Where do I begin? How about October 29th... the night it rained 3 inches in an hour. I was out to dinner with my wife. It wasn't raining when we left. When we drove back it was pouring and I turned into my subdivision and plowed my vehicle into about 18" of water. All I could do was to try to power through it. I didn't make it. I wasn't driving my 4x4 truck or my wife's SUV. We were in a 2008 Corvette. I opened my door to get out to push and water was above the car's threshold. 45 seconds of water damage at the most. It was towed to the dealership and water had gotten into the engine. It needs a new motor. Thank you very much State Farm. It pays off to do business with good people.

Whats next?  Three times in the last 6 weeks I have answered a silent alarm at the nursery in the middle of the night and have prevented three separate burglaries. The first two times I parked in the Home Depot parking lot and called the police and told them I knew there were people trespassing in my business after hours. I was put on hold for 2 minutes with two suspects within 10 feet of me and the dispatcher knew it. The boys ran away. The next time they wouldn't come out because I could not tell them if the guy climbing my fence and leaving my property at 10pm had stolen anything.  Change of tactics. I now have to barge on to the property and confront the individuals instead of observing them from the safety of my vehicle. That's lots of fun and certainly not dangerous! This Sunday in the early am I answered the alarm and stormed the property and a dude that was gathering my merchandise and throwing it over the fence saw me and climbed over a 7 foot fence with barbed wire on it to get away. I hope nothing got hung up in the climb.

Two weeks ago a representative from Integrity of Texas gave me a quote for check verification equipment. I have had enough account closed checks lately to entertain a quote. What was stated to me was a purchase of equipment of $79.95. I would own it for that price. I asked specifically if there was a lease involved. The answer was emphatic. No lease at all!  He said the only other fees or charges were .20 per check that was verified. $20 per month minimum. I agreed to the deal.  I wrote the $79.95 check. Signed the purchase equipment form which stated the .20 per check charge. Done deal. We got the check verification machine and used it for two days when I got a call from MBF Leasing asking if we got the equipment that we are leasing from them!  I asked for a copy and they faxed it to me. Somebody from Integrity had forged my name, in two places, on a lease agreement i had never seen nor signed. $79.95 for 48 months! Peachy. Fraudulent!  MBF Leasing wants me to fill out fraud forms, file a police report etc. Google "Integrity of Texas" and you will see how dirty they are. This will give you a chuckle. The rep from "Integrity" name was Richard Cheatham!!!!  Oh the irony.

I want to end by asking everyone who reads this blog to use the Better Business Bureau to check out the people that they are doing business with and the ones they might do business with. Integrity of Texas has an F rating. Plants For All Seasons has an A+. I wish that I would have done a search before I decided to do what seemed like a little business with someone. Didn't end up being just a little business. In the near future I expect to see debt collectors harassment, lawyers, closed checking accounts, police, certified letters... all over what should have been $240 per year.