Where in the World is Ron Riley?

Most of you know, Ron travels about 70% of the time. And most of the time, it is without incident. With the exception of that trip, a few years ago, to Cabo. His original thee day trip turned into a ten day trip, thanks to a hurricane. But that's another story for another Blog. And before I can tell it, I would have to resurrect Spalding. You remember, Castaway? Wilson? Well Wilson has a brother named Spalding.

But I digress. Ron was looking forward to this trip to Mexico City. For the first time, he had scored a direct flight on AeroMexico. Usually, he flies to Texas, staying overnight then catches a second plane into Mexico.

Yesterday, Ron left for the Phoenix airport at 12:30 PM. I received a call from him about 7:00 PM. His plane had landed in Guadalajara. The passengers were informed the plane would be delayed two hours due to bad weather in Mexico City.

After sitting on the tarmac for two hours they pulled into a gate and deplaned.

After waiting two more hours it was announced the flight was canceled.

That sent Ron on a quest to locate his luggage. With luggage secured, he headed for the reservation desks along with several hundred of his closest friends who were also trying to rebook flights.

The reservation desk was very helpful (read those last six words in your best fairytale reading voice as in "then the handsome prince said to the beautiful princess") telling Ron, they had a lovely flight for him that would leave at 4:00PM Monday afternoon.

Ron, politely (and politely in the Ron Riley world has a different connotation than most of us), (Ron's close friends know of what I speak) informed the Reservation Desk, they better look again because that was "unacceptable".

Ron's new flight left would leave at 6:00 AM Monday morning. It was now 2:30 AM.

Ron stayed at the airport using their facilities to take a whore bath, shave and change clothes. So he would be bright and shiny for his flight (again, that last line is best read in your breathless, wonderment fairytale voice).

He arrived in Mexico City about 8:00 AM.

When I heard from him about an hour ago, he was slowly making his way to his appointment/client. Several of the major roads were flooded or washed out making travel a bit of a struggle. And he was running on the sheer power of caffeine.

Join us tomorrow for the next, "Where in the World is Ron Riley?".

Cue Music and Fade.

Something for Nothing ~ Extreme Home Makeover

Several years ago, Extreme Home Makeover revamped a home, for a family named Okvath. The makeover was just a couple of blocks from us. It was very exciting to drive by, watch the progress and try to spot Ty Pennington. And then to see the big reveal on the TV.

This past week, an article in the AZ Republic, a spot on the news and an article in the AZ Magazine stated the Okvath's will be leaving their home, because they can no longer afford it.

They can't sell the home as it is over-built for the neighborhood.

The quality of care/cleaning/housekeeping the home has received since the Okvath's took ownership the home finds it in a state of almost total disrepair.

The family is on state insurance which limits the amount of money they can make to $5,000.00 a month. I don't know if that's gross or net.

Yet, at this level of income, the family states they are unable to meet their monthly financial needs which until a year ago, consisted of utility payments, groceries and clothing.

A year ago, Okvath's took out a mortgage for $405,000.00. ALL THAT MONEY IS GONE! They spent several thousand dollars paying for two parties. Yes, I said parties.

The family bemoaned the fact their cable and cell phones have been shut off.

They pay $300.00 a month for someone to take care of their yard.

They used part of the money to build a new pathway in the backyard but the article did not explain why this was necessary. Perhaps they needed a new pathway to the merry-go-round.

And spent a significant amount to cover their garage floor with wood flooring.

Their current home, not including the garage is 5,300 square feet. Each child has his/her own bedroom and there is a movie theater in the house. Why they felt the need to turn the garage into living space leaves me scratching my head.

While it is sad the Okvath's will lose this home, I feel they hold a level of responsibility based on their choices.

$300.00 a month for a landscaper when they have children old enough to take on that responsibility?

Thousands of dollars spent to put hardwood floors in a garage?

Thousands of dollars spent on two parties?

$405,000.00 gone in one year? That means they spent over a $1,000.00 a day for the past year.

While the Okvath's hold a level of responsibility here, so does Extreme Home Makeover.

This is a perfect example of giving someone something for free and it does nothing to improve or correct the situation.

How sad Home Makeover did not include a course in financial management and budgeting. The Okvath's are worse off today than they were before Home Makeover came into their lives.

Leaves me wondering how many other families, in the Home Makeover history, have come to the same end as the Okvath's?

While I'm sure this was not Home Makeover's goal, I hope they will take a hard look at their future generosity. Besides going for the big emotional reveal, how about some education to go along with those tears?