YOU WERE MRS. MARY D.

YOUR DOCTOR CRIED HYSTERIA
AND ORDERED YOU TO BED
HE SHOULD HAVE KEPT IT CONFIDENTIAL
BUT CALLED YOUR HUSBAND UP INSTEAD
TOGETHER THEY HAD MADE A PLAN 
TO PUT YOU IN A DAZE
THEN SENT YOU BACK TO WORK WITH ME
BUT KEPT YOU IN A HAZE

TO THEM I WAS A HARMLESS BOY
AND ONLY TWENTY THREE
BUT YOU WERE ONCE AND ALWAYS WILL BE
MRS. MARY D.

I WANTED YOU AND MADE IT CLEAR
ONE DAY IN THAT BACK ROOM
I HELD YOU CLOSE YOU PUSHED AWAY 
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
BUT LOOKING BACK I FINALLY SEE
IT WAS ALL JUST FANTASY
AND YOU WERE THEN AS YOU ARE NOW
MRS. MARY D.

 TMP

IN THE GARDEN (updated 9.7.19)

I remember walking underneath an ancient bower of wisteria ~ It was then a simpler time. It was all I ever wanted or needed ~ it was beauty in it's prime. tmp

COSMOS (Updated)

THERE IS A ROW OF ANCIENT CRAFTSMEN WORKING HARD TO PLY THEIR TRADE AND THEY OFFER MANY TREASURES MAKING GIFTS OF WHAT THEY'VE MADE

I CANNOT SHAKE THE FEELING THAT I'VE BEEN HERE MANY TIMES BEFORE
STILL THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT AS I WAIT OUTSIDE THIS WOOD AND IRON CLAD FORTRESS DOOR

THEN ~ WITHOUT A WARNING THERE'S A CALCULATING WIND AND I AM BLOWN
AND I AM PASSING MANY PEOPLE WITHOUT FACES AMONG PEOPLE I HAVE KNOWN

HAS THAT DOOR BEEN OPENED OR JUST VANISHED IN THE AIR?
IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER AND I DON'T THINK I REALLY CARE

BUT AS I WANDER DOWN THAT PEBBLED PATH AND PASS THE COSMOS ONCE AGAIN
I AM LOST IN HELPLESS WONDER THINKING IF THAT NOW IT MUST BE THEN     

                                                                                                 

LIGHTER

FEELING LIGHTER ~ FLOATING ~ STILL IN BED
SUNFLOWER UP ABOVE MY HEAD
FEELING FUNNY FLOATING HIGHER 
I CAN BEND AND TOUCH THE FLOWER IN MY EYE I SEE THE FLOWER BUT I RUN AND I'M AMAZED
I CAN RUN ACROSS THE FIELD AND I CAN BEND AND I CAN TURN AND I CAN TWIRL AND I CAN DANCE I WANT TO DANCE I LOVE TO DANCE... AND WHEN YOU DANCE REMEMBER ME ~ AND WHEN YOU DANCE THIS CLOSE ~ THIS CLOSE ~ OUR HEARTS BEAT STILL   tmp

MONEY PIT (part 13) The final chapter.

AL PATIENTLY WAITING FOR AN INSPECTOR OR THE PHONE OR CABLE Company.

SAME ROOM BEFORE AND BELOW AFTER, THAT SHINY PAINTED FLOOR IS WHAT KILLED US WHEN WE PULLED AN ALL NIGHTER TO GET IT DONE. 

FIRST FLOOR RENTAL:
NEW KITCHEN (contracted)
NEW BATH         (contracted)
NEW FRONT AND BACK DOORS AND ALL WINDOWS REPLACED (contracted)
COVER for the large radiator in the kitchen (me)
NEW FAN middle room.
LOUVERED DOORS (me)
DOWN WITH THE DARK PANELING AND NEW SHEETROCK ADDED TO WALLS (me)
CEILING REPAIRS IN ALL ROOMS (me)
RADIATOR PAINTING (me)
FLOOR PAINTING THROUGHOUT (me and Al)

SECOND FLOOR LIVING SPACE:
NEW BATH (contracted)
NEW KITCHEN (me) Including tearing all the walls down and insulating.
PLYWOOD SUB FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SECOND FLOOR. (me)
NEW FLOORS IN ALL ROOMS (me)
ALL NEW APPLIANCES (us)
NEW CEILING FANS       (us)
BUILT IN SHELVING IN DINING ROOM (me)
ALL PAINTING (me)

THIRD FLOOR LIVING SPACE:
SUB FLOORS THROUGHOUT and CARPET TILED THROUGHOUT (me)
STORAGE SHELVING with accordion doors in between with hanging space beyond and storage beyond that. 
BUILT-INS IN EACH ROOM
ALLOT OF PLASTERING, INSULATING, SHEETROCKING, PAINTING and making the space usable. 

CHIMNEY POINTING and FLASHING
STAINLESS STEEL CHIMNEY LINER from the roof down to the basement and into the NEW OIL BURNING FURNACE.

BASEMENT:
FRENCH DRAIN
SUMP PUMP WELL WITH WORKING SUMP PUMP
WATERPROOFED WALLS INSIDE AND OUT
NEW WASTE PIPES WITH PROPER VENTING
COOPER WATER LINE OUT TO THE MAIN
TONS OF HAULING ROTTING WOOD AND JUNK OUT OF THE BASEMENT (Cheers to the Department Of Sanitation for putting up with the amount of trash we put by the curb).

ALL NEW SIDING (contracted)
NEW SIDE GATE   (contracted)
NEW WOOD FENCE WITH GATE off the driveway and painted white. (me)
WINDOW WELLS with rain guards. (me)
NEW REAR DECK (contracted)
REHABILITATED GARAGE (now a screen house)
SALVAGED CEMENT PATIO in the back of house with creeping wooly thyme growing in and around it. 
SHADEMASTER LOCUST TREE and all landscaping all around. (me)
NEW ASPHALT DRIVEWAY (contracted)
MAPLE TREE REMOVAL     (contracted)
CHAIN LINK FENCE WITH GATE (contracted)
NEW FRONT SIDEWALK

THAT SHOULD COVER IT, EXCEPT FOR THE DRAINING OUT OF ALL OUR RESOURCES and then some. NOT TO MENTION THE PHYSICAL TOLL IT HAD TAKEN. 

Our first refinance took care of the windows, doors, first floor kitchen and bath and second floor kitchen. All of our tax refunds and other refinances (and there were many), all went into the MONEY PIT. It also took both of our IRA's, but, we had to do the roofing and siding in order to sell it. We did sell and made enough to put down one fourth on a detached one family ranch style home in a 55 and over community in Brick, NJ. We thought we were all set and could finally relax and take our own pace doing things in Brick. 
We unfortunately got hit with bills from the IRS, and the State Of New York. It seems we owed capital gains tax on our meager profit from selling the money pit. Then, after paying off (on time) the taxes we owed, we got a letter from New York City saying we needed to pay them their portion of our capital gains tax owed. We had thought the State and City were combined, because when you filed each year that's how it was. But NO! So after paying out thousands more, we were forced to refinance in Brick.   tmp

MONEY PIT (part 12) The roosters the chirping alarm and everything in-between.

BESIDES PUTTING UP WITH TWO DIFFERENT ROOSTERS, A GOBBLING TURKEY, AN ALL DAY YAPPING CHIHUAHUA, A HEAVY BREATHING ENGLISH BULL DOG, AND A ROTTWEILER THAT WOULD REAR HIS HEAVY HEAD ABOVE A STOCKADE FENCE, OUR CAR ALARM WAS CONSTANTLY GOING OFF... AND USUALLY AFTER DARK. 
I WOULD LOOK OUT OUR SECOND FLOOR DINING ROOM BAY WINDOW DOWN TO THE DRIVEWAY AND SEE NOTHING ON OR NEAR OUR CAR. I WOULD SOMETIMES EVEN GO OUTSIDE TO LOOK AT THE CAR, AND COME UP BLANK. 
IN THE MORNING I WOULD FIND A FOOTPRINT ON THE HOOD OF OUR CAR. FROM WHAT I DEDUCED, THE BOYS FROM ONE OF THE HOUSES BORDERING OUR DRIVEWAY WOULD HOP UP ON OUR CAR IN ORDER TO CLIMB OVER THE CHAIN LINK FENCE WITH THE STOCKADE FENCE BEHIND, TO GET TO THEIR YARD. THEIR YARD WAS A RAISED CEMENT PLATFORM WITH WOOD POSTS EMBEDDED INTO THE FOUR CORNERS OF IT. THE POSTS WERE THERE FOR USE AS ANCHORS WHEN THEY WOULD RAISE TARP ABOVE THE CEMENT PLATFORM, FOR PARTIES.

ONE MORNING AFTER BEING AWAKENED DURING THE NIGHT BY THE CAR ALARM GOING OFF, I FOUND A LARGE POTATO ON THE GROUND NEXT TO THE SIDE REAR DOOR. ANOTHER TIME THERE WERE DRIED CARROT PEELS STUCK TO THE REAR BUMPER. 
THE LAST STRAW WAS WHEN OUR CAR, PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY WAS SLAMMED NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE BUT FIVE TIMES WITH A BASKETBALL. THEIR WAS NO HOOP IN THEIR YARD AND EXCEPT FOR THEM GAMING ME IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE ANY GAME WAS GOING ON OVER THERE. STILL, I GAVE THE BALL BACK AND ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH SLAMS I TOLD THEM I WAS GIVING IT BACK BUT THEY HAD TO STOP HITTING MY CAR. ON THE FIFTH SLAM, I RETRIEVED THE BALL, STABBED IT AND CHUCKED IT OUT. I CAME BACK INTO THE HOUSE, HEARD A BANG AND WENT BACK OUT TO FIND TWO THREE LITER WATER FILLED BOTTLES NEXT TO THE CAR. I TOOK THE BOTTLES AROUND THE CORNER TO THEIR FRONT DOOR AND SPOKE TO THE FATHER OF ONE OF THE BOYS AND I DIDN'T SEE HIM OR HIS COUSIN FOR 2 MONTHS AFTER THAT. OUR ALARM NEVER WENT OFF AGAIN, AFTER THAT. 
IN BETWEEN, I HAD GOTTEN FOUR NEW TIRES FROM COSTCO, AND A WEEK LATER GOT A FLAT. COSTCO PRO-RATED THE TIRE WHICH HAD A SCREW IN THE SIDEWALL, AND REPLACED IT FOR ME.  WHEN I GOT HOME I PARKED AT THE CURB AND WALKED OUR GRAVEL DRIVEWAY TO FIND HALF A QUART SIZE ZIP LOCK BAG FULL OF RUSTY SCREWS AND NAILS. I KNOW WE HAD ALLOT OF WORK DONE ON THE HOUSE, BUT, I'M POSITIVE THIS BAG FULL OF SHRAPNEL WASN'T FROM THAT. 
THESE PEOPLE ALSO HAD TWO DIFFERENT ROOSTERS, WE PUT UP WITH ONE BUT WHEN THE SECOND ONE STARTED IT'S BACKYARD STRUTTING AND CROWING, I CALLED THE CITY. IT SEEMS FOWL ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE KEPT WITHIN CITY LIMITS. WE HADN'T CALLED FOR THE TURKEY WHICH WAS ANNOYING AS HELL WITH IT'S GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE ALL NIGHT LONG. ONE EVENING, I NOTICED THE GRANDMOTHER GRAB THE TURKEY AND TAKE IT OVER TO ONE OF THOSE WOODEN POSTS. SHE HIT THE TURKEYS NECK A FEW TIMES ON THE POST AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE GOBBLE GOBBLE. THE NEXT DAY WE HEARD THE LADIES UP AGAINST THAT STOCKADE FENCE WITH A TABLE AND HEARD A GRINDING SOUND. TURKEY SAUSAGE??

THE DOGS CAME AND WENT BUT THE POOR CHIHUAHUA WAS LEFT OUT ALL DAY IN THE RAIN, SO, I CALLED THE ASPCA AND THEY CAME AND TOOK THE DOG AWAY. 
THEY ALSO HAD A HUGE WHITE RABBIT THAT ONE EVENING WAS FED ALL OF THE FLOWERS FROM OUR CREEPING PHLOX THAT HAD BEEN IN FULL BLOOM. AL HAD AWAKENED ME WHEN HE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND A GROUP OF A DOZEN OR MORE BOYS AND GIRLS FROM AROUND THE CORNER SITTING ON OUR PORCH AND FEEDING THE RABBIT. WHEN I WENT DOWN TO SEE, NOT ONLY WAS THE PHLOX BARE BUT THERE WERE EMPTY BAGS FROM CHIPS AND SNACKS ALL AROUND.
I WAS IN MY HOUSE DRAWING OR PAINTING WHEN I HEARD OOH OOH. OF COURSE I HAD TO LOOK DOWN INTO THEIR YARD. THE OWNERS SON WAS ORDERING HIS COUSIN TO PICK UP A LARGE DEAD RAT WITH A SHOVEL. THIS KID PICKS UP THE RAT ON THE SHOVEL AND FLIPS IT OVER THE FENCE OF THE DELI'S YARD (NEXT TO OUR DRIVEWAY) AND ONTO OUR STREET. I TORE OUT OF THE HOUSE AND FOUND THE GUYS DAUGHTER IN THE DELI AND ASKED HER TO BRING HER FATHER OUTSIDE. I HELD MY COOL AND TOLD THE MAN WHAT THIS BOY DID AND HE HAD IT TAKEN CARE OF RIGHT AWAY. 

THIS MAN HAD ALSO SPOKEN TO ME ABOUT THE LARGE MAPLE TREE THAT HAD GROWN THROUGH THE CHAIN LINK FENCE THAT BORDERED OUR PROPERTIES. HE HATED THE TREE, AND IT WAS A PAIN FOR ME AS WELL. 
I HAD THIS ELECTRIC WEED WHACKER THAT HAD A LONG ATTACHMENT FOR TRIMMING TREES AND I WOULD HANG OUT OF THE SECOND FLOOR AND THIRD FLOOR WINDOWS TO TRIM IT EACH YEAR. NOT TO MENTION THE SAP THAT WAS RUINING THE PAINT FINISH ON OUR CAR. I FORGET THE MAN'S NAME, BUT HE OFFERED TO PAY HALF TO TAKE DOWN THIS TREE. 
I CALLED A COMPANY AND GOT AN ESTIMATE, TOLD THIS GUY AND OF COURSE HE NEVER CAME UP WITH ANY MONEY. THE GUYS THAT DID THE JOB WERE GREAT, THEY SWUNG ALL THE LARGE BRANCHES UP THE DRIVEWAY, GOT THEM TO THE WOOD CHIPPER AND HAD THE JOB DONE IN NO TIME. WE WERE HAPPY TO PAY. 
IT SEEMS A FEW SMALL BRANCHES LANDED OVER THE FENCE AND LATER IN THE DAY I HEARD SOME NOISE OUTSIDE AND I LOOKED OUT TO FIND THE VISITING GRANDFATHER NEXT DOOR THROWING THOSE SMALL BRANCHES OVER THE FENCE AND ONTO MY CAR. THIS WAS INFURIATING. I WENT DOWN AND TOOK THOSE BRANCHES ONE BY ONE AND THREW THEM OVER THAT STOCKADE FENCE AND ONTO THAT MAN. I DON'T THINK I WAS BEING MEAN, HE KNEW HE WAS WRONG AND INCIDENTALLY EVEN THOUGH HE WAS THE GRANDFATHER HE WAS MAYBE ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS OLDER THAN ME. I REMEMBER SHOUTING 'THESE ARE YOURS'!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

                                                                                                                                                         tmp

THESE DAYS (Edited song from 1997)

OUR LADY OF THE GUTTER EMBALMED IN SHAMELESS VIEW

DID YOU KNOW HER DID YOU HEAR OF HER GOOD DEEDS?

DO YOU THINK THAT HEAVEN NEEDS ANOTHER SAINT?

WHAT OF DIANA? PRINCESS OF LOVE LYING BLEEDING

WAS THE FLASH FROM YOUR CAMERA THE LAST LIGHT SHE'D SEE?

WERE YOU TO BLAME PAPARAZZI? 

THESE DAYS ARE INSANE AND THE ONES THAT REMAIN WILL ALL BE THE SAME...

RELIGIOUS FANATICS ABOUND

I SWEAR I COULD SING YOU THE NEW YORK TIMES 

I BELIEVE THAT I COULD

IF YOU LET ME I WOULD

I WAS ALWAYS GOOD WITH THE BLUES

I'LL SHOW YOU THE ASHES THAT ONCE WERE A MAN 

THE BONES OF DEAD ANGELS AND WHERE THEY WOULD PLAY

ARE YOU FEELIN' LUCKY?

YOU WON'T GET AWAY

TALIBAN FIGHTERS ABOUND

LOOK AT THE PEOPLE TORTURED AND BURNED

LOOK AT THE SORROW 

THE POINT NEVER LEARNED

FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME 

STEP UP AND BE MAYOR IN YOUR CITY OF SHAME

I SWEAR I COULD SING YOU THE NEW YORK TIMES

I BELIEVE THAT I COULD 

IF YOU'D LET ME I WOULD

I'D LOVE TO SING YOU THE BLUES

ARE YOU FEELIN' LUCKY?

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE CHARMED?

I'LL SHOW YOU THE ASHES ~ COME TAKE MY ARM

I'LL SHOW YOU DEAD ANGELS free tickets today

I SWEAR I COULD SING YOU THE NEW YORK TIMES 

I BELIEVE THAT I COULD

IF YOU'D LET ME I WOULD

THERE'S NOTHING TO SING BUT THE BLUES

                                                                                               tmp

MONEY PIT (part 11) OTHERSIDE

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE WAS A HOUSE OWNED BY THE BANK. THESE SUNFLOWERS WERE GROWN BY ME TO SCREEN A LITTLE BIT OF THE DUMP THAT WAS THREE OR MORE RAMSHACKLE SHEDS THAT BORDER OUR FENCE AT THE REAR OF THE NEXT DOOR PROPERTY. WE HEARD THAT SOMEONE HAD LIVED IN THOSE CONNECTED SHEDS THAT TOOK UP THE WHOLE WIDTH OF THAT YARD. 
WHEN WE MOVED INTO OUR HOUSE, THE OLDER MAN THAT LIVED NEXT DOOR HAD TWO OR THREE TENANTS LIVING IN THERE WITH HIM. WHEN THE MAN PASSED AWAY THE MEN THAT LIVED THERE MOVED OUT. THE BANK OWNED PROPERTY WAS BOARDED UP AND WAREHOUSED. IT WOULD BE AT LEAST TEN YEARS BEFORE A CONTRACTOR WOULD TAKE OVER AND REHAB THE PLACE. 

THERE WERE SO MANY YOUNG LADIES LOOKING FOR DADDIES, AND WAY TOO MANY DRUG DEALS GOING ON TO ABIDE WITH, SO, ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO TAKE THE SITUATION IN HAND. LUCKILY, ON HIS WAY TO WORK ONE DAY, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM A COMMUNITY TASK FORCE HAD A TABLE SET UP AT THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY TERMINAL. AL WAS GIVEN INFORMATION ON WHO TO CONTACT, AND THAT THE POLICE WOULD LOOK INTO ANY MATTERS CONCERNING THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS. I CALLED AND MADE A COMPLAINT. THE POLICE DID COME AND SINCE MY WINDOWS WERE OPEN, I COULD HERE THEM TALKING, SAYING THAT IT WAS BORDERED UP AND NO ONE  COULD POSSIBLY BE ENTERING THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR. 
I TORE DOWN THE STAIRS AND OUT MY BACK DOOR. I SPOKE TO THEM, AND WENT AROUND MY HOUSE AND OVER TO THE NEXT DOOR BACK YARD. I HAD TO SHOW THEM HOW PART OF THE ITEMS THEY USED TO SHORE UP THE PLACE COULD BE PULLED BACK LIKE A DRAPE (it was that fiberglass stuff they use for patio roofs). I ALSO SHOWED THEM HOW THEY COULD GO UNDER THE BOARDS ABOVE THE BACK STEPS AND ENTER THROUGH A HOLE IN THE KITCHEN FLOOR. 
JUST THAT DAY I HAD SEEN A SMALL CROWD ENTER THE HOUSE AND THEY ASKED IF THEY WERE STILL IN THERE AND OF COURSE THEY WERE. THE DETECTIVES ENTERED THAT HOUSE AND GOT WHOEVER WAS IN THERE OUT. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY MADE ARRESTS OR NOT. 
BEFORE THIS ENCOUNTER THE POLICE MADE WITH SOME OF THE RIFFRAFF, I HAD COATED THOSE BACK STEPS WITH TAR AND CUT DOWN THREE 30 FOOT HIGH "SLUM" PALMS AND MADE THEM FALL UP THAT DRIVEWAY. IT HADN'T STOPPED THE TRAFFIC ONE DAMN BIT. 
AFTER A TIME, THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION STEPPED IN AND CLEANED UP THE MESS. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BECAUSE A OF COMPLAINT I HAD FILED WITH EPA SIGHTING THE VERMIN AND HEALTH HAZARD THAT PROPERTY WAS. THEY PROBABLY BILLED THE BANK THAT OWNED THE PROPERTY AND JUST AFTER THAT SOME GUYS CAME AND TORE THOSE SHEDS DOWN AND HAULED THEM OFF AS WELL.
A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER A CONTRACTOR TOOK OVER AND REHABILITATED THE HOUSE AND SOLD IT. 
OUR NEW NEIGHBORS WERE GREAT AND REALLY KEPT TO THEMSELVES, BUT WERE FRIENDLY PEOPLE. THEY PUT UP A WHITE VINYL FENCE ALL AROUND THE BACKYARD AND ADDED AN ABOVE GROUND POOL WITH A DECK ALL AROUND AND THE PLACE IT LOOKED REALLY NICE. OF COURSE A FEW YEARS LATER A BULLET TORE THROUGH THE BACK FENCE, COMING FROM THE STREET AROUND THE CORNER. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE NIGHT WHEN NO ONE WAS OUT BY THE POOL, BUT OUR NEIGHBOR CALLED ME OVER AND TOLD ME THAT BULLET HAD LANDED IN HIS POOL. 

NO BECAUSE OF THAT, BUT SOON AFTER, WE SOLD OUR HOUSE AND MOVED TO A VERY NICE RANCH HOUSE IN A NEW JERSEY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.                                                                                                                                                                                 tmp

MONEY PIT (part 10) The Eyesore next door.

THE DILAPIDATED GRAFFITI-ED WOODEN FOUR CAR GARAGE THAT WAS NEXT TO OUR DRIVEWAY WAS A HAZARDOUS EYE SORE. 
IF WE EVER WANTED TO SELL THE MONEY PIT, THAT MESS JUST HAD TO GO. THOUGH THE GARAGE WAS ON OUR STREET, THE GARAGE BELONGED TO THE CORNER DELI THAT WAS ON CASTLETON AVENUE. BECAUSE OF THEIR DEPLORABLE CONDITION I CALLED E.P.A. BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING. 
IN PASSING BY ONE DAY, ONE OF THE DOORS WERE OPEN AND I LOOKED IN. THEIR WAS AN ABANDONED CAR WITH FOUR FLAT TIRES AND OPEN CANS OF GASOLINE, AMONG OTHER THINGS THE DELI STORED IN THERE. 
SINCE WE WERE ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND HAD A VIEW OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND ALL FOUR OF THE CASTLETON AVENUE BACKYARDS THAT BORDERED OUR PROPERTY. WE COULD SEE THAT THE BACK DOOR OF THE DELI AND THAT FROM TIME TO TIME EMPLOYEES WOULD COME OUT AND ENTER THE GARAGE SPACES FOR SUPPLIES. BECAUSE OF THAT I WAS ABLE TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Association). THEY CAME, ASSESSED THE SITUATION AND ORDERED THE GARAGES TORN DOWN. THAT WAS ONE SMALL VICTORY FOR US. THE DELI FOUND TWO GUYS TO TEAR THE GARAGES APART NAIL BY NAIL AND BOARD BY BOARD. 
THE PILE OF TRASH LAID ON THAT LOT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, UNTIL (so I heard) THE DELI WAS FINED AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION CLEARED IT ALL OUT. 
WE HAD THE CHAIN LINK FENCE ADDED TO IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR PROPERTY LINE CLEARLY DEFINED.                                                                                                     tmp

MONEY PIT (part 9) That mysterious odor and the constant flood.

STAIRS LEADING TO THE SIDE YARD OR DOWN TO THE BASEMENT, BEFORE WE REPLACED THE SIDE DOOR, CARPETED THE STAIRS AND FIXED THE STANDING WATER PROBLEM AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS, BEFORE A STEP UP INTO THE BASEMENT. 
THE BASEMENT WAS A MAJOR HEADACHE! THERE WAS A DRY SPELL AND THEN A COLD SPELL WHEN WE MOVED INTO THIS HOUSE AND THE BASEMENT WAS DRY FOR SOME MONTHS. THEN, WITH THE SPRING RAINS, WE HAD STANDING WATER IN THE BASEMENT. I HAD TO WADE THROUGH THE WATER AND KNOCK A HEAVY CEMENT PAVER OFF THE SEWAGE LINE THAT LED TO THE STREET. I HAD TRIED TO BUY A CAP FOR THE LINE, BUT, IT SEEMS OUR CENTURY PLUS PIPES WERE NOT STANDARD IN 1995. 
THE THING IS, WE FLOODED MANY TIMES AND FINALLY HAD TO CALL ON COUSIN VITO AGAIN. VITO WAS VERY BUSY, BUT, TOOK TIME TO COME OVER AND LET US KNOW WHAT COULD BE DONE. VITO PICKED UP A COUPLE OF MEN TO DIG A FRENCH DRAIN AROUND THE PERIMETER OF OUR BASEMENT. THERE WOULD BE A SUMP PUMP IN THE LOWEST CORNER OF THE BASEMENT AND THE DRAIN WOULD LEAD THE WATER THERE. THE MEN VITO LEFT WORKED VERY HARD AND SEEMED TO KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING. I KEPT CHECKING ON THEM FROM TIME TO TIME, BRINGING THEM WATER AND PIZZA FOR LUNCH. THEN, IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON, THEY CAME UPSTAIRS TO SEE ME AND SINCE THEY ONLY SPOKE SPANISH, I HAD TO KEEP SHRUGGING. THEY APPEARED TO BE EXCITED AND FINALLY ONE OF THEM MADE A SIDE BY SIDE SNAPPING FIST MOTION. I IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED THEM DOWN TO THE BASEMENT AND SAW THAT THE FUEL LINE HAD SNAPPED AND WAS LEAKING. I JUST GAVE THEM AN IT'S OKAY MOTION AND CALLED VITO. VITO CAME RIGHT AWAY AND SPLICED THE LINE BACK TOGETHER. I PAID VITO AND HE PAID THE GUYS WHO CERTAINLY EARNED THEIR PAY. I CEMENTED THE LINE BACK IN AND A DAY OR TWO LATER NOTICED OIL SEEPING UP THROUGH THE CEMENT. VITO'S SECOND SPLICE DIDN'T WORK EITHER, AND I ENDED UP CALLING THE OIL COMPANY. THEY FIXED THE LINE FOR JUST A COUPLE OF BUCKS AND TAUGHT ME A TRICK. ALL I HAD TO DO TO CEMENT OVER THE HOLE IN THE FLOOR WAS TO THROW DOWN SOME QUICK DRYING CEMENT AND JUST SPRINKLE IT WITH MY HOSE. IT CAME OUT EVEN AND SMOOTH.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE DRAIN HAD BEEN FILLED WITH SAND AND GRAVEL, PERFORATED PVC PIPE LAID INTO THE TROUGH, LEADING TO THE NEW SUMP PUMP. IT WAS THEN CEMENTED OVER. WE DIDN'T HAVE A COVER FOR THE WELL WITH THE SUMP PUMP, AND I ENDED UP MAKING ONE FROM THE SEAT OF A STOOL. 
THE BASEMENT STILL FLOODED AND WHEN IT DID, I WOULD GO DOWN, WADE THROUGH THE WATER, KNOCK THE COVER OFF THE WELL, GET THE PUMP GOING. I WOULD STILL HAVE TO BAIL WATER, RUN THE WET/DRY VAC AND DUMP THAT MULTIPLE TIMES. LARGE FANS TO DRY THE FLOOR WORKED WELL FOR THE CONSTANT SEEPAGE. 
ONE WEEKEND IT RAINED NINE INCHES OF RAIN. I WENT DOWN TO THE BASEMENT TO FIND WATER SHOOTING THROUGH THE BRICK FOUNDATION ON ALL SIDES. I WAS UP ALL NIGHT WORKING INTO THE NEXT DAY, BAILING AND BREAKING MY ASS. IT WAS DEMORALIZING TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT, IT HAD TO BE DONE. I DUG DOWN AROUND THE WHOLE FOUNDATION, WATERPROOFED IT, PUT DOWN GRAVEL AND FILLED IT ALL BACK IN, I ALSO PAINTED THE WALLS IN THE BASEMENT WITH WATERPROOFING. I WON'T SAY IF IT WORKED OR NOT, BUT, THE BASEMENT WAS DRY WHEN THE HOUSE WAS UP FOR SALE BY US. 

THEN, THERE WAS WATER BUBBLING UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, ALL SUMMER LONG. WE FINALLY CALLED THE CITY AND THEY CAME. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN THEY KNOCKED ON OUR DOOR SAYING THEY NEEDED TO GO THE OUR BASEMENT TO LISTEN TO THE PIPES. AFTER DOING SO, THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THE LEAK IN THE STREET WAS COMING FROM OUR HOUSE. THEY AGAIN KNOCKED ON OUR DOOR AND GAVE US A NOTICE THAT WE HAD TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHIN 10 DAYS. THEY TOLD US THAT IF WE HIRED A PLUMBER THEY COULD GET AN EXTENSION. WE GOT THE PLUMBERS, THEY EXCAVATED AND FOUND THAT THE LEAK WAS ACTUALLY THE CITY'S PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS THE VALVE THAT WAS LEAKING AND NOT OUR LINE. 
OUR LINE, WE WERE TOLD, HAD TO BE REPLACE BECAUSE WHENEVER THEY EXCAVATE AND FIND LEAD PIPE, THEY WERE REQUIRED TO REPLACE IT WITH COPPER. 
WE REALLY FELT BAD HAVING TO USE AL'S INHERITED MONEY FOR THIS, BUT, IT WAS LUCKY THAT MONEY CAME AT JUST THIS TIME. 

WE THOUGHT ABOUT CONVERTING FROM OIL TO GAS BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO COSTLY, SO, WE HAD A NEW OIL BURNING FURNACE PUT IN INSTEAD. THEY HAD TO CUT UP THE VERY OLD LARGE FURNACE TO GET IT OUT THE DOOR, AND THE NEW MODERN ONE WAS ONLY A FRACTION OF IT'S SIZE. 
ANOTHER TIME WE HAD A STAINLESS STEEL LINER PUT IN FROM THE ROOF DOWN THROUGH THE CHIMNEY AND INTO THE NEW FURNACE. 
WE HAD THOUGHT (AND WERE TOLD) THAT THIS MIGHT SOLVE OUR ERA LONG PROBLEM OF 'WHAT'S THAT SMELL'. IT REALLY DIDN'T STOP THE ODOR THAT NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT.
IT WAS NOT UNTIL VITO LAID A NEW SEWAGE LINE FOR US THAT HE DISCOVERED THAT OUR SEWAGE LINE HAD NEVER BEEN VENTED. DOUBLE JEEZ!



                                                                                                                                                           tmp

                                                                                                                                                        

MONEY PIT (part 8) ~ Shots In The Night

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT TIME IT WAS, BUT, IN THE STILL OF ONE DARK NIGHT, A SHOT WAS FIRED. IT WAS RIGHT BENEATH MY SECOND FLOOR BEDROOM WINDOW, BUT, IT HAD TO BE MORE FRIGHTENING FOR OUR FIRST FLOOR TENANT, WHO REALLY TOOK IT IN STRIDE AND DIDN'T MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT, SHE WAS GREAT THAT WAY. 
I HAD BEEN ASLEEP ALREADY, HAVING TO GET UP AT 3:30 AM TO GET READY FOR WORK. I REMEMBER JUMPING UP, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF I WENT DOWN AND SPOKE TO LINDA THEN, OR THE NEXT DAY. I HOPE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT THEN. WE DIDN'T CALL THE POLICE, FIGURING IT WAS JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, WHICH IT WAS.
UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER WHEN SOMEONE FIRED A SHOT DURING THE NIGHT FROM THE NEXT STREET OVER. I HEARD ALLOT OF SCREECHING TIRES AND SHOUTING, BUT COULDN'T TELL WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. THE NEXT DAY, OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR CALLED ME OVER TO HIS BACKYARD AND SHOWED ME THE HOLE IN HIS VINYL STOCKADE FENCE AND THAT THE BULLET THAT WAS FIRED, LANDED IN HIS POOL.

THE ABOVE PHOTO SHOWS THE ARBORVITAE I PLANTED AND THE PRIVACY SCREEN I PUT UP, HOWEVER THE FIRST SHOOTING INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER THE TREE AND SCREEN WERE PUT UP. IF YOU WERE RUNNING FROM SOMEONE YOU COULD STILL JUMP THE CHAIN LINK FENCE FROM THE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY, SHOOT THROUGH OUR BACKYARD AND CLIMB THE HIGH FENCES IN THE REAR. SO, WE BOUGHT A CUSTOM MADE VINYL STOCKADE GATE WHICH BUTTED UP AGAINST THE CHAIN LINK AND WAS PARALLEL WITH THE SIMILAR STOCKADE FENCE NEXT DOOR. THAT SEEMED TO HAVE DONE THE TRICK. 

IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND MY USING YOUR NAME, LINDA.

                                                                                                                                                       tmp

MONEY PIT (part 7)

RON DID A GREAT JOB SIDING OUR HOUSE, HE HAD DONE THE FRONT FOR US A FEW YEARS BEFORE WE COULD AFFORD TO DO THE REST OF THE HOUSE, AND THEN HE DID A SUPER JOB MAKING OUR HOUSE LOOK REALLY GREAT. THE PINES WE BROUGHT FROM BINGHAMTON, AS THREE FOOT TREES. THE PINES GREW SO FAST I HAD TO CUT OFF THE TOPS. I STRIPPED THE BRANCHES EXCEPT FOR THE ENDS, AND AS THEY GREW I WOULD CUT OFF THE NEW GROWTH MAKING POM POMS AT THE ENDS OF EACH BRANCH. THERE WOULD BE A SECOND GROWTH EACH YEAR AND I WOULD CUT THAT OFF TOO. WE HAD THE CHAIN LINK FENCE PUT UP AND I PLANTED GROUND COVER JUNIPERS. I HAD ALSO CLAD THE PORCH WITH PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS RON OR "GUTTER BOY" THAT CLAD THE WOOD AT THE TOP. WHEN THAT WAS DONE, WE FINALLY STOPPED FINDING PILES OF SAWDUST IN THE MORNING. EVEN THOUGH WE HAD AN EXTERMINATOR AGAIN AND AGAIN, THOSE DAMNED CARPENTER BEES WOULD NOT LEAVE. 
THROUGH THE EXTERMINATOR I LEARNED THAT CARPENTER BEES LIVE SINGULAR LIVES, COLLECT POLLEN ALL DAY AND BRING IT BACK TO THE PERFECTLY ROUND HOLES THEY WOULD DRILL IN ANY EXPOSED WOOD. THEY WOULD EVEN DRILL INTO THE PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER. AFTER THE SIDING, WE STILL HAD ONE OR TWO CARPENTER BEES. I FOUND OUT WHERE THEY WERE BORING AND I WAITED UNTIL IT WAS COOL OUTSIDE, SPRAYED THE HOLES AND CAULKED REALLY WELL. FINALLY, NO MORE BEES.
THE ONLY PROBLEM RON HAD WAS WHEN HE ONE DAY HAD TO KNOCK OFF EARLY BECAUSE OF THE TEENAGE KIDS WITH THEIR BACKYARD BORDERING OUR DRIVEWAY, THROWING 'POTTY' WATER AT HIM WHILE HE WAS ON A LADDER TRYING TO SIDE THE HOUSE. THE LITTLE BASTARDS WERE CURSING AT HIM IN SPANISH, NOT KNOWING RON UNDERSTOOD THE LANGUAGE. RON ANSWERED THEM BACK IN SPANISH, BUT, HAD TO LEAVE THAT DAY. 
I DID FEEL BAD FOR THOSE KIDS, THEY HAD AN ABOVE GROUND POOL THAT COLLAPSED AND WITHOUT A FILTER WERE SPLASHING AROUND IN PUTRID WATER THAT WAS LEFT IN THE LINER FROM THE POOL. THE LINER HAD A COUPLE OF INFLATED RINGS AROUND THE EDGE ALLOWING IT TO HOLD THAT WATER THEY HAD BEEN SPLASHING AROUND IN FOR LITERALLY WEEKS. BUT,  BUT... NO! NO! NO! THAT WAS ONLY ONE OF MANY MANY PROBLEMS WE HAD WITH THE UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN THAT WERE RAISING THEMSELVES.

THIS REAR DECK RON BUILT FOR US WORKED OUT BEAUTIFULLY. I STAINED IT WITH AN OPAQUE STAIN AND PUT LATTICE ON ALL SIDES (NOT SHOWN). THE SIDING IS MORE OF RON'S HANDIWORK. ALL AROUND THE HOUSE WHEREVER THERE WERE BASEMENT WINDOWS, I DUG DOWN, ADDED GRAVEL AND RIVETED WINDOW WELLS WITH RAIN GUARDS TO THE FOUNDATION. I HAD ALSO DUG DEEPLY ALL AROUND THE HOUSE, TARRED THE BRICK, ADDED GRAVEL AND FILLED IN, BUT, THAT'S ANOTHER STORY I'VE YET TO TELL. 

THE HOUSE WHEN WE BOUGHT IT WITH THE ROTTING WINDOWS AND OLD WOODEN DOORS THAT HAD BEEN BROKEN IN WHEN THE POLICE HAD TO ENTER TO REMOVE TWO PIT BULLS. THE DOGS WERE GUARDING A DRUG DEN. THEN, THE PERSON WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE FROM PAINTED EVERYTHING INSIDE WHITE AND YEAH HAD THE NERVE TO GLUE ON A FEW OF THE DOOR HANDLES. INSIDE LOOKED SPARSE BUT MOSTLY CLEAN. LITTLE DID WE KNOW. 

WHEN OUR SECOND INSURANCE COMPANY THREATENED TO CANCEL, STATING AS ONE OF THE REASONS BEING THE CONDITION OF THE REAR SIDING. THIS IS WHEN I PUT UP LATTICE AND GREW IVY UP THE HOUSE. I ALSO PUT UP THE WINDOW BOXES AND PLANTED THE QUICKLY GROWING SHADEMASTER LOCUST TREE. YOU CAN SEE THE "SLUM PALMS" GROWING NEXT DOOR, AT THE BANK OWNED WAREHOUSED PROBLEM OF A NEIGHBORHOOD DUMP. 
I HAD PLANTED A SHADEMASTER LOCUST AT OUR FRONT CURB. THE LOCUST WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY BECAUSE IT ROOTS STRAIGHT DOWN, DOES NOT HEAD FOR YOUR WATER OR SEWAGE LINES, HAS LEAVES THAT DISINTEGRATE AND DON'T CLOG GUTTERS. OF COURSE THE ONE AT THE CURB WAS INSIDIOUSLY DESTROYED BY THE KIDS PASSING BY ON THEIR WAY TO AND FROM THE NEARBY HIGH SCHOOL. 
I PULLED UP TO OUR CURB ONE DAY TO SEE SOME YOUNG LADY PULLING ON A BRANCH AND STRIPPING IT BARE. I ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOW AND SAID "THANKS ALLOT, I JUST PLANTED THAT TREE". THE GIRL REPLIED "YOU WANT IT BACK"? ALL I COULD SAY WAS 'YEAH, I WANT IT BACK '! AFTER THAT ANOTHER BRANCH WOULD BE SNAPPED ONE AT A TIME DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.  tmp

MONEY PIT (part 6)

ABOVE THE BAY ON THE  HOUSE WHERE THE GARBAGE CANS WERE STORED WAS A SMALL ROOF THAT BECAME A BIG BIG PROBLEM. 

THERE WAS A LEAK AND A HUGE BUBBLE FORMED BENEATH THE ACOUSTIC CEILING THAT WAS LATEX PAINTED. I ENDED UP TEARING THE PORTION OUT ABOVE THE BAY AND WE HIRED A ROOFER TO COME IN AND FIX THE LEAK. HE COULDN'T TELL FROM INSIDE AND CLIMBED OUT FROM THE MIDDLE ROOM ON OUR THIRD FLOOR. HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS A YANKEE GUTTER (TARRED OVER TWO BY FOURS THAT GUIDE WATER TO DOWNSPOUTS) THAT RAN THE LENGTH OF THAT SMALL ROOF AND THAT IT SIMPLY NEEDED TARRING. IT WAS ACTUALLY A TROUGH IN THIS CASE, THAT LED TO ALUMINIUM GUTTER THAT RAN TO THE FRONT AND BACKS OF THE HOUSE. WE HAD A DRY SPELL AND THEN SOME LIGHT RAIN, AND THERE WAS NO LEAK. SO, WE WENT OUT AND BOUGHT SOME TONGUE AND GROOVE ACOUSTIC PLANKS THAT I INSTALLED. THE CEILING LOOKED GREAT! 
THEN, WE HAD A SOAKING RAIN AND BUCKETS OF WATER RAINED DOWN IN OUR DINING ROOM. I CALLED BACK THE ROOFER AND HE ONCE AGAIN TARRED, THINKING IT WAS JUST THAT ONE AREA, BUT, NOOOO... I HAD TO RIP QUITE A FEW OF MY PLANKS DOWN. BY THIS TIME THE ROOFER WAS GETTING PISSED, BUT CAME ANYWAY, THREW A LITTLE MORE TAR DOWN AND WASHED HIS HANDS OF OUR PROBLEM. 
THIS IS WHEN RON STEPPED IN AND TOLD US THAT BY ADDING MORE TAR IT WAS ONLY MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE BECAUSE THE TAR WAS ACTING LIKE A SPONGE AND NOT DOING THE JOB. I ASKED IF HE COULD JUST DO AWAY WITH THE YANKEE GUTTER AND JUST LET THE RAIN FLOW OFF OF THE SMALL ROOF. RON DID THE JOB AND IT SOLVED THAT PROBLEM. OF COURSE I HAD TO PUT AN OPEN GARBAGE CAN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GABLE, EVERY TIME IT RAINED. BUT, HEY, THAT WAS BETTER THAN DINING AL FRESCO. I WAS ABLE TO MATCH UP THE TONGUE AND GROOVE PLANKS AND REFIT THEM ONTO THE CEILING. BUT, WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASS THAT WAS!  tmp

MONEY PIT (part 5)

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN WE MOVED INTO THIS HOUSE WAS TO BUY SOME FENCING, MAKE A GATE AND STOP THE ENDLESS STREAM OF SHORTCUTTING HIGHSCHOOLERS FROM USING OUR BACKYARD. I HAD TO ALSO BUILD UP THE FENCE AT THE BACK OF THE YARD TO AT LEAST MAKE IT HARDER FOR ANYONE TO SQUEEZE THROUGH OR CLIMB OVER. 
THERE IS ANOTHER STORY ABOUT WHERE WE STORED OUR GARBAGE CANS. I BACKED INTO THE DRIVEWAY IN THE DARK, ONE EVENING, OPENED MY CAR DOOR TO SEE A BUNCH OF BOYS SITTING ON OUR GARBAGE CANS AND SQUASHING THEM FLAT. THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM THOUGH, THESE YOUNG MEN WERE SMOKING AND RIGHT BEHIND THE CANS WAS WHERE THE FUEL FOR OUR FURNACE ENTERED THE HOUSE. I SAID 'YOU'RE IN THE WRONG PLACE'! THEY SLOWLY GOT UP AND STARTED TO MOSEY ON DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I HAD TO SAY IT... 'DON'T HURRY NONE'! IT'S THEN I NOTICED THE RED BANDANNA HANDKERCHIEFS HANGING OUT OF THEIR BACK POCKETS. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT THEY MUST HAVE BEEN "BLOODS". THEY DIDN'T BOTHER ME, SO I PRESUME THEY WERE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DIDN'T WANT TO SHIT WHERE THEY ATE. GUESS I WAS EITHER JUST STUPID OR LUCKY.

ON ONE OF MY OFF DAYS I WAS WORKING IN THE BACKYARD WHEN TWO YOUNG LADIES TRIED TO OPEN THE LATCHED GATE AND COULDN'T. I SAID 'I CAN'T LET YOU IN', AND AS SOON AS THEY STARTED WITH THE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, A COP CAR CAME DOWN THE STREET IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. THE GIRLS HAD DUCKED DOWN BEHIND MY CAR AND WEREN'T SPOTTED. THINKING THEY WERE SAFE, THEY LEFT THE DRIVEWAY AND ONCE THEY HIT THE STREET I SAW THAT THE COP CAR HAD CIRCLED BACK AROUND THE BLOCK. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WERE JUST TRUANT OR HAD GOTTEN IN SOME OTHER KIND OF TROUBLE.  
AN HOUR OR SO LATER, TWO FEMALE OFFICERS CAME TO MY GATE AND ASKED IF I WAS OKAY, WHICH OF COURSE I WAS. THEY WEREN'T ASKING ABOUT THE TWO GIRLS THOUGH. IT SEEMS I HAD BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH AL, TOLD HIM TO HOLD ON, THAT SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO OPEN THE GATE, AND PUT THE PHONE DOWN ON A BENCH. I HAD TOTALLY FORGOTTEN AND WENT BACK TO MY GARDENING OR ROCK PLACING. AL HAD CALLED THE POLICE WHEN I DIDN'T COME BACK TO THE PHONE. I THANKED THEM FOR COMING AND CALLED AL RIGHT AWAY. 
YOU KNOW, I GUESS I DO HAVE A STORY TO GO WITH EVERY PHOTO I DIG UP OF THIS HOUSE ON TREADWELL AVENUE. tmp

MONEY PIT (part 4)

THIRD FLOOR REAR ROOM ABOVE THE KITCHEN OVERLOOKING THE BACKYARD.

THIRD FLOOR REAR ROOM ABOVE THE KITCHEN OVERLOOKING THE BACKYARD. I ADDED EVENLY SPACED SHELVING UNITS WITH ACCORDION DOORS IN BETWEEN THAT OPENED FOR HANGING STORAGE (for mostly coats).  

THAT SAME REAR ROOM NEEDED INSULATING AND BEFORE THE SIDES WERE CLOSED IN FOR MY STORAGE UNITS.

THANKS TO RON SR. COMING ALONG WITH RON II, WE NOW HAD PROPER HALOGEN SPOTLIGHTS FOR THAT REAR ROOM.

TOP OF THE BUTLER STAIRS DOWN TO THE SECOND FLOOR, SHOWING THE CARPET TILES I INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE THIRD FLOOR.

 THE MIDDLE ROOM IN THE HOUSE THAT WAS ALREADY PLASTERED, BUT OTHERWISE A MESS.

WITH THE WINDOW SEAT I MADE AND VIEW OF THE BAYONNE BRIDGE, THIS MIDDLE THIRD FLOOR ROOM QUICKLY BECAME MY FAVORITE ROOM IN THE HOUSE. 

THIS FRONT THIRD FLOOR ROOM HAD A HOLE IN THE WALL AND ONLY CARDBOARD LIKE WALLS. AFTER LOTS OF WORK, IT MADE A GREAT GUEST ROOM.

FOR GUESTS I WOULD MOVE THE TABLE OUT FROM UNDER THE WINDOW AND PUT THE BLOWUP ON A FRAME IN IT'S PLACE. 

                                                                                                                   tmp

MONEY PIT (part 3)

SECOND FLOOR KITCHEN WITH ONLY A STOVE AND A METAL SINK BASE AS WELL AS A METAL WALL CABINET WITH A STACK PIPE RUNNING THROUGH IT. 

THE PANELING I TOOK DOWN WAS GLUED TO THE WALLS AND SINCE I HAD TO REMOVE THE WALLS DOWN TO THEIR STUDS, INSULATE AND SHEETROCK, IT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER.  

MY FIRST PLAN FOR THE KITCHEN INCLUDED AN ISLAND I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING, I DECIDED TO ADD MORE CABINETS ALONG THE WALLS INSTEAD.

  THERE'S THAT STACK PIPE THAT I EVENTUALLY CLOSED IN, THIS PHOTO ALSO SHOWS OUR JENAIR STOVE THAT HAD A DOWNDRAFT AND NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED AGAINST THE OUTER WALL OF THE KITCHEN.

THE PANTRY CLOSET THAT AT FIRST JUST HAD A COUPLE OF LUAN SHELVES, AND THAT ISLAND THAT WAS ACTUALLY TWO UPRIGHT SHELVING UNITS THAT I'D TURNED ON THEIR SIDES.

OUR WORKING KITCHEN. WE BOUGHT CABINETS THAT WERE WITHIN OUR BUDGET AND I INSTALLED THEM MYSELF. I THINK COUSIN VITO ONCE AGAIN HELPED US AND VENTED OUR STOVE OUTDOORS. THIS STOVE HAD A POWERFUL DOWNDRAFT MOTOR BELOW IT.

THE PANTRY BEFORE, SHOWING THE DOOR THAT LED TO THE BATHROOM ON THE LEFT, THE BUTLER STAIRCASE DOWN AND THE BUTLER STAIRCASE UP TO THE THIRD FLOOR. 

                                        THE STAIRS DOWN TO THE FRONT DOOR.

                                     THE STAIRS UP FROM THE FRONT PORCH.

THE STAIRS DOWN TO THE SIDE DOOR AND BASEMENT. FROM THE SECOND FLOOR WE WENT OUT THE BACK DOOR AND AROUND TO THE SIDE DOOR TO ENTER THE BASEMENT. 

TO BE CONTINUED...      tmp

MONEY PIT (part 2)

The first floor kitchen had one metal cabinet for the sink and one metal cabinet above. It also had a stove and that was it!

Our contractor did a good job of bringing the kitchen on the first floor up to date. We only had them do the kitchen and the bathroom, the windows and the front door on the first floor. I tore down the paneling in the front room, sheetrocked the walls took down the drop ceiling, plastered and painted myself. Then in one break ass marathon evening, me and Al painted the dark floors with alkyd ivory paint, just to get it ready to show to renters. 

I BELIEVE IT WAS OCTOBER BEFORE WE ACTUALLY CLOSED AND TOOK TITLE TO THE HOUSE. SINCE T WAS A TWO FAMILY HOME IT WAS STIPULATED THAT OUR BANK LOAN WAS CONTINGENT ON US RENTING OUT THE LARGER SPACE IN THE HOUSE. 
WE KNEW FROM APARTMENT LIVING THAT WE DIDN'T WANT ANYONE LIVING ABOVE US, AND THAT WE NEEDED TO RENT OUT OUR FIRST FLOOR SPACE.
AFTER MOVING IN, IT QUICKLY TURNED COLD THAT NOVEMBER OF 1994. THERE WAS A BLUSTERY SNOW STORM AND AL WAS THE FIRST TO NOTICE THE ACCUMULATING SNOW ON THE INSIDE OF THE FIRST FLOOR KITCHEN WINDOW SILL. BETWEEN THAT, THE ANTIQUATED BATHROOM  AND THE DARK PANELED FRONT ROOM, THERE WAS JUST NO WAY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO RENT THE SPACE AS IT WAS. NOT THAT OUR SECOND FLOOR SPACE WAS IN ANY BETTER CONDITION, BECAUSE IT WASN'T. 
OUR X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO DO ANY KIND OF RENO HAD QUICKLY RUN OUT. WE FOUND AN ADD FOR A CONTRACTOR THAT WOULD COME IN, ESTIMATE THE COSTS AND GET US FINANCED FOR OUR 35K LOAN. EXCEPT FOR THE BASEMENT EVERY WINDOW IN THE HOUSE WAS REPLACED, AS WERE BOTH FRONT DOORS THE SIDE DOOR AND THE BACK DOOR. A DOORWAY FROM THE KITCHEN TO THE A BEDROOM WAS CLOSED OFF (I HAD DONE THE SAME UPSTAIRS), WHICH ALLOWED FOR AN L SHAPED KITCHEN. THE DOOR OFF THE KITCHEN THAT LED DOWN TO THE BASEMENT AND ALSO TO ANOTHER DOOR THAT LEAD OUTDOORS WERE FINE. THE BUTLER STAIRCASE HAD LED FROM THE THIRD FLOOR ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BASEMENT. WE DIDN'T WANT OUR TENANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR SPACE AND HAD THE STAIRCASE CLOSED OFF THERE AT THE FIRST FLOOR. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SECOND FLOOR LANDING, THERE WAS A DOOR THAT LED TO THE BACKYARD, SO THAT BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS HAD FRONT AND REAR EXITS. THE THIRD FLOOR HAD ACCESS FROM THE BUTLER STAIRCASE AND ALSO HAD A TRAP DOOR LEADING TO THE WALK-IN HALL CLOSET ON THE SECOND FLOOR, IT HAD A BUILT IN LADDER DOWN.

OUR CONTRACTORS INSTALLED TWO NEW BATHROOMS FOR US, ONE ON THE FIRST AND ONE ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THE WORN OUT CORNER SINKS, DEPLORABLE TOILETS AND WORN OUT CLAW FOOT TUBS WERE TAKEN OUT AND REPLACED. WE HAD SLIDING GLASS DOORS INSTALLED ON THE TUBS SO AS NOT TO MAKE THE BATHROOMS APPEAR ANY SMALLER THAN THEY ALREADY WERE. 
ALL THE WINDOWS, THE FIRST FLOOR KITCHEN AND BATH AND THE SECOND FLOOR BATH WERE DONE FOR US. THE SIDE AND BACK DOORS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. THEIR WORK INCLUDED WHATEVER ELECTRIC AND PLUMBING THAT WAS NEEDED TO GET THE JOB DONE. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FIRST FLOOR WASTE PIPE AND WHEN THE CONTRACTOR BROKE THE BASEMENT FLOOR TO EXPOSE THE LINE, HE FOUND IT TO BE HARDENED CLAY AND UNUSABLE. i ASKED IF THEY COULD JUST RUN PVC PIPE ACROSS TO THE SEPARATE WORKING SECOND FLOOR WASTE PIPE, AND THEY COULD AND DID. THAT PART WAS THEN SOLVED. 
ALL IN ALL OUR CONTRACTORS DID A GOOD JOB AND WE DID GET ALLOT DONE FOR OUR MONEY. THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAD WITH THEM WAS HAVING TO ASK ON A DAILY BASIS WHERE THE DUMPSTER WAS AND WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO GET IT. OF COURSE THEY KEPT PUTTING ME OFF AND LEFT US WITH A PILE OF DEBRIS IN OUR BACKYARD, INCLUDING PIPE, PLASTER WOOD, TILE, SINKS, AND BAGS FROM WHATEVER THEY ATE ON ANY GIVEN DAY. THE CLAW FOOT TUBS, ONE OF WHICH WAS PROMISED, DISAPPEARED WHILE I WAS AT WORK. SINCE I REFUSED TO SIGN OFF ON THE WORK UNTIL THE TRASH WAS TAKEN CARE OF... THE BANK WOULD NOT PAY THEM AND AS MIRACULOUSLY AS THE TWO TON CLAW FOOT TUBS DISAPPEARED, THE DEBRIS WAS GONE... TO BE CONTINUED.  tmp