Tuesday, October 27, 2015

October/November 2015 Newsletter

Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center October/November 2015 Newsletter

Howdy folks and friends!

As we know we are running OUT of time and I need to focus on this today and for the rest of the remaining time I have left here in Orange County. We (Beth and I) know that our agreement (per the court’s order) for me to stay in the French St condo #8 will expire on December 31. Just over few weeks ago I received a letter from the court that I must vacate on or before December 31st, yes, it means I need to leave on or before December 30th. I will be leaving this condo UNANNOUNCED between December 10th to December 29th by going straight to the land non-stop and I will notify the attorney VIA email AFTER I am completely moved out!

A few weeks ago, Beth told me that we got a small land near Edward Air Force Base and she mentioned its “2 acres”, I nagged for at least 3 acres in forest-y area. Yes, it is desert land and no, the noise from Air Force don’t bother me as I grew up with it. And, Again, no, I haven't seen or visited that land so I don’t know how much work I will be doing (Beth will need to go over and take some photos and videos for me to see it by November 6th) AND, yes, for this desert land, I will accept it, until we find another temporary / permanent forest land. I will be living there and clean it up. Yes, some of you are right, desert land is a bit dangerous for me because of rattlers that I cannot hear. If I get bitten and dies by rattlers, it’s not my problem and I know who ~ Beth!! During my stay at the desert land, I will continue posting ads on CL (CraigsList) until we get the right land as my heart tells me and sounds I heard from the late Richard from heaven would want.

Beth also told me that she will get me a German Shepherd and train “her” to protect our land and me as a “watch dog”. I prefer a female! (If you have a German Shepard to consider donating please contact Beth or me.)

We are not going to use electric power pole on the land, all will be made and powered by generators and solar systems. Next week I will get solar powered cell phone charger.

Another sad news is that Beth found a camper and she drove over 2 hours worth and finds out that the tag is way dead and no deed on hands and the lousy towing company won’t tow it to Orange County. So we had to drop this and move on to the next one. CLUMSY TOW TRUCK DRIVER!

For the past 4 weeks, I have been having nervous breakdowns and lots of stress and not much sleep. I couldn’t do any work too well for the past 2 months. I do take a sleep aid but it’s not much help. As soon as I get settled on the land, I will get much better rest.

I am still pushing to the limit to get the camper/RV. I find foremost lots of ads in Craigslist that are scams/spams and have had to flag them all. That’s a big “WOW”!

I also have been posting ads about getting a camper/RV all over in Craigslist in the Southern California area, most of my posts have been flagged out and I had to repost it over and over. Shame on them (God DOES watch “them”!). I am not going to stop until we get one as we need it. WE really want the camper/RV by end of 3rd week of November, so I can do some repairs (if needed), cleaning, planning and loading up some of the stuff and be ready by December 10th. I will continue posting to ask or seeking small (5 to 10 acres) of “forest” land weekly statewide in CL’s as temporarily land. We need to get camper/RV by Thanksgiving day, this is the deadline..

As soon as I move to this land, set the camper down safely, I am going to built 2 of 40’ wide X 40’ long X 8’ high plus roof-up lines storage sheds (1 for eBay and another for OCDAC / personal storage), so I am going to built one at a time, so I must build 1 as fast as possible so we can move OCDAC/eBay related into the storage and keep our eBay store running and save us some money over storage space rent. Each month each storage’s rent is $300.

When I built the storage shed, it will be temporary which it means I am not going to use glue and nails, but all screws. (That way when we move again, so I can take it apart without damaging it by unscrewing it and save the rest and re-use it on the new land!)

We need to ask you to spread the word to your family and friends that lots of materials I need for the land for donation or cash to cover the cost of the materials. Gift cards from hardware stores such as Home Depot, etc., would be VERY helpful (I prefer Home Depot)! If you have any question about lumber materials that you would donated to us, please contact directly to me, not Beth, because I already have the plans and lists.

WE ONLY HAVE LESS THAN 1 MONTH ON THIS (By December 1st):

We have made the wishlist from Amazon that would be useful for our land:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/25I13RKSDSEQF/ref=cm_sw_em_r_wsg_BvVhwb1SEWEX8_wb

I will, at a later time, create more wishlists of the materials that I REALLY need at the time I moving to the land! Needing lots of wood/lumber materials!

Here’s the urgents list we need it ASAP:

Gas cash for traveling me and camper/RV from OC to the “desert” land

Cash or donation of large truck rental, plus gas cost (for moving our OCDAC/eBay after 1st storage built in 1 TRIP!! (2nd trip will be later on in Spring or Summer 2016 for other “Not in Use” OCDAC/Personal related stuff in the 2nd storage shed)

Peel and stick for the mailbox address # and letters and “OCDAC” & “Fleener” letters

A truck load full of firewood (ONLY IF THIS LAND IS NOT FOREST) (pine or fir) (we might be able to get this on Craigslist but would need a pickup truck to transport it.)

2 to 4 days worth of backhoe rental (to level off grading for the storage sheds) (IF needed)

Used 55 gallon drum barrel without lid and sparks/embers arrester lid (for trash burnings)

Washer/Dryer (Best to use RV type washer/dryer combine - it’s wash and dry in 1 machine!)

Small storage shed for washer/dryer (3’X3’ with door & lock)(We have our own few padlocks)

If any wood is leftover after the 2 storages are built, I will save the wood for “extra shelves”, but still will ask for Metal Shelves as Beth bought 2 before. I need to wait and see, books will be on shelves instead of the “milk crates”, that bobble when I move them (laughs)!

You are always welcome to donate the following listed shown above and in Amazon. However, you can hold it for us until we are heading to the land or you can come and deliver it to us (at your own volunteering of time and fuel).

During this time at the land, I will be posting some newswires, YouTube, eBay announcements, etc.

Here’s my eBay report as of end of 3rd quarters (October 3rd - Week #39):


Total of # of sold: 301


Total amount sold: $6,415 (estimated)


Total Shipping paid by buyers: $365 (estimated)


Total Shipping spent: lt;580> (estimated)


Total in pocket: $6,200 (estimated)





Now as you see we spent more on shipping costs than what we collected from the buyers, I need to do something about that starting NOW! We need at least $1.00 to cover shipping material costs per item sold.

I only have 1 roll of shipping tape left and we are complently out of “bubbles wrap” this morning and will needing to ask one of you to donate a dozens rolls of bubbles wrap (http://www.staples.com/Staples-5-16-Bubble-Roll-12-x100-/product_813210) and 2 dozens of clear shipping tapes (http://www.staples.com/Staples-Moving-and-Storage-Packing-Tape-1-88-x-54-6-yds-Clear-6-Pack-ST-A3-6-/product_815044). Staples stores ONLY! I need this before we move to the land.

I need 1 roll of bubble wrap and shipping tape AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!

Yes, our sales have been dropping a bit since setting all items as free shipping! I have been fixing that and continue fixing some of the errors. I also have increased all books prices to cover the shipping cost and use free shipping. Some of the items cannot be free shipping because of low price and it’s not worth increasing the price. Such as holiday cards.

Here’s the new way, for sample; ASL placemat was $6.99 plus shipping, now it is $9.99 free shipping, which the shipping cost us little bit over $3. I now make this, once this placemat sold, I will marks as $5.49 as “sold” and $4.50 as “Shipping paid”. That will cover the shipping cost BIG losses. All items like this will start as 4th quarter 2015. As for now, nothing under $2.99 at eBay store (even on Best Offer price requests).

As soon as I am moved to the land and when the storages are built, I will finish off the books and re-inventory again. I will keep myself more busy to focus on eBay!

What WE need is more donated items! Really! I would love to see millions of DVD’s donated to us! REALLY! You can go and visit your local swap meet and find some that are good for us to use in eBay.

I have seen so many items at Dollar Tree and 99cents Stores got some good stuff that we can use in eBay! I bought 2 new books from 99cents Store and added in eBay and to see what will happen. Last week, I went to Huntington Beach on a small intersection where I got off the bus and saw 4 books sitting on the bus bench. I just left it alone and came back 3 hours later, these 4 books still there and I took it with me and posted in eBay! Nice, eh? Let’s see what happen! I am sure some of you can spend a weekend or so checking out Garage/Yard sales and see if you can find something good to donate it to us, that would help us a lot!

Brailler sales came pretty well for us! Just sold the last Brailler and I would love to see more Brailler donated to us soon! Still waiting for walking folding cane I have been asking that and Beth mention that she will get some for eBay, it’s been months now and haven’t gotten any. Folding cane for the blind we have real good sales, from $19.99 to $24.99, free shipping. From now on, it will be $24.99 to $29.99.

Our Wireless Doorbell for Hearing Impairment is only 1 matching codes left and Large Print Standard Size Playing Card is 1 unopened and 2 opened left! WOW!

Last early spring, I have closed down my web hosting business due to lack of funds and sales since Richard died. Yes before he died, he helped me to raise it. After I moved to the land, I must find a way to raise funds for myself. Any ideas? Anyone?

Just to let all of you know that the ASL classes will be on videos as Beth mentioned. Still waiting to hear about that part. It’s may going to be $225 each. Since OCDAC has funding issues, I did not charge or collected my commissions for each new student since January 2015, I just trying to help OCDAC with what it needs.

Also, the mailing address will be the same as our Ball Road address, any eBay related will be using our land address. WE ARE NOT going to use P.O. Box there and I won’t allowed that! We NEED to cut back the costs for a while. My Text # will be the same while at the land as well as VP#. My original relay # has closed off due to FCC rule changes last year and yes, Sharky, was very upset about it.

I also will leave the white printer here to Beth for her use in Youth Expo and Fair, if only new printer I put it in Wishlist on Amazon were donated, yes, the drums on that white printer are in bad shape, not easy to find a new drums. What I really need another laptop, wireless B/W printer (with extras toners) so I can use all at once instead of 3 laptops at the sametime! I would like 15” or 17” laptop with numeric keys pads with at least 500GB HD (as you can see on the Amazon wishlist), high speed memory with DSL ready hookups, 6 USB ports, SD card ready, wireless mouse. Yes, still have to have VP Cam on it and want it “Hangouts” ready along with Microsoft Office ready. Windows 8 or 10, but I don’t want “touch the screen” that leaves my oily fingertips on it making me smirks feelings to clean it every 5 seconds!

Come and see latest Beth's YouTube video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhUdR9HJlQk

Well, I think that’s about it. Next my newsletter will be sometime after I moved to the “desert” land, possibility in January 2016! Keep your eyes open!

If you have any question or want to help, please do feel free contact me directly or call Beth at 714 699-3323.

Have a great holiday of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year to all of you! If you send me my birthday wishes, then I want to thank all of you!

Bobby Fleener
Vice President - OCDAC operational / board officer
Manager - eBay Store
General Manager - RRMR/Ranch project

Thanks!
Bobby Fleener
Vice President/Manager
Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center
(714) 584-4394 (TEXT ONLY)