Robert got a Beta. His name is Fish.

Taxes is making Fish feel welcome.

Labels: image, pets

Had dinner at the Broadway Cafe last night with Robert Christina and Keri. Sat next to some local government folk we know. They where debating the realtive merits of some developers packet proposals (which includes the 659 S. Main and 631 W Silver Properties we bid on.) We were told it was unlikely we would get both (probably the Main St. one as we were the only bidder). But Robert seems convinced that the silver one will go to us as well. I think the only other bidder was a war vet with pronounced PTSD.

I'm going to start crate training Rocky today. I'll try to use the one that Robert bought for Billy-Bob but its will likely prove to small. So I'll be ordering one today. Rocky's severe separation anxiety causes him to tear a place up so it's really the only way. He gets trapped in the bathroom and other stuff. I don't want to come home with him crushed under something he knocked over. He did shit two out of three times in the parking lot at the old Pudgies pizza yesterday so that's good.

I figured out the payroll stuff more or less. I should probably have hired someone else to do it but I'd rather figure it out myself and then turn into a data entry spreadsheet activity for Keeley.

An employeed approached me on Ralph Clarke's behalf. He wants us to give him a raise. We have just bumped him to $7, though he clearly should be getting $8. Ralph has been excellent and would be worth every bit of $8. We pay the other two regulars $8. Steve is worth it but Dave has been slacking and largely worthless. I just want to get workers comp coverage before he freaks out and takes off his toe with w/ a nail gun.

Mom comes Thursday night, late. She's here until the morning of the 28th. Insists that she needs to see me on my birthday. I'll show her my little empire. Keeley starts work again the same day.

The BLDC has refused to accept 649-651 S. Main as part of a collateral package for a loan. they say's its un-marketable. I disagree (but my vote doesn't count). I'm going to try to get an appointment with the main shot-caller to discuss collateralization.

Well Lots to do.

Labels: Butte, family, friends, Montana, Silver Bow Properties

The new batman movie was quite enjoyable. I like the usage of the Scarecrow as sorta thinner mid-tier DC baddie that didn't overwhelm the more important hero's journey elements of the batman backstory. A more compelling character like the Joker would have been too much.

Keeley is off for a few days. She sorta sprung that on me after I offered her the job. Rampant grumpiness has ensued.

Keri is in town. We are going to the Virginia City Follies (I think) tomorrow. I'm debating stopping by and hastling Bartender Girl some more. But it's probably a wasteful and self-destructive endeavor. But I don't want her to think I'm seeing Keeley. Keeley and Craig mentioned a hot raven-haired woman was at a newish coffe shop. I saw her at the Art Walk. They are quite right. Very Tasty. It requires further investigation.

The Art-Walk was pretty nifty. Its where a number of temporary "Phantom Galleries" are put up with all manner of artists. We had a "Phantom Gallery" here with a Yellowstone themed ceramics artist and a regional outdoorsy photographer. Very cool.

Labels: art, Butte, culture, Montana, movies, recomendation, review

Oh Sweet Jesus What Have I Done?

Our newest building. Or rather the giant pile of debris that sits a story high in the basement. Part of the roof burned and fell into the basement. It took a section of all the floors below it.

I swear I haven't lost my mind. Not all of it. It's got to be around here some where... Next to my keys?

Labels: image, Silver Bow Properties

Robert and I were yelling at each other on the street yesterday morning. Not as funny at the time but certainly histerical in retrospect. He was talking to Bob and I was standing right there but not paying attention. He assumed I was which led to a miscommunication. The miscommunication inconvenienced him so he was raging. I should have been paying attention; he should manage his anger better. The whole thing is pretty damn funny. We put on quite a show for the neighbors.

Our suckiest prerealase crewman showed up again. He isn't bad per say, but its impossible to communicate with him. One is never sure that he understands. We asked for a 6 dollar dude and encouraged the crew to bring someone else but guess who showed. May need to run a 5 person crew just to get a new guy. Ralph moonlights at the Red Lion. I'm not sure I like that but I'm not surprised either. The guy is a workaholic.

It sounds like we are going to go to comedy night with Keri. Today was the first day that Keeley was around the house in the morning. Schedule adjustments will need to be made.

Laura got the chocolates I sent her. I wish her the best in Africa.

Labels: friends, mood, Silver Bow Properties

My plan to make a new version of MSMoney for the purposes of SBP is probably going to blow up in my face today. I think I might cop out and just harvest the data I need and leave the whole project for later. We shall see. In any case it's holding up the application for a four-plexs on Granite Street (As is my failure to call Morey for funds).

Carol returned to CA today. They had a good time at Glacier. I spliced together the shorts to make movies for a number of the properties we have been looking at. Set them to music. It was a fun little project. I'll make them available for y'all in the not to distant future.

Labels: Silver Bow Properties

The dogs have gone nuts. Christina's mom Carol, Christina, and Robert went to Glacier today. The dogs have been uncontrollable. This after noon perhaps I'll take them to the lake.

Today I have to program an application for SBP accounting. I have Keeley entering data into a database I designed. I need to produce a tool for her to do it with.

Bartender Girl had a reasonable excuse for missing date number 2 or 3 (I forget at this point). She has offered to take me to dinner tomorrow night. I am to pick her up at 6 from the bar. She was especially fetching last night.

Our buddy Bob and his mason buddy are here this morning. After this log I will check on their progress. They are repointing the mortar on the east wall in the west basement as well as finishing their repairs in the boiler room.

Ralph (who is our newest prerelease crewman) got a raise yesterday to $7/hr. He is turning out to be a fine employee. I'm debating supporting him as a candidate for foreman, when we need one. From what I hear we will be starting 44 E. early next week.

Labels: friends, pets, Silver Bow Properties

Keeley is working into things slowly. Her computer skills are a bit light but she seems to learn and retain well. I've spent most of my time working with her. A lot of problems with my processes have cropped up so that's eating time.

The proposal for the west park golf course site fell through. Actually a bit on purpose. We sent a letter of support for the alternate project to the land sales committee. The other project involves 1.5 Million to develop and office building. If they can get that project then that’s the way they should go. We were tentatively offered some unbuildable land over by the pit as a consolation prize. It may not be the way to go considering it's a superfund site (meaning no digging and thus no buildings).

Labels: Butte, mini-golf, Montana, Silver Bow Properties

Keeley's computer is only now up and running. The electrical in that area along with phone and the actual counter still needs work but I’m going to move her there when she gets back from lunch today.

Mini-golf course presentation went quite well. Afterwards we ended up at the M&M with Commissioners Sorich, Walker, Dunlap, Bury, and Sheehe (more or less a 1/3 of the council). We didn't talk about the course with the lot of them but did make some new friends and discussed our vision for Butte as well as our projects.

Sheehe had a good idea for the course. Put it under a headframe (he was thinking the Original). We are perusing that idea with some folks up at teh courthouse about a diffrent headframe. Looks great.

This is what a headframe looks like.

In the mean time check out the MiniPut2 game

Caught up with Bartender Girl. She is to call me tomorrow for a lunch date. We shall see.

Labels: Butte, image, mini-golf, Montana, Silver Bow Properties

A quick Butte Civics lesion. There are three towns in Silver Bow County: Butte-bustling city of 35,000, Walkerville-I'd call it Butte's Springtown, and Rocker-a truck stop and a ganky full-nude strip-bar. So since Butte is the only real city in the county in 1977 (A great vintage for babies) the city and county governments merged. The upshot of witch is that while a city has a city council and a mayor, Butte-Silver Bow has a Council of Commissioners and a Chief Executive.

Now a quick Butte Econ Lesson: B-SB is like Flint Michigan in that it was a one-industry town (mining) and then the industry left (prices of metals fell). And like Flint, a some of the Butte citizens choose to stay, and many other chose to leave. Two other employers came in, the Montana Power Company and Touch America (telecommunications not a crazy band of perverts). Well they both went under. Needless to say the economy has had some serious suckage. The upshot of which is BSB has a lot of property that was lost to back-taxes.

More Civics: They used to sell the property at a big tax sale. But bad people took advantage by buying historic buildings on-the-cheap and then gutting them for timbers and brick (largely to ship to the west coast or north east). They would then not pay the taxes leaving BSB with the same property but in far worse condition. The new strategy is to issue Developer's Packets. Which is like a tax auction except that your plans are the more the focus than your bid. Plus you must get reasonably along in your project before you get the deed. (though if they take it back they have to reimburse you for your improvements).

Why was all that important? I am making a presentation to the Council of Commissioners regarding a developer's packet tonight. Its for a small piece of vacant land two blocks east of us. We want to through in a bid just incase no one else does. But we cant just “buy” it so we propose to cram an 18 hole historic Butte and Mining themed miniature golf course.

Labels: Butte, mini-golf, Montana, Silver Bow Properties