Sprawl

A recent exchange of comments with Every Blade of Grass involved the spread of ticky- tacky houses in the farm fields North of Denver. I’m now being sent to developments like this 40-60 miles East of Denver.

Observations.

 Thornton, a suburb North of Denver, started buying water rights from farmers to the North of Thornton in the 1980’s. They allowed the farms to go fallow. Around 2000 speculators started buying the farm land. The various small towns started annexing large swaths without the means to provide services. Came winter, Weld County stopped plowing snow and not maintaining the roads year around that were in the newly incorporated towns. The car dealership I worked out of was in one of these towns. Luckily, we were on an I-25 frontage road; state maintained. My twenty two mile commute was often a challenge.

In recent years houses are being built on this land in the $250,000 to $800,000 range on small lots jammed together. A large part of that cost is utility hookup fees. People commute to metro Denver and the Peoples Republic of Boulder for jobs. There is little in the isolated patches of housing developments to make a community. Little to nothing is there to engage kids except for some “parks” with child safe equipment. Is it any surprise their electronic devices are their focus?

The roads in the area, if paved, are narrow two lane farm roads with no shoulders intersecting with two lane arterials. During peak travel times, traffic is a nightmare. In the winter, far worse traffic jams.

Schools, grocery stores, medical clinics and other infrastructure are catching up today. Mid 2000’s, residents had to drive for miles to the towns in the area that were, themselves, not big enough for the demands.

The local energy monopoly, Xcel is hell bent on “renewable” energy. Want to bet those “woke” elites at the top of the Xcel ladder are depending on renewable for their personal dwellings and vacation homes?

Part of the blight is the political affiliation of these new residents. When the shit hits the fan, they will be voting for whoever promises to save them. They will turn a blind eye to the reality their plight was caused by those same promise makers.

When Xiden and fellow thieves collapse the economy and we are in a major depression, those people are screwed. $1,000+++ a month mortgage payments and driving leased cars will leave them with no housing and no transportation. Their two family incomes will become no family income.

As we emerge from our COVID snooze, the mortgage payment forbearance chickens are coming home to roost. My part time job delivering dun notices and refinance offers is picking up. Many of the “customers” to whom I deliver documents are $26,000 to $50,000 in arrears.

Rabble Rousing.

This excerpt from RedState.Com was part of an opinion piece about school board and municipal elections around the country.

This is what happens when the right stops playing failure theater and starts fighting fire with fire. We can win these battles if we are willing to fight them, and there’s a direct correlation between these newfound victories and many in the GOP ditching the old-guard consultant class who would rather lose in style.

“Lose in style”

Colorado’s 3^rd District Congresswoman is good at stirring the pot.

Trust Fund Snots

Trust fund snots are among the first to shout, “Not in my backyard”.

The CORE act would make most of Federal land “wilderness” starting at the city limits of Vail and Aspen.

https://coloradopeakpolitics.com/2021/12/10/media-goes-mum-after-colorado-dems-suffer-humiliating-defeat-on-core-act/

Back in the day.

I’ve blogged in the past about buying mid 80’s diesel import pickups and cars, storing them in my backyard, and selling them to a Siberian (don’t call me a Russian!!!) who brought his 500’ fish processing vessel into Seattle a few times a year. He would load them on his deck and take them home to Vladivostok. This picture captures what my neighbors saw.

I’m still driving a 1985 Mitsubishi Mighty Max, my third Mitsu pickup. While not my daily driver, with a small shot of starting fluid, it will start at any temperature. I need to make it more rodent resistant by mixing some peppermint into rubbing alcohol and spraying the cabin and all the wiring under the hood. Given the worsening state of the world, a simple EMP protection kit might be worthwhile.

Flat tire.

The local tire stores fix flats for free. My daily driver had a slow leak. The nearest shop pulled it off and informed me a nail had penetrated the sidewall, the tire couldn’t be fixed, and I needed a new tire. I declined and have been adding air every other day. My sister steered me to the shop she uses. The manager once ran a different store and I did some business with him. His wife developed cancer and he left to devote his time to her. She died, and he went back to running a different store for the same owners. My sister’s advice was sound. His shop fixed my tire, for free, and told me the small sidewall damage was no big deal. Now, Sisty is one up on me. In truth, she is now so far ahead I’ll never catch up.

Why didn’t I get a tire from the first shop? Old car salesmen can smell the slightest whiff of smoke.

Speaking of Sisty, she lets Banner stay with her when I have road trips. I don’t think he fits a toy schnauzer sized bed.

Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Ever wonder how local merchants must have hated the Sears catalog? Today it is Amazon. I make a determined effort to buy locally, even at a higher price, but am often frustrated. Ten minutes on the Amazon site and I’ve found it, ordered it, and have it the next day. While I dislike their “wokeness” I admire their efficiency. Best part, not having the Wal-Mart experience.

Inflation.

Prices are going up, we all feel that. I go through about two reams of letter sized paper a week. The price seems to double every time I buy a case.

Can’t Go Home Again – the book.

I don’t do Kindle being a Latter Day Luddite. I received my paperback recently and am slowly reading my way through it. Powerful stories that stir my very soul are rare in my life but not while reading this book.

Drought

We still haven’t received any significant snowfall; just strong winds to suck out what little the soil contains. Picture from 12/16/2020 blog post taken just South of Harriman, WY.

DRJIM

That was the road to see Big Boy.