After two weeks of surviving the cruel Hawaiian winter, I’m heading back to the mainland. I know that many of you pity me. Thank you. I deserve it.
Looking down the beach toward the Four Seasons, you’ll note that there are not many people here. The stretch the end of Thanksgiving and the beginning of the Christmas rush is notoriously quiet. Some would complain that it’s boring.
Down at the Four Seasons the crowd is made up of many executive males who have taken a quiet moment to go to Hawaii. They’re all family men, apparently, because they brought their nieces along for company for a final trip before Christmas.
It’s interesting to see the middle aged (and later) men jogging down the path that follows the shore, a bit winded from the first work out of the day, accompanied by their young nieces on a gentle run (second work-out). Exercise keeps the men young, I guess.
The middle aged men with slightly older women with them who are only half their age are usually on working trips with their secretaries. They walk down the same pathway, but you know where their minds are work-work-work.
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Sunset marks an ending. |
I had high hopes that the White Wolf Mine would be complete before Christmas. Promises were made. However, they’d been made before and the place wasn’t completed in August. There aren’t that many elements that need to be completed, but I can’t move in until it’s all done. Thus homeless in Hawaii will translate into homeless in Southern California and the constant need of air conditioning at Christmas, once again.
When I land, it’s a couple days of work, and then off to the Arizona highlands to deal with the construction project. It’s supposed to be clear skies, highs in the 40’s there in AZ. While it’s a departure from 85 degrees in Hawaii, it’s not like North Dakota.
You know what you need to take the pressure off, Larry? A niece! 😉
Don't worry, the new place will definitely finished before *some* Christmas!
Building stuff always takes forever – it's the samee thing with old cars, more's the pity.
-Kle.
Nieces and secretaries? Where would resorts be without them?
As the father of four girls, babysitting is the very last thing that I need.
I would hope by Christmas 2019.
Yes, they seem to buoy up the economy.
Reminds me of a trip to an RV park in central Texas where there was a gathering of high end Prevost coaches. One of the ladies in our group remarked "It sure is nice of these old guys bringing their nieces and daughters on a trip."
On the bright side, you get all the eye-candy and don't have to pay for any of it. The beaches are empty because of the main-lander's are home shopping for Christmas. Welcome home, even if it is SoCal.
Like the Pharaoh, you have run up against 'Cheops Law': Nothing ever done on time or within budget.
A neighbor of mine has run into the same thing. A building that was supposed to go up in October still hasn't. The trusses have arrived, however. That's a start.
That beach view looks pretty idyllic though I get the feeling your Four Seasins is less pricey than mine.
And good to see the island's "family friendly," nice. Kind of all those uncles to look after their younger relatives.
Sorry to hear you still don't have a home. That sucks.
Bless their hearts…
Always a bright side John.
No kidding Bob.
We have a roof, we have siding, we have most of the interior finished. We're not that far off, but people stop working from mid-December on in the trades. Hunting season is over and there is no ice fishing in Arizona, but they're getting ready for Christmas.
The kindly uncles are here, spending money on their 'relations' and propping up the Hawaiian economy.
Not quite yet, Jim
Why the quotes? I'm certain all kinds of relations are being carried out.
Contractor promises – much like promises from alcoholics who swear off the stuff ("I can quit any time I want to…"): worthless.
Like drug addicts – "this is my last fix, then I'm done." Right.
Like Democrat politicians: "vote for me and you will benefit." Count on that.
Contractors: there's nothing lower in this world that these guys. Absolutely nothing. They will say anything in order to slip in another order or job that will delay yours; you are already money in the bank, no need to please you. You are a done deal. Regardless of how crappy they treat you after they bank your money.
Not all the money is in the bank for the builder. The latest promise date is 20 December. There's work to be done between now and then but not that much if there is attention paid to the scope of work.
Of course, there's the dreaded 'punch list.' I hate that process.
Hang in there. I know it's a PITA now, but just keep thinking how cool it will be when it's done.
Well said Jim! Train hard, think positive, fight easy. Mind you, that always translated into something appalling…
A punch list is only dreaded if you don't do the work right in the first place. A substantial part of our business is fixing the screw ups the other lower cost companies make, i.e, those that hire illegals without skills to avoid paying liability insurance or taxes. Sometimes the lowest bid isn't the best in the long run.
OH No, not Rocket J! You'd think those evil Badenovs would be in a nursing home by now.
Sorry about your construction woes, but construction is a dragon that goes along with you one day and will turn you into a pile of ash the next.
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