Ok, enough of the negative-nancies floating around. Let's share what makes us happy!

- Finding money in clothes (highest amount was $50 in an old jacket)

- Listening to the radio and suddenly your favourite song comes on.

- Having someone, anyone, tell you that what you do is special and appreciated, even if you don't think it's that important or special.

- Finishing a long-term book or game(like GTA:San Andreas)

- Supporting your sports team through hard times and taunts just to see them become serious contenders.

- Seeing people who speed and run redlights get pulled over.

- The joy of listening to a classic album for the first time. For me, recently I heard the Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" album. Let's face it, they don't come much more classic than that. I have nearly 1000 cds in my collection and nothing prepared me for absolutely falling for this album. It's so rare to get that feeling. The time before that was when I discovered the Beatles back catalogue for the first time about 10 years ago.

- On a similar theme, seeing a movie regarded as a classic for the first time. The advent of dvd has meant we can see these films as they were presented in theatres, with overtures and intermission musics intact. Seeing stuff like "Gone With The Wind", "Ben Hur" and "Citizen Kane" (especially) on dvd make me understand why we call it an artform.

- Getting a valentines day card from someone unexpected.

- Laughing so hard you get a headache.

- Going to a show which leaves you breathless (or being involved in one- I recently sang in the first Australian production of Wagners Ring Cycle and feeling the emotion and love from the audience at the end, I couldn't get the smile off my face!)

- You're tired after a hard day and come home to find the one you love has made you dinner is glad to see you. The feeling is mutual.

I'm sure I'll think of more...

If you have an informative website up of any kind, getting an e-mail from someone that's said that the information you have on it is very helpfull and possibly even saved their lives/their pet's life/saved them a huge amount of money etc.

Finding out that a show you love has been renewed for a buch more episodes.

Getting appretiated for a job well done at work.

When people say please and thank you and when they say they're sorry if they wrong you somehow.

Playing the Star Wars theme with my community band. Although I've heard it a million times, there is something particularly stirring when you get to sit "inside" the music, and create it yourself.

Completing a collection (of sorts). I remember finally getting to see the only remaining episode of ST:TOS that I had never seen -- "Elaan of Troyius". Believe it or not, "The Trouble with Tribbles" was about my third-to-last.

Solving a problem at work at 1625 on Friday afternoon.

The satisfying crack of breaking a board (or several) by a well-executed martial arts technique, especially if done in front of an audience.

Finishing a Marathon. 'nuff said.

Influx, funny you should say that.

I just got a DVD of my old high school band (from a reunion). One of the shows on that disk is where we had our entire show be Star Wars (yes, it was fall 1977 ).

Here is a link to one of the first (very stupid) web pages I put together.
Something to make you smile -- I hope!

Our band used to do the James Bond theme, which is also pretty impressive when you're 'inside' it as Influx puts it.

I was gonna die in 2001 and I was gonna die in 2006 of my painkiller reaction. I dreamt God didn't want me yet. Lol

if John A Lang kept my emails, ask him what happened to me 2001


thanks to care

I found ten dollars on a city street, floating to me. Should I ask who it beongs to?

a person returned one million dollars !

did they get a reward?

Good news- I got my first Nov 05 hospital bills, and I got billed $400. It'll go up to equel $12 grand. Better than $352 g total billing.


thanks Scottn, Lisa to care. (no I'm not making this up)

My son just got his first job, a bagger at the supermarket I used to work at 9 years ago.

Wish him well.He's 17

Well I have had some good news to help alleviate some of the gloom that had been going on.

The cardiac specialist said that there does not appear to be any permanent damage to my heart and the arythmia the one doctor found does not appear to be something serious she said as long as I watch my stress. (Though I am not sure how you can say somethign dealign with the heart is not serious) She called it a minor issue and that I had probably had that condition most of my life and if it hadn't killed me yet under my normal activities (Especially considering that I fry my foods in butter and rock climb and bike and etc...) then as long as I am careful I should make it quite a few more years. Sad to say right now is not exactly normal conditions so the stress reduction is going to be a bit rough but I'm working on it.

And the wife is feeling better. The doctor's have managed to find where the clots are coming from. Unfortunately this means surgury (Hysterechtomy) but since she is on blood thinner they can't do that so they will have to do some stuff before they can do the surgury. But they at least have a plan, know whats going on and are working towards fixing the problems, so thats some good news. The only thing will be it will take time.

I also have a job prospect opening up. It is in a factory running an industrial printing press so not even close to what my college degree is in but considering how lousy the economy is and how many good jobs are being destroyed beggers can't be choosers. Also unfortunately it isnt a union shop either. (If I was going to work in a factory I would have preferred a union shop that way the employees are protected a little bit better from the depredations of upper management.) But oh well I might as well embrace my redneckness.

The only things still sad or negative or otherwise bad is that one my mother is getting her final affairs in order. It appears that her illness has the distinct possibility of not being recoverable. At least her odds are not real great that is. and I am not going to be a grandfather as my daughter in law loat it.

So all in all I'm feeling much better. The wife is still feeling like crud but at least has a chance and plan for recovery (maybe not good as new but at least better than she is now) and the rest of the situation is resolving itself (one way or another) as best as it will. You may knock a redneck down but we'll just get right back up and keep coming.

R: Good to see you here R- your wife told us what happenned, later on

Yes thank you Anonymous. I'm doing better. Like I said the doctor told me that its probably not going to kill me IF I watch my stress and chill out. So I'm chilling and trying to not get so stressed about things (Staying active is helping).
I've also moderated my internet usage. This site and a few others instead of the hours at a time online.

Oh and a few more things happened today to help reduce the stress. I mentioned that my rich neighbor threw out a riding mower. Well after two cotter pins and a bit of belt dressing and a new battery I have a 25hp 46" riding mower. Total monetary 15$ out of my pocket (Thanks to recycling scrap metal, I love having a pickup) I cant wait til he drives by and I'm out there mowing on it. I'm just gonna smile and wave.

PLus mother called around and found a doctor that is willing to talk and consider somethign other than radical invasive surgury. So thats cool. And while mother may be comfortable and willing to place her faith in her god and let him take care of things, I'm still rather happy that she hasn't totally given up yet.

And my wife's CT scans came back. Her clots in her lungs are getting somewhat smaller, the oxygen she sleeps with is helping her function better during the day and the CT shows that it is most likely her uteral fibroids causing (or at least being the major contributer to) her clots. So all we have to do is wait for them to get the filter installed in her veins, get the blood thinner cooled off and get her hysterectomy and then get her healed from that she'll be right as rain again. Sounds easy but this is going to take a bit of time.

And last but not least I had my interview with the factory and they liked me, liked my skills and most importantly are seriously considering me for the position. Soooo maybe we are hitting a turnaround point. I hope.

To quote Josh from the West Wing:

"Victory is mine, victory is mine. Great day in the morning, victory is mine. I drink from the keg of glory!"

Here's a car repair story for you, R.

About 3 weeks ago I brought my car in to a dealer for scheduled maintenance, and asked them to check the transmission, as it had been shifting back and forth violently on the freeway. I had figured it would be a control module, but it wound up being the transmission.

So they replaced the transmission. So I get the car back, and the selector won't lock into position without fiddling. So I call them, tell them what happened, and they say bring it in. They check it out, and say "Oh, you're selector is worn. $800."

I say no. I point out it worked fine *before* I took it in. After a show of determination on my part, they agreed to fix it at their cost.

Victory is mine!

Wow. Somehow I am not surprised it was a dealership, Mind if I ask which brand? When you pull the tranny the selector is always going to get wonky and thats part of the checkout process before you hand the keys back to the customer. At least for a responsible shop. So what did they say was wrong with the tranny? (out of professional curiosity if you don't mind again. I know I'm being nosy but cars are a hobby of mine.)

$800 bucks for a selector? Whoa.... What kind of car do you have and was that P&L or just Parts? Not surprising though. Some of the parts costs we passed to customers made me glad I got things at dealership cost (usually at least 50%-80% cheaper) and is one of the things I miss most about working for the dealership (And one of the few...)

Good job on getting them to fix it at the Dcost. Depending on your car that could have been a bit of a cost for them to eat, mainly labor though as to merely adjust a selector requires some work but not anything too spectacular, usually. The mechanic was probably on flat rate (Where he gets paid so much for whichever job he does ie an oil change pays this and a brake job pays that etc..) and wanting to pump it up a bit. Not every mechanic is that way but the dship system tends to reward those who are that way. But congrats and bummer you had to get a repair done.

It's a Ford. '97 Contour. They said that third and fourth were totally trashed.

The service agent told me that the linkage from the selector to the tranny was "not adjustable". The $800 was P&L.

I pointed out to the service manager that this should have been caught at the road test. Had he caught it then, I probably would have grumbled, but paid (I didn't tell him that, though ), but since he didn't, and returned the car to me as "fixed", it was his reponsibility, as the selector worked before, but now it didn't.

I also pointed out that had the selector been slipping before, I'd have mentioned it, as it could have been a factor in the violent shifting I had noticed. Instead, I got back a car that accidentally went into neutral... ON THE FREEWAY.

Oh, if they hadn't covered it, I was prepared to find out who their regional/district manager was, complain to him, the CA Bureau of Auto Repair (sometimes it's *good* to live in the People's Republic), and even Bill Ford, Jr.

Pardon me, I didn't mean fix it at "their cost", I mean fix it at "their expense"!!!!!

Oh ok. Sorry to say this But I don't think Ford has made a good car since the late seventies except the new mustang and the crown vic. I'm a GM/Mopar man myself.

A 97 Contour? Cool, you have the CD4 tranny. they make those at the Sharonville plant here in Ohio. I know a couple people who work there. Ford also used that tranny in the Probe and cougars and of course Mystique and they shipped them out to the Mazda 626. They where usually stripped out and replaced as the factory one was not very robust and was prone to blowing up when pushed hard. Also they had a problem with harsh shifting issues from the way the PCM was programmed. Ford did some recalls and revisions on them for the 98 model year. Made them kinda better. But there are lots of TSBs (Technical Service Bullitens, sort of a warnign from the company to mechanics about a problem or potential problem and are a step below a recall) on the first gen cd4s for harsh shifting.

They said 3rd and 4th where gone? As in the gears where stripped? That sounds about right for the violent shifting, if it wasn't the computer control for the transmission though that is. Most of the modern trannys are computer controlled (even the sticks) and determine their shift points and stuff based on sensor inputs and control settings checked against their internal controls for governors (Most common cars are programmed to top out at around 105-115, some sports cars are programmed to go faster like 150 or so this is from the feds on that one), rev limiters (so posers don't blow their engine/tranny into a million pieces showing off) and such (fuel econ and emissions for example). But as for you as you'd get on the freeway and push it up to speed the car would then go through first into second then hit where third was supposed to be and stall out and kick back into second meanwhile whining and redlining the engine? That sounds like a stripped third gear. If it would get up into third and then fourth and then back down hunting for the right gear and not staying in any particular one for any length of time thats a possible computer problem, or stripped or worn parts inside the tranny. Sad thing is it takes a shop (or at least someone with a scantool) to check that out as they have to hook into the OBD2 port and talk to the car to see what's goign on. And not knowing the milage and all on the car I couldn't tell you myself. Sounds like you had a real issue though. (Though I hope it really was the tranny otherwise you got ripped as the PCM reflash is a lot cheaper than total rebuild, not meaning to add to the paranoia.)

Yeah sometimes it would be good to have a govt agency to watchdog dealerships and mechanics. Finding a good honest mechanic can be more difficult sometimes than finding a good honest woman to marry. Not to say that they arn't out there just there's a lot of fly by nighters and scammers out there too. Sad thing is they are usually concentrated at dealerships, its just the way the dealerhips pay that encourages it I guess. With Flat rate unless the mechanic does enough jobs then he doesnt get paid. Like I said each job has a certain rate he gets paid for that type of job on that type of car and thats what he is paid if it take shim and hour or two weeks ot do it. If they charge by jobtime then they go look up in a book how long its supposed to take for that job on that car and they charge you based on that (Hint if it says it takes 3 hours to fix something don't expect them to get it done in less than 3)

Duh. yeah I understood what you meant but when I said DCost I was still talking from inside the dealership. When we said Dcost we either meant what it cost us (which was less than what we charged the customers for things) or how much the dship had to eat when we did something (Like repainting a car that one of the lot techs scraped on the side of the showroom door in front of the customer, sales staff and sales manager, (Needless to say we had a job opening that same day.) just after the customer bought it). So yeah getting the Dship to fix it at their expense (which they charged themselves their cost) was still a big deal however you wanna look at it. Great job on doing that. Those guys don't ever wanna

As for the indicator, without going out to the garage and checking my chiltons I couldnt tell you one way or the other but I've not personally encountered a car that you couldn't adjust the indicator on. I mean all it is is a wire/pushrod that sits on top of the shift lever and moves as you move the shift lever. To fix it isnt that big a deal on most cars (usually requires pulling the colum shroud or the dash at most for a column shift). For a digital dash its all done by the OBD2 system or a black box on the shifter. For my own car's I don't worry about it as I just count clicks (My 91 Pontiac 6000 says I'm in neutral when I'm in drive, I'm one click off to the left and my old Caprice the Indicator didn't move at all on it I was always in park) or otherwise watch out (or drive a stick shift). But those clicks can get worn down to where the shift lever can slide without stopping or being purposely moved and that can be unpleasant. Either way it is cool that you got them to fix it. Hope you can keep the car going.

But yeah they call them Fix Or Repair Daily for a reason. And one should alway take the car for a spin around the lot at least (around the block is better) before accepting it as fixed, take a service writer along with you if you have to but don't accept the car as fixed until you are sure it is'nt doing what you brought it in for and hasn't developed something else.

Oh and sorry if I upset you for going on like this but I like workign on cars (I've done it since I was like 10 or so) and love talkign about them. Plus workign at a dealership I can understand how people get so peeved about things as there are a lot of tricks unscrupulous dealerships can and do pull.

R, Scottn,This is totally true. Years ago ago we had a Mercedez 280, and we had to fix it in a repair shop. My dad was disabled and he limped to the shop.The part was needed to fix the brakes, $249, 1970s prices. They made him go to the office and sign this and that. So he did. They made him go to the Main Parts and get more clearances.An hour later,we limped to the Fixit shop area,It's usualy a ten minute walk for normal people, I told the fix it guy he can't go on like this, he's disabled. They said that's store policy.My dad got mad and refused to walk with his cains for a brake shoe part. Since it's his car they wouldnt let me go after the parts guy and sign for him. They refused to fix it. We went to the manager/owner and he looked at my dad and said Ok, this time we'll take the cost of the part.Wow. I was 18 and coulda signed for him.No, they want his John Hancock, not some kid's.

Thank you Baron Munchausen. And did you by any chance notice the title of this board?

We saved $249. I think its gooood news, not

er, what does nbm means, Not?

My 92 Ford Escort with around 300,000 miles on it still gets 28-32 miles to the gallon. (I just wished the AC worked.

Cool congratulations PV. 300k is a good job in any car, especially a Ford. ;-)

Your AC probably has a blown compressor or just needs a recharge (and a conversion as a 92 is still using r12 and the current required is r134) which should get thigns going again.

they told me it needs a new compressor. Unfortunately, consumer reports told me my car isn't worth the price of a new compressor.

...and I don't know much about cars. I get good gas milage because my car's aluminum and plastic. and I think half of it is snap together pieces. lol

Anonymous: Google is your friend.

not-uh?

PV. I know what you mean about that. Kinda sad when the replacement parts cost more than the car. I put new brakes on my Pontiac a while ago and doubled the value. But the value is to the owner I guess. As long as it runs and goes then its worth something.

Yeah that sounds like an Escort, might not wanna hit the dash too hard who knows what'll fall off. I had a mechanic tell me one time the Escort was Ford's throwaway car until they made the Festiva. (Not only was it transportation it was a festival!)

You know though you might be able to get a good compressor from a junkyard and talk someone to put it on for you cheap. Its up to you. I wind up using the windows even in a car that has AC that works. I love the feel of the wind whipping along.

Though what sucks about some of the newer cars at the dealership that if you run with the windows down not only does it affect the fuel economy but it makes a horrible wind noise in the cabin. (The new Durango makes this keening howl with the windows down at 60mph its like having a banshee riding with you.)

Yeah, the tranny was more than my car was probably worth, but it was cheaper than buying a new car, and I didn't want to buy a 10 year old used car (better the devil I know).

True. I'll agree with you on that ScottN. Thats one reason I hang on to some of the beasts I have had. But being able to fix them myself lets me take a few more risks I guess. My newest vehicle is 10 years old and my oldest is an 89 dodge ram.

Re:This thread
Sorry to hear about your Mondaeo/Contour's transmission problems, ScottN....
As for the Festiva, R, it never made it to Europe as a Ford, but was sold under the Mazda name as the Mazda 121...
(The smallest car Ford sold in Europe at the time was the Fiesta, which was a size bigger than the Festiva/Mazda 121, though I'm not sure that early Ka's were being sold during that period...).
The Mazda 121's design/tooling was later sold to Kia, shortly after the Mark 2 debuted, but I can't remember, the name it was sold under....
(Was the Mark 2 version of the Mazda 121/Festiva ever sold in the U.S, R ?)

Well, it wasn't a complaint about the tranny, it was a victory cry on getting them to pay for the selector!

Mark V. Yeah the second gen Festiva was called the Aspire (because it aspired to be a real car) and was an ok car. Not bad for a beginner or commuter.

I think the Ford Festiva/Mazda 121 was rebadged a Kia Pride when it was sold to them. Least wise thats what the repair manual shows as a crossover for parts interchange.

About the Fiesta IRC the feista led to the orginal escort back in 1980. I know the body styles on them wasn't too different.

I understand you ScottN. Getting the dship to pay for anything is something to crow about. :-)

R, that last was to Mark

Yeah sorry. I'm not exactly operating at full efficiency. Too much on my mind. I didnt mean to imjply anything, and hopefully was kinda being supportive.

Re: R's comment
With regard to the Ford Escort, In Europe, we were just about to get the Mk.3 Escort, in 1980... (The Mk.3 Escort was codenamed Erika as I recall, & I belive, debuted in 1981).
Before the Focus replaced it in Europe, Ford were producing the Mk.5 Escort, & I believe that they "Overlapped" each other for a year, due to the company/fleet car market's reqirements...
(BTW, was the Mk.2 Escort ever produced for the U.S Market...?).

OK I've actually had a few good thigns happen recently. So while I no longer feel like I'm bailing the Titanic I'm not exactly on a rocket to the Moon yet either. More like a slow train ride to nowhere yet.

But anyhow the Step son moved out. Not exactly on pleasant terms but he is out in the world on his own with a job, a girlfriend, several rich friends and we gave him my wife's van (Why not the dang things on its last legs and my wife cannot drive for medical reasons right now) and he is welcome back (under terms) so its not like he's thrown to the wolves. But he had been hiding a few thigns from us and taking advantage of our good nature (we where letting him live here rent free expecting him to help out because family takes care of family, he takes care of himself and no-one else,maybe he'll grow up someday and not be so selfish.) so it was best for him to begin his life and start his own path.

My Wife's health has stabilized and they have a plan for dealing with the Pulmonary Emboli that is being implemented but it will take a bit of time.

My health has gone realtively back to normal. My stress test came back clear and the irregularity has faded to such a degree that the doctor called it a trifle. Even though I do still get a tingle in my left arm when i exert myself too hard but I stop and it goes away. So just a taste of old age I guess.

My mother's health is..... stable. She has her will written and everythign else is being figured out.

Both kids are doing great and look to pass to the next grade level. Also the state may upgrade my son's computer to broadband at their cost. Which is cool.

Still no job as the market in this area is very, very depressed. More people out of work than there are jobs so it is dead man's boots in many places and employers get to pick and choose. Even the temp agencies have more people than they have jobs available. Which is very unpleasant. I have done a few odd jobs and thigns here and there but not much else.

But all in all I am better than I have been. Still some room for improvment and I feel like sayign this is lighting a match in a fireworks factory but hey oh well. I just wanted to share some good news for a change.

Oh and MarkV: Cool. Makes me kinda grumpy as Europe got the Escort first and then you guys got the cooler models of it, which is actually the way it works on a lot of the cars.But no from what I understand we got what you called the Mk3 and then it went on its own development route. I can go look it up for sure in the book though later. Our Escort came out first in 1981 and ended production in 02 model year.

Glad to hear the good news, R.

Thank you Scottn. So am I. :-)

Hey, R, nice to have ya back.

It is nice to be back. And appreciated by some around here at least.

I have an interesting business idea that I wanna let you guys know about. This is somethign I've already started spending this afternoon figuring out and doing some measureing and getting the ads ready to go. And so far I've not had to do any out of pocket money which is definate bonus.

So since I've been fixing my car up to be a redneck racer I thought why not go to the next step and SELL decal space on my car ala NASCAR? So much for each spot depending on how visible it is or the size of the area. I figure I can charge more for the hood, roof and doors as they are more open and flat areas while the quarters, trunk and rear spoiler will gain less with not as much space available. Since i like to drive and do wind up driving a lot (especially now with my wife unable to drive) it might be somethign some of the local businesses might be interested in. A rolling billboard could give them an advertising edge that they might not have thought of and would be a new and different way for some of them to get their advertising out.

So wadda ya think? Sound like a typical redneck idea or something that might just work out? Who knows it might just be both. :-) But anyhow I am excited about this and since it won't really affect me or the way things are going too much I figure why not go for it.

Barry got his 715th hr. He almost hit 716 but he stood there gawking at it and the hr turned into a longsingle! Now he may play in 2007 to pass Aaron if he has a chance to.

This has been a profitable morning. I managed to rent the hood and roof to two different businesses. The local quickie mart gas stations pizza place, but no surprise there he'll slap his logo on dang near anything, and a local mom and pop restraunt.

So I have the doors, rear quarters, rear window, rear bumper and the trunk left (which I may donate to my local library one should always support the local libraries) to rent out.

Hey Good news for me,I owe Dead Cross $10 g (not 220 grand for, fainting!)The doctor and nurse who gave me the demeral shot got fired.The next time I get sick I get cancelled by health my insurance carrier.(can thy do that?)

No,I am not making his up. my wife had to pull some strings to get my health price down to Ten G.


by the way, my b-day is coming up I'll be 47 on Saturday!

(Scottn: Do you have a picture of yourself?)

Hey Tom Vane, dont where to put this, I'll be at Border's front door at 7- 730ish. Wanna have aTribble for din din?

Hey I got my old job back at the supermarket.I start Tue 8-5pm and didn't work for 16 years because of my braintumor.Bagger.Not begger.

Hey, I'm settled at my best freinds' supermarket,
I'm 1-7pm...my feet were barking at like a dog the first night I'm home.

one customer put her dog at the front door, tied it up, and someone stolei t- she had to call the city pd out..

And I 'm not worried for my job at the supermarket, any more . My boss made out like a cheerleader in front me yesterday...He fired wo guys who wanted me fired, they should worry about their jobs instead of me..

the newspapers say Barry took his Amphatamins (uppers) from a teammate. he faild his durg test.He might be playing ball in the Hawaiie Prison camp or Leveanworth!

Management fired me today because I asked another bagger to help me with the garbage...she went to manegement who gave me a 4 hour notice...I lost..


17 pounds since I started this job..

I even serviced out a lady who lived across the way and told me to put her 4 bags of groceries in her apt..

i'm releieved, not mad,ok? This is not a rant..ita a relief.

I gotta new job, the Mercedez Car dealer in town ,
8-5 on Monday.wowwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeee.

lol cleaning cars not garbage

Congrats.

ThANKS, Luigi. I gained 8 pounds in a week.Btw, My blood pressure at the local Drugstore was 218/122/120.Should I be in the hospital?




Beam me Up, Scotty.

218/122 is insanely high. You should be at 120/80 at the most. Go see your doctor IMMEDIATELY.

Hell, a pulse rate of 120 isn't good either. I'd have those numbers double-checked. If you're still that high, like Scott said, get to a doctor NOW. (BTW, that weight gain ain't too good either.)

er ,Spock should be in the hospital at Starbase 11 with Pike- I feel fine.(Star Trek4).thanks ScottN and Benn- I start my new job on Monday at 8am. the manager says I can quit him anytime ,he can fire me at anytime!

My manager at Mercedez Benz sys I can come back Wed, 8-5pm...

(I'm not fired yet) too tired to talk tonight..

The Mecredez owner fired me today at 8am sharp. He shook my hand too. I gotta find me a new job..

lol

Mercedez.

Good news, Scottn and Benn, my blood pressure is 121/89/67 noontime today....much better than 218/120!(being fired for asking for help aint fun,
and they sent the manager who fired me off to another supermarket..

Played hooky from work today. Caught the afternoon Angels game (They beat the D-Rays 11-3, Colon had 11 strikeouts in 7 innings).

But that wasn't even the best part. A buddy and I picked up some tickets on the ticket exchange... FRONT ROW, DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ANGELS DUGOUT!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy frack, were those awesome seats!

They say a bad day at the ballpark is better than the best day working. A day like today... beautiful weather, great seats, great game, well... It's not quite as good as great sex, but it comes mighty darned close

Er, ScottN, I betcha your boss will read this !,

My boss knew. She asked me how the game was. Thanks, though.

Oh, and to describe how good those seats were, if we were at a Lakers game, they would have been Jack Nicholson's seats.

I love those afternooon games--went to a Tigers game last summer on a weekday afternoon, great seats (not as great as yours, but still great), great parking space, rode the ferris wheel, only problem is the Tigs lost to the Angels (Angels fans will note it was the game in which Mike Napoli homered in his first career at-bat).

I've been to three Tigers games--Nate Robertson vs. Brad Penny (a superb game which the Tigers won in a year in which I had Nate and Penny on my fantasy team); Jeremy Bonderman vs. Bartolo Colon (a cool matchup hampered by a long rain delay that forced both pitchers out of the game early on); and last year's Justin Verlander vs. Some Angels Pitcher I Can't Remember.

Don't know where to put this, sorry, but some nice Giants fan told me to have my Giants Jacket on while walking the dog.I had my Oakland As jacket on this am.

I had this war when the Giants were in last place in the 80s.
----------------------------------------
.I liked Willie Mays.I saw him steal 2 bases in 1 game and he described it in his autobio!I think the U.s. Army took away 50 home runs during his 2 years there.

How can you own both an A's jacket and a Giants jacket?

That's like storing matter and anti-matter together?

You'd never catch me with a Dodgers jacket (or an A's jacket, for that matter)!

For ScottN-Did you see the Gibson home run in the 88 world series?,(on tv anyways).

The guy should see me in a dress.

(just kidding).
----------------------
(one guy wore a As cap and Giants cap in the 89 series,
When one side was at bat..)

I once saw a car that had both Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins stickers in its back window. I thought "Someone's confused!" That's like wearing a star of David around your neck and a swastika on your armband.

Of course I saw it. Much as I despise the Dodgers, that was one of the greatest moments in all of baseball history.

I was 6 when Jaun Marichal" beat up" the Dodger catcher in 66. Rosebaoro (sp)shoulda been suspended too he and Koufax.

ps. The Giants fan followed me home and put his dog doo in front of my door.! (Im a diehard Giants fan but the As jacket was on sale for a dollar).

A rookie motorcycle cop got a car with no tags in the back (he calls for backup). 4 or 5 local city pd shows up. When they are ready, they flashes the car ahead of him.Surprise. He got a chp car has no tags . he doesn't need one. Duh

.Suppose it was the head man of CHp?

made my day.

another supermarket called for me!

yipeee.

and costco, a wherehouse like store, also called for me.2 job offers in a day, they read my online application forms.

The costco manager doesnt know who I am, when I came in for an interview, and the supermarket manager's name is unpronounceable to me...

Good things that happened to me: Spent a week in Hawaii.

Bad things that happened to me: I had to come home.

Say ScottN, did you get kissed by the Hawaiian Hula girls at the airport?

I dreamt I got kissed by one of them and her boyfriend tracked me down and wanted to...until he found out that's her job!

No kissing. I just got leid...

so that's what it means by layover...

At my weekly weigh-in, I lost 2 pounds, even with the Hawaii trip!!

Hey if anyone cares, i'm 126/90/70 at 1122am this am, usually I am at 170, 180/110...


my best freind at my old supermarket, he's on maternity leave!

a third supermarket wants me for deli or courtesy clerk...i see them on Monday.

Scored playoff tickets to the first ALDS game in Anaheim!

Also have a chance to get primo seats for the second.

For my "birthday gift", I got Star Trek Convention tickets for the Chicago area.

Guest star: MARINA SIRTIS!


There IS a God!

Yeah, but what are you going to do when the security guards throw you out for attacking Ms. Sirtis' fans, while you shout.... (all together now).... "HANDS OFF! SHE'S MINE!!!

That's funny. But as you may have guessed, I won't be doing any of that.

Hey, John, I'm just giving you a hard time

I knew that. LOL.

On the other hand, I *can* imagine the scene...

[FAMILY-GUY]
Tom Tucker: Well, Diane, there was some excitement at the Star Trek convention today.

Diane: Yes, and here with the story is Asian reporter Tricia Takanawa.

Tricia: Hello Diane. Today at the Star Trek convention, police had to drag away a man who was screaming "Hands off! She's Mine!".

cut to JAL being dragged off...

[/FAMILY-GUY]

LOL-ROTF

The powers that be at my old Safeway in 1989,wants me for Deli ,Seafood, or meat dept.


mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.,not courtesy clerk.

By the way, John have you ever heard of The English Beat?

Take a look at Single #2 on that link.

HA! That's my song!


BTW...I got my Photo-Op ticket today. I will be photographed standing (or sitting) next to Marina Sirtis. (Whoo-hoo!)

What about the photo of you being hauled away by security?

My old boss at my old Safeway even remembered me in 89.He'll talk to my old high shcool freind,
uh.uh., she's the one who hires, and fires.

one day while driving 80 on highway 101,I was toooooooo sloooooooooow, for the jaguar behind me, so he revvves up to 120 in 3 seconds and gets pulled over for speeeeeeeding!

he didn't see the chp entering, and I said to him by bye., I waved and he got madder at me,He wanted to chase me, then remembered what he got!

made my day! speed limit was 55., and a triple fine zone in construction area!

How about them Rockies? The guy sliding home for the winning run never tagged the base!

Re: ScottN....at that point Marina will jump in and say, "Yes...I am his...let him go"

In your dreams, John. Only in your dreams.

You started it. I finished it.

Hey, I take the Safeway blood test on Monday, the place I orignially worked at in 89..

Yipeeeeee



-----------------------------

and ol Barriod balco Bond is gonna be in jail for 30 years for lying to Congress.As a local sports guy said, he cheated at a stupid baseball game!

Not for lying to Congress. For lying to a Grand Jury.

And he's only going to jail if he's convicted. He's been indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice.

Now he gets his day in court.

Maybe Barry, O.J. and Mike Vick will all share a cell together.

Ol * Big bad Barriod Balco Bond better hire Johnny Cochroach..wait didn't he croack?

Dr. Evil (Ok, not Dr. Evil, but my opthamalogist) used his \fingerquotes{LASER} on my second eye.... No more glasses -- not quite, now I need reading glasses.

But I don't need glasses for driving!

my son saved my life,he heard me banging on the all at home at 11pm and he came saw me in bed slobbering having a seizure.He came in he'll call 911.My wifee is in China., and he wanted to go with her.If she come home she'd find me dead.(Not making this up).Spent 4 there hours and I am lucky to be alive!my blood pressure is 147/101/90
at lunch..

I owe my son a favor..

ScottN and Benn, and Luigi and Butch, my blood pressure is 124/90 my pills are working.yay meeeee...(from zack and Cody)


having seizures isnt good..

thanks to care.

ScottN- any idea when is old Barriod going to jail?

a guy found $185 g in a case, and the owner gave him $50.He was on food stamps!, not a freee lunch or something.Talk about cheeeep.

-------------------------------------------------

I was gonna marry a nice girl from college in L.A,and she had her brother go on the date I was to propose.I have a ring no one wants.I didnt even want him around! 3's a crowd!I gave it to my present wife.(she doesnt know this).

Barroid: After his trial and presumed conviction, maybe?

I can drive again March 7 if I have no more seizures...
yay meeeeeeeeeeeee

the nice guy blocking us while we had the green light gave us the bird. Called the pd out on his cell phone, gave em our license and he got a ticket for going thru his red light when he described the problem.How do I know? I was being blocked by him when the cops came!

The runner got 6 months in prison for lying about her steriods.I bet Bonds will get that!, (maybe more when his career is over.)

the supermarket where they called me lazy wants to rehire me...should I go? this time its a lady manager.

now the manager says they never called for me!
the one who made me do pushups because I asked a nice guy paper or plastic and he wanted me fired in 90.

the whole Safeway manager phone call bit is to my cell phone.If she didnt call who did?
Now its a heavy breather calling and hanging up, for several days now.

Someone from kansas says I owe them $70. I have notbought anything from anywhere.
a 913 Kansas number. anyone else get them or similar?

I should tell the caller who hangs up I had high blood pressure, a braintumor and a seizure lateley.Not joking!
, I am serious.

Barriod might be a Dodger.Rumor mill.
-----------------------------------
he asked a judge to throw his case out because of technicalities.

Anonymous22 says I am suddenly 94/84/76 no pills at 2:50am..

I am usually 150s or above.no joke, ScottN or anyone else who dont believe me.I was 22/10 on life support last year this time.

be back soon, I hope.

Who said I don't believe you about your BP? Though those numbers are awfully odd looking.

And you don't have address everything to me personally.

yup.sorry.just that ervy other post you seem to question people. This morning the 101/880 freeways finally got opened after 48 hours of gas spill..

friends?

now a 1-800-00000000 number is on my cell phone..

what the heck is going on? anyone knows.

Some 55 year old man called me ---- in front of other people, and he said I wasnt thru talking to me.I walked out on him!,Man he needs to shut up and keep his opinions to himself. He's lucky I didnt report him to the pd, or have a gun.

lol.

- a guy had his laser surgury on both eyes and now he cant see.he cant drive. he needs someone to help. he cant even walk his pets anymore.A lazer surgury guy told me this in the 80s. he sued the guy who eventually became blind himself. I was gonna do this when I first needed glasses.Someone called me 4 eyes and so on.
Now I'm proud of it because at least I can see. In 2010 i may not be able to drive because I need to pass my eye test.

lololol.

rumor had it-The Giants won the 51 pennant because they had the Dodger signs!

if they did they'd have won 19-1.Of course the surviving winners denied it.It was in a book at Borders.

and they'd have no miracle hr.

and some 70 year old lady had my dad's caddy towed because I parked in her spot.She paid $350 for that.The next day her Condo was for sale.

geez, nice neighborhood.

Has anyone counted all the bad thing that happen to this guy?

a counter must be a youngng

for ScotttN and anyone who cares- I am 101/77/76 at 730am pst no pills!

I got my Condo in 93 because they checked another guy with my same exact name.At least he was paid up. I don't have a b of A credit card, or some others.

Lucky me.

My sister-in-laws's Maui Wowi opened today.

a counter- you mean bad things?
------------------------
ScottN- where is that? Disneyworld is all booked up-till 2009! We may switch to Hawaiie.

It's a coffee shop franchise.

uh, ScottN- its a franchise. You mean there's more than one? What do I say to the owner?, if we get there? Give them the Vulcan salute?

gives ScottN the Vulcan salute.


----------------------------------------
My ex-girl , in the 80s,wanted to eat at Hog's Breath inn in Carmel, Clint Eastwood, (when I was to propose).I said he owns the place. He doesnt serve anyone.He may show up once in a while as a Hollywood icon.He hires staff.I even saw him at Long's Carmel parking lot..She probably left him in Hollywood.

It's a franchised coffee shop. She bought a franchise. The store opened. What's so hard to understand about that?

When I was with Chevron, I asked who owns it? Chevron? . The owner said, no, I do.I use their products!,( but that's not important right now.)
----------------------------------
those days gas prices were $2.50 a gal. or so. Now its $3.99. Union 76 is $4.60.

Whatever. I'm not going to argue with you.

In any case, her shop opening (after a year of bureaucratic hell) is a "By Golly, that makes me happy!" moment.

if anyone cares, I drove today, first time since my seizure days. Yay me!

,,

Congrats.

Today, after seven years of playing softball, I hit my first career home run.

Conrats, Scott. Officials are on their way to test you for steroids.

Yeah. That bagel and cream cheese will really mess up my test

I had one single in school. if I took steriods, I'd have two basehits.

Today is my kid's birthday! he's 19 and drives me batty!

My sister-in-laws's Maui Wowi opened today.
I thought Maui Wowi was a type of marijuana. . (I refer you to the movie Nine To Five for more on that.)

TrekGrrl got accepted at UC Davis.

[we're still waiting to hear from UCSD and UCSB]

CONGRATS!!!!

Hey, congrats TrekGrrl and Scott!

Maybe she should be called: "Trekwomannn" now.

TrekGrrl got into her first choice (UCSD)!!!!

Congrats TrekGrrl. Wow, wasn't she like 10 when she used to post on this board? Where does the time go?

Just what I was thinking, Brian.

Hey, just think how old *I* feel!

Maybe we should revive the Retirement Home boards

hey Happy easter, !(its tomarrow) ScottN, you dont have a Journey to Babel tape?

(

No, I don't. And before you ask, no I don't want one.

You got a a personal message, ScottN!, find it?

I don't celebrate Easter.

Oh, but have a good Pesach.

Thanks, ScottN, had to look up Pesach in the Wikepedia!

gives him the Vulcan Salute.Hope Trekgrrl dont bring anything important to her in the dorms.One student had his laptop stolen in his library.$2500.
Yeek.

Do you have to put a downer spin on everything?

Happy Easter!

My blood tester complained to me that when he sent his
blood to be anaylysised (sp), instead the lab sent him to a collection agency, heavy breathing etc.It cost him $1200.His credit went to zero.

made my morning! My wife mentioned to him what we got last month!

A dog sniffed me in a store and barked. the security came over and checks me.They told me to open up everything, which I did, my bag.. Everyone wondered what I stole.I stood in line for a half hour to get this.I bought the week's vcr tape and it has its reciept!

The guard said the dog usually never misses (a thief.)

I'm so used to this, my bp is 117/70.

lol.Stupid dog. (German sheppard).(sp).

Nove and you-know-who can ask.

see the smiley.I am not making this up.

So how does this make you happy? (see the board title).

Yeah, I did, see the board title..In 1965 in New York ,I went to a bookstore
and tried to buy a b-17 book and they said I was there stealing stuff and they caught me. The manager/owner recognized me,of course, and told my dad I was here last week and stole stuff.He said Pay the stuff and I will let you have this book.I said I was in Ca last week, all my life. They threw us out. I remember because my dad told this yahrens later,when I had the I Put Mud on My dad's Car Affair.

I was following my dad into a store,, and I dont know the name of it anyways, he was there for a convention of Foreign language teachers. .., I was 6 or 7.They got the wrong Ferengi!

I ended up sleeping on the plane and missed their brunch!

oh well.Can a mod put me in the bad news.I remember because I read the Tips board!

--------------------------------------------

A store owner also said in my home town, I stole their stereo ($79)and told my 2nd best freind, we were gonna buy 2001 a space oddyssey on beta max, I spent a few days in jail for theft.(had a couple of chili beans dinner for food.) Then my dad and mom bailed me out.I was in college and L.A. being robbed of my beta max and tv and vcr, in 1980.

anything else ? (not making this up either). I am very happy because the trueth always wins.

And again, how does this all make you happy?

OK better question; WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I mean seriously I've been reading these posts from "he's dead jim" and others who always have these insane stories about getting hassled by 'the man' every day and I don't get it. Is there some great ironic joke that I'm missing? Seriously, what's going on?

TrekGrrl officially accepted her acceptance to UCSD.

3 ttts for ScottN!

,picky picky picky picky picky picky

Congrats TrekGrrl and ScottN!

Thanks, Merat. You got a spare $20000 lying around I (OK, UCSD really) can have?

No, not really. Fretting over grad school payments myself at the moment.

Had a message that appears to have disappeared. Gist was:

Merat, don't sweat it, I was only joking, and forgot the in the previous post.

What are you studying in grad school?

I'm going for my master's degree in Library Science. I'm waiting to hear if I was accepted into the program. And that last post of mine was meant to be read as weary resignation.

hey, my 2 safeways one I did pushups, the other called me lazy wants me back...should I go? They fired the bagger who got me fired!

the lady manager doesnt know me lazy..and the other Safeway tells me to give me 20, I 'm not on their paycheck yet!

Watching TCM's broadcast last Sunday night of Frank Sinatra's 1965 special A Man And His Music. Ole Blue Eyes, for all his faults (the drinking, the womanizing, his terrible temper, among others) knew how to entertain. And, entertain he did. Listen to his classic rendering of "It Was A Very Good Year." One of the most, if not the most, perfect blend of song, singer, composer and arrangement ever recorded. It'a hard to believe that he's been gone for a decade.

My wifee paid a $316 bill(usually its 40-$70) for my blood test, she got late charge and collection agency.We never got the orignial billing, again. She called the agency and got a hold.Half hour or so later,Finally, she explained the problem and they billed her $316 for complaining.

Made my day. They did wipe out the original charge.

went to the S--- where I worked for produce and , not courtesy clerking...he's the manager there..
.My wifee mad because of that, of course they' ll call..and of course he recognized me instantly..

p.s. and I never was paid for oct. 07...and no one else who started there.

Yesterday I saw my old car, a 1996 Ford Escort LE, STILL being used by someone in my city of McHenry.
That little "puddle-jumper" still has some kick to it, I guess.

well, my dad's caddy is still around

-----------------------------------
and my wifee in china, she just called...

for those who care, today is the day I had my braintumor operation, in 2001.The original doc, , said I had two months to live.The powers that be thought I had hiv at first...then I had 3 seizures, then demeral reaction to butterd popcorn (the 911 op thought my wife was making a ah ah, for that one) then 2 hernias...

, and no I'm not making any of this up.

My wife got me a bus pass, $62.I gotta re-learn the bus routs.

gas filup $75 now.

I'm gong to dizzyworld in jan 3-10, I'm booked and paid up..
I wanted to go since my grandma passed away., in 1973.Then my mom passed away on the same day ten years apart.Then my dad. then my surguries...
(no this is not a woe is me).


Yay me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rodney you get my email?

and I'm headed to Disneyworld, Jan 3-10, my wife e paid
the last installment.

Yipee.The rides i realy miss is the atomobile and the Carousel of progress rides, and America the Beautiful!

I've upgraded to DSL on my computer.

LIGHTNING FAST.

I don't know how I lived without it.

Hey , Happy thankgsgiving !

from He's not dead yet!

july 26th is my 25th anniversary..my (-p) uncle gave me 3 days after the honeymoon..id be divorced.and july 29th is my 51 b-day....

---------------------------

my gosh, its been 2008 since the last by golly that makes me happy thought?

sorry for the lower casings.

Congrats!!!

thanks zarm!

By Golly, Happy Thanksgiving,(Nov 25) especially
to my pals Rodney, Amr and especially you know
who!(sorry ______ dont want me to talk to you.)

My gosh, I better say Merry Xmas and Happy new year

Today is my 25th wedding anniversary and july 29th my b-day

sigh.

opps 26th

Given the screw-up of your anniversary, the odds are your wife won't let you live to see the b-day on the 29th.

Oh, and this is guaranteed to make long-time posters here feel old....

TrekGrrl turns 21 tomorrow.

for ScottN, I celebrated my b-day today at a D-----
with kid...ordered the same meal I did, the Georgia peech....,french toast combo
----------------------------------
I had a friend who ordered the same meal, and
he didnt want my steak and eggs.(I asked if he really wanted that)..at Clint Eastwood's
------ place..., in Carmel Ca, a long time ago in a galaxy far far away...

-----------------------------------

burp.

TrekGrrl is 15. Fifteen, do you hear me!! So I hope she has a lovely fifteenth birthday.

*skulks away on her Zimmer frame*

(just kiddn)Trekgrrl:I'm 15 going on 21 ( sung to sound of music)

ScottN: Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh....