Have I Got Driveway Seal Coating Deal For You!

Yesterday, just as I was preparing fresh tomato soup (from garden fresh tomatoes given to me by my neighbor Bev), Bill said "Someone is coming to the door." "Oh great, what now?" I thought.

I go to the door and open it to find a middle aged man with a big smile on his face.  Ah, my friend!  This man, also named "Bill" said "My guys are in the neighborhood paving driveways and I see your driveway is breaking apart (it's not) and I can offer you a deal today."  Whoopty doo!

Folks, living in a development as we do, do you have any idea how many times we have had someone knock on our door offering us a "deal" IF we get it done today because "his guys are doing driveways in the neighborhood?"  Let's just say this wasn't the first time I've been offered this "deal." 

Bill and I moved into this neighborhood ten years ago. We've never had our driveway professionally recoated.  Bill has recoated it several times but not too well. It looks patchwork and I'm sure that's what attracts the Driveway Guys.

Our "broken up" driveway

Earlier this week our neighbor to the right side of us had his driveway recoated.  It was a single young guy who took all day to redcoat it.  It wasn't a group of men with the tank of hot tar.  Just a single guy with cans of coating which he applied with a brush. 

Both Bill and I liked the job he did so I asked our neighbor how much it cost.  She said $465.  Sounds about right to me.  I asked her for his information which she gave to me. I planned to call him to see if he could coat our driveway next spring.

Then yesterday I get this other driveway coater ringing my doorbell and offering me a "deal."  He told me he had already done several driveways in my neighborhood.  I asked him if he had done this one particular driveway which has always impressed me during my morning walks through the neighborhood.  He didn't know which one so he offered to drive me to show me.

I climbed into his huge truck and we drove to  my neighbor's driveway which I had in mind. He said "Yes", he had done that driveway.  I asked him how much he charged for that driveway.  He said $4,200.  WHAT?  When we lived in Pennsylvania I had a five hundred driveway completely put in over a gravel road for $5,000.  Granted, that was back in the 90's but prices haven't changed THAT much.

He said he would give me a "special" price since "his guys were in the neighborhood" (there we go with that phrase again) for $3,000.  I don't think so folks.

Now during all this time this guy was all smiles and acting like my best friend.  I noticed a huge diamond ring on his finger,

which occasionally blinded me as the day's sun rays were reflected off of the many faceted diamonds in his rings.  I looked at his HUGE truck.  His brand new truck.  Not that there is anything wrong with wearing diamond rings (I have several myself) or owning and driving a monster truck.  But $3,000?  Hey folks, I'm looking at a dental bill in the next few weeks that's going to cost close to $4,000 (something I haven't written about yet but I will).  

I asked him for his card and told him "I'll think about it."  Immediately his Best Friend smile dropped from his face and he wrote on the back of his card how much it would cost me

to get my driveway recoated if I didn't get it done today.  

He lost me with that reaction.  Folks, do you have any idea of how many times I've been confronted with that old tried and true salesman tactic of "If you don't get it today this is what it will cost you?"  Too many times, that's how many.  

It's taken me a lot of years to wise up to these high pressure sales tactics.  The "I'm your friend" tactic and "if you don't buy this product or service you're going to disappoint me" tactic. 

Now I don't know if this guy is one of those driveway scammer that flood the southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware homes but I do know that I don't respond to those kind of tactics.  I'm always suspicious when someone rings my doorbell and is offering me a deal with the caveat that I have to "do it today."   Nope, I won't go there.  

Now having said that, during my walk last night through the neighborhood I saw where three of my neighbors did get their driveways resealed.  So maybe this guy is legit.  Even so, $3,000 is a lot of money just to reseal a driveway.  Plus I didn't like his tactics.  However, I will check with my neighbors so see how much they paid.  

Life in the Fast Lane here folks. I definitely don't lead a dull life. 

No Solicitations

                          

                       

            

                                   

We have a sign at the entrance to our community that reads "No Solicitations". Of course that doesn't stop some people.

Yesterday morning, as I was on my computer I hear the front door ring.  My home office is right next to our front door. I get up from my desk and take the few steps around the corner to the front door.  I have the front door open and only the full glass storm door open.  There I see a young black man.  Of course my first thought was "Now what does he want?"  

Not wanted to appear discriminatory by not answering my door where this well dress, seemingly earnest young black man was standing, I opened my storm door and stepped out onto my small front landing and said "Yes?"

He said he wanted my "vote."  Then immediately he told me he wasn't running for office, chuckling as he said so.  Instead he told me he was introducing himself to people in my neighborhood presenting himself as a well spoken young man, standing up straight, and being courteous in order to get enough "votes" to win a trip to Spain.  He said if he got one hundred votes he would "win."  

Of course he now had my interest.  I'm wondering "What is his angle?" but he seemed so sincere I continued listening.  He smiled and he further went through his script.  He was reading but I could tell by the wording he was using that his verbiage wasn't normal for him.  But as I said, he was relaxed, friendly, courteous and well spoken.

Then came the hook.  I saw in his right hand the familiar blank credit card papers.  I'm wondering "Is he selling magazine subscriptions and this is just another ploy to GET MONEY FROM ME?" 

He asked me if I wanted to CONTRIBUTE  to one of the following from a laminated card that had a list of names from veterans to students and religious organizations.  Ah yes, HE.WANTS.MONEY.FROM.ME.  His whole innocent, "You VOTE for me and I win a trip to Spain" is a scam.

With a smile I tell him "Oh, we're not doing money here" and turn around to open my storm door to return to what I was doing before I was rudely interrupted with this latest neighborhood scam.  Immediately his demeanor changed and he said (shouted actually):

"YOU ANSWERED THE DOOR DUDE!"  

Uh huh.  Just another scam.  The mask comes of and the real earnest young student looking to earn votes for a free trip is exposed.    His smile was gone as he turned away and left my front door.  

I told Bill what happened.  Bill went upstairs and saw the oh so earnest and sincere young man go to the house across the street only to back off when my neighbor's two large dogs lunged at the front door, ferociously barking at him.  

Yes, I got suckered in yesterday.  I should have dismissed him right away before he started his spiel but this young BLACK man knew exactly what he was doing, taking advantage of take new white guilt complex in the wake of the Travon Martin "hoodie" shooting.  Show up in a white neighborhood, where the appearance of a young black man knocking at one's door is about the last thing we white folks would expect, and play the race card for all it's worth.  

Funny think happened later in the afternoon.  Another black man (this one more mature) shows up and wants to know if I want to buy any meat.  Say what?  I see his van in our driveway, it says "Capital Meats."  I tell him "No, I'm a vegetarian (I'm not by the way but I was trying to be gentle and not rude)"  He wasn't taking "No" for an answer and said "You eat fish?"  I said "Definitely not!"  Then he said "How about chicken?"  WTF?
I don't eat that much anyway and if I do I'll buy my meat at the store.  I told him: 

"I.AM.NOT.INTERESTED."  

He finally leaves.  I look for Bill to tell him I have a twofer for today.  He looks at our TV monitor for the road coming to our house and sure enough they is Mr. Capital Meats pulling in the driveway of our neighbor.  

I look up "Capital Meats" on the Internet.  Yep, it's a scam.  In fact, seeing that he had a van I suspect the kid was in the back of the van.  I didn't see him pull up in a car.  

They're out there folks.  After your money.

I called the police to tell them the kid was in the neighborhood running a scam.  I had a heck of a time getting the police first.  Is this a "9/11?"  No. I have a Lewes phone number but a Milton address. Do I call the Lewes police?  I did.  They told me to call the Delaware State police.  I did.

After being transferred a few time an Officer Mack got on the line.  I told him my situation.  He was a "Just the facts ma'm" kind of guy.  He said he would stop out to get a statement from me.  That was yesterday afternoon.  I'm still waiting.

Just another day in the neighborhood folks.

So here's what I do the next time folks when a stranger rings my doorbell.  I have my iPhone with me set to camera and I take their picture first.  If they don't like it…..well, it was their decision to stop at MY front door.

Fact of life folks, no stranger is going to call you out of the blue on your phone or stop at your door that doesn't WANT something from you, preferably money.  Even the politicians who stop at my door, who I will answer for, want my vote or as is the latest case to be the neighborhood volunteer.  Which reminds me, since I was "volunteered" to canvas my neighborhood as well a two bordering neighborhoods for the local Democratic Delaware state senate candidate, I'm not going to knock on any more doors.  I'll hand the political literature on their doorknobs right before the election but I am not going to knocking on any more doors.  A very distasteful experience yesterday folks, very distasteful.  

In my old age dotage I'm trying hard not to turn into what my Mother was a few years before she died; a bitter, paranoid, cynical person distrustful of just about everyone, including family.  I'm already estranged from both of my brothers, and other members of my family as well as a life long good friend because I had the temerity to get officially married to Bill.  They were alright with me living the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" life but once I made my marriage public just like theirs, then I'm "shoving it down their throats" or as my estranged friend said "What's next Ron? Marrying your pet?"  He doesn't get it.  Friendship all but over (until he gets it). 

These days folks I try to concentrate on the positive.  My relationship with Bill, with whom we will be celebrating our 50th anniversary in less than a month.  My new found friendship with a new friend who I've been looking for all my life.  We complete each other.  My (relatively) good health, good job and ability to still pay my bills and not be in debt.  Sure I've had to remove all the bushes out front of the house because they became infected with a parasite (scale) but I'll be damned if I subject myself to another human parasite seeking to take advantage of my good nature.  

So that's why when I realized I was being scammed (yet again) yesterday with that young man, I said (with a smile) "No, we're not doing money here" and turned around and closed the door in his face.  I'm too old for this folks.  I've had enough.  Be it family or strangers, or anyone else.  Doesn't work here any more folks. 

I know who my friends are and I know who wishes me well and I know those who don't.  

These are the people that I share my life with, not some stranger showing up at my door. 

Hijacked!

"Jim Roberts?"  Looks like "Ron Tipton" to me or else I have an identical double

Well folks, I guess I should be flattered.  I found out yesterday that someone on Facebook has hijacked my likeness (photo) and put it as their Facebook profile picture.

Now I'm the first to admit I'm no great beauty but some do find my likeness attractive.  I like compliments as much as anyone else but I do have to admit I'm always a bit embarrassed when on the receiving end of a compliment.  I'm happy with the way I look (wouldn't want to look any other way) but I don't need reinforcement.  I know I come from a good gene pool, both my parents were attractive.  I have two younger brothers who are pretty easy on the eyes too.  Some may think I'm a little full of myself and perhaps conceited.  Think what you want folks but I'm just being honest.  I'm glad I'm not a troll.  For instance, I'm SOOOO GLAD I don't look like Bill Gates or Chris Christy.  Are you kidding?  Given the choice of having their money and looking like them, or being the poor church mouse that I am…..I'll take me any day.  That's just healthy folks.

Mentioning "healthy", this "Jim Roberts" who hijacked my likeness has put it on his "health" website.  Again, another reason I should be flattered.  In fact, I am flattered.

"Health/Beauty" - that's me folks!

But the best part of this hijacking is that this "Jim Roberts" says he is 52 years old.  Folks, I'm 72 years old!  And that's not a younger photo of me either.  That photo was taken last summer when I was 71 years old.  Folks, this "Jim Roberts" is using a photo of a 71 year old man for his 52 years health and beauty Facebook profile.  This HAS TO BE A SCAM.  

Tell me folks, what am I missing here?

Back to the Regular Routine (or something like it)

Well folks, we're home and I'm trying to slip back into my regular routine.  Of course there is that "small item" that I have to get through this Thursday, my prostate "procedure" (seed implants).  Have to get through THAT folks before I can resume anything like a regular life.  I just hope there are no complications.

Yesterday I spent hours on the phone trying to straighten out a double billing (and over billing) by a faux reservation company called "Hotels.com".  When I made reservations for our hotel rooms at the Hampton Inn in Marion, North Carolina I thought I was calling the central reservations desk of the Hampton Inn.  When I checked in the Hampton Inn in Marion the front desk clerk told me my reservations were made by "one of those sites that looks like our site."  Uh huh.  Me, the longtime hotel front desk clerk, savvy guy, got snookered by one of those fake reservation scams.  Not to bore you with the details but when I got home I found two charges for $251.00 each on my Discover Card and one charge for $199.87.  So much for the "guaranteed best price" that the fake reservation site promised me.  After an hour or so of trying to straighten this out I found that the Hampton Inn had charged my credit card for one room two night for $199.87.  The phony Hampton Inn reservation site had paid for my other room (Bill's) also $199.87 but charged my credit card $251.00.  Nice little mark-up wouldn't you say for the "guaranteed best price"?  So here's what I did folks, I told Discover card only to pay them the $199.87 for the one room they did reimburse the Hampton Inn for.  I'm not paying anything else to "Hotels.com" or whatever there name is.  I called them yesterday, trying to resolve this situation but they gave me the run around and finally hung up on me.  That's what they do folks.  Be forewarned when you make any future hotel reservations.  Make sure you call the hotel directly because this is the new scam.  I am embarrassed that I got caught up in it.

Since I've been home I've been sleeping like a hibernating bear.  Man oh man, am I knocked out at night.  Last night I worked at the hotel.  I was fairly busy, mainly with TV issues.  We have Comcast and you all know how difficult they are.  By the way, Comcast monitors anything said about them so I will probably get an e-mail from one of their customer representatives.  Hey Comcast, here's the problem - your remote controls are too complicated.  They're not user friendly.  They confuse our hotel guests with what button to push. Is it the "All On" button for the "TV" button or the "Power" button?  Comcast, take some lessons from Apple, make it simple and USER FRIENDLY.

Well folks, as you can tell by reading this posting I'm sort of in a bitchy mood today.  To counter my negativity I'm posting another short video from our fabulous visit to Tallulah Gorge and Falls last week.  Enjoy!

Me with some wall art in Helen, Georgia last week

"Hi Grandpa!"

"Hi Grandpa!"  That's what I heard a a young woman ask me few minutes ago when I answered my phone.  "Grandpa?" Me?

First of all I'm not married.  I'm gay.  I have no children.  I never have had sex with a woman one in my entire seventy years of life.  I don't have any adopted children.  "Grandpa?"  Me?

Okay, maybe I got a wrong number.  Funny thing though, this is about the fourth time I've received the "Hi grandpa!" phone call in the last several months.  The last three times was from a young man from California.  The second time that young man called me he was pretty insistent that I was his "grandpaw."  When I finally got through to him that I have no children he hung up on me.  Oh yes, a quick "click!"  Just like those phone calls I get from the credit card service bureaus offering me a lower discount rate to transfer my credit balance.  I receive a recorded message and when hit the number on my phone to bring a live person on the phone so I can tell them to take me off of their call list they hang up on my fast than I can blink my eye.  I have received many of those phone calls even though I'm on the Do Not Call Registry.  Lot of good that registry is doing keeping me from receiving those annoying phone calls.

So here we go back to the "Hi grandpaw!" phone calls.  Know what?  This is just another scam.  Yep, yet another scam to cheat me out of what little money I have left in this world after the stock market scam of 2000.  No doubt if I was one of those addled old guys (like some of my former friends) I would probably stay on the line and listen to their Tale of Woe.  No doubt they want money.  Oh sure, it's all about money.

Everyday my mailbox is loaded with junk mail wanting money from me.  From charities to insurance companies to hearing aids.  I'm on the mailing list folks because I'm OLD.  Thank God I haven't lost my mind yet like some of my former friends.  I still have most of my wits about me.

As regular readers of this blog know I have a nature habitat backyard that is eco friendly to birds.  One would think my backyard would be very friendly to the birds I attract like bluebirds, Purple Martins and swallows.  Sure, those birds flock to my backyard but I also have uninvited "guests" like the starlings and sparrows.  The starlings and sparrows bully and attempt to take over the bird boxes I put out for the natives species of birds.  So far the starlings have killed one Purple Martin and one swallow.  Of course they also destroyed their nests.  Observing this struggle for life in my backyard I can't help but notice the similarity to my own life.  The bigger and the stronger are always attempting to take and steal from the smaller and weaker of the species.  That is just what these scum of the earth are doing who are calling me and asking for "Grandpaw."  They want what I have and the hell with me.  Well, I'm not that weak....yet.

I Inherited $3,000,000!!!!!!!

I can't believe it!  I've inherited over $3,000,000!

This morning I received an e-mail from "Kevin Roland" informing me that "the late Late Engr. Jorg Altons made you a beneficiary to his will.  He left the some of $3,358,227.00 US Dollars for you in the Codicil and last testament to his will."  


I can't believe it!  I WON!  I'm going to be a millionaire!  All my worries are over!

I am SO HAPPY!

My new stash of cash