Things we'd be talking about if the forum wasn't deadFollow

Only if the robot wore a watch.

Seems pretty standard to me.

Sounds like someone had a case of the Mondays.

Sounds like someone had the PCP appetizer.

I went to the Tax Auction today (took a vacation day).

Took about 4 hours before they finally reached my Lot. Two other groups were bidding on it. I ended up winning it, but spent a little more than I had hoped. Still a bit less than actual value, but I'm not looking to resell, I just needed to stop anyone from rebuilding on it.

So in 30-45 days I'll have the deed (damn slow bureaucracy). So I don't technically own the land til sometime near the end of next month, but it is pretty much mine, all back owed taxes included in the bidding price.

It's mostly wooded. But I have to clear out some of this nasty tree **** that is spreading like crazy that I've been avoiding since I didn't own the land. This summer it took off like crazy, now I gotta go dig it all out.

It's actually a very nice piece of land. 160' x 260', (8 lots at 40x130). Just under an acre. Very flat, no standing water or wet lands, no flooding issues. Big enough to build a decent sized house on, or put a manufactured home in and have a nice yard (which is what most people do around here... and also why I don't want people building around me) It's not surprising that people would want it.

Now I just have to contact the first owner and ask her if she wants any of the clutter she left behind (a few tables, lawn furniture, etc.) Probably ask my mom to ask her, since she was friendly with her when she lived here.

Also wonder how long I should wait before I dig out and toss the old mail box.

Now to try to get the two lots behind my house and the 16 lots across the utility trail in front of my house... Those 18 lots have been eluding me for the time being, getting ahold of the owners has proven difficult. The two right behind me are owned by a couple who I only have a California address for. And they never replied to my last contact attempts. I really don't want people building on them either, but we'll see what happens.

If I get all that land, I'll own like... 5% of the neighborhood.

Rent a flat in town and use your growing real estate empire to set up a chicken farm. Wait until the neighbors are desperate to sell and then buy up the land for cheap.

Turn on gene, get horn. Turn off gene, get more eyes.

Genetics is weird.

In other science nerd news, get your hotel reservations now for the August 21st 2017 total eclipse (of the heart).

People out west with drier skies will probably be luckier but I figured I'll do some father-son bonding with the older child and head on down next year. Grabbed a hotel reservation an hour from the totality line for a pretty standard rate but hotels actually in the eclipse zone were already either sold out or going for $300+ for a very modest room (this is downstate Illinois so we're talking traveler hotels). I can cancel up to 12hrs in advance so figure if the weather looks bad I can scuttle the trip.

Four minutes of looting!

If you do that, it might start flying and eating people though. Unless that was your plan all along?

US Cellular Field (nee Comisky Park) had its naming rights bought and will now be "Guaranteed Rate Field" which is perhaps the dumbest name ever.