Shit is getting really real.

The PennEast pipeline was the topic of the morning on New Jersey’s charter radio station “New Jersey 101.5”. You can read about it here.

The host was clearly in favor of it, because you know, it isn’t coming through his backyard. That and he clearly doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the environmental impact. A real fun listen.

Many of us non-supporters called in and made it onto the air, but he wanted nothing to do with hearing the other side. I know these hosts like to incite an argument and troll for ratings purposes, but none of us are in the mood right now for playful banter. We’re pissed, tired, worried and unsure of our futures.

Want to see an example of how to piss us all off?

I’d live on top of the pipeline to lower my taxes @tokm! Still hoping for a backyard #Fracking well! #Retirement https://t.co/dcl8OsHGMZ

— Bill Spadea (@BillSpadea) September 30, 2015

Really? I couldn’t resist responding.

I’ll submit ur name to #PennEast, thanks. Retirement? You’ll get pennies, will never sell ur house. #EndPennEast https://t.co/Z25RVPC1Iw — john markowski (@jmarkowski0) September 30, 2015

I hate everyone right now.

A few hours after that, word spread that there were surveyors around the corner from here. They were potentially looking to survey illegally since so many of us have denied them access to our properties.

You had to know I’d place mine in a garden bed.

Without hesitation, I hopped in my car and located the crew, snapped a few photos and headed home. This is normal day to day life for us right now. We feel under attack and paranoid. Ready to fly off the handle at a moment’s notice. I don’t even trust the mailman anymore. I just saw him glance at my backyard as he drove by.

Turns out they were surveying legally, but as expected, all of the vehicles were from out of state. That “create local jobs” sales pitch, kind of a joke. But hey, it’s worked in the past so why not continue pushing the same bullshit.

We all continue to read the gargantuan PennEast application, released late last week, in great detail and have discovered a fun new game along the way. We like to call it “What will lead us to drink today?”. Such doozies as labeling the “Delaware River” as the “Hudson River” are par for the course.

Today I combed through new access roads that will be built along the proposed route that have not been communicated to those in its path.

How fun.

I feel like I’m solving a case like Encyclopedia Brown back in the day. Except ultimately I’m not solving a case. I’m making a discovery that just adds to the angst.  I really wish there was a Bugs Meaney I could punch in the face to feel better.

Aside – I loved the Encyclopedia Brown book series as a kid and continue to reference it to this day. Even if one of you remembers Bugs Meaney, this was worth it.

Where was I? Oh yeah, another example of PennEast trying to sneak this thing through with out following the proper protocol.

My favorite discovery today (Thanks Mike S) has to be this gem:

“There are no private wells within 150′ of pipeline construction workspaces.”

If it wasn’t such a cluster f, this statement would be hilarious. Grab me the tequila.

After learning of this little ditty, I went outside and officially measured the distance from my wellhead to the center of the “proposed” pipeline.

We are looking at roughly 75 feet to the “center”.

That doesn’t include the easement that they will be cutting out to put the pipeline in. That would be 25′ on each side of the pipeline, so my well will be less than 50′ from the construction zone.

Bartender, pour me another.

Over the next 2-3 weeks, we are in the process of registering as “intervenors” with FERC. This allows those who intervene to be part of any legal proceedings in the future. Kind of a big deal and totally not promoted by FERC.

Luckily we have superstars on our side and have it covered. Each township is holding a meeting to aid those in understanding why and how they should intervene. I’ve got our township lined up for next week.

This is going to be a long process.

We will need some serious mental endurance to survive.

So that is why I decided to grow a beard.

A bad one, but still a beard.

I need it for street cred. I need it as inspiration. When you fight the man, you need a beard.

But I’ve failed so many times in the past and have always given up. I figured a true “gardener” needed a beard but eventually laughed that one off.

But this time is different. I’ll suffer through for the cause.

Last night my daughter told me “Dad, you have so many bare spots in your beard. It will never be complete.”

The irony is palpable.