9/07/2006

Thursday PM 9/7

Well the IRS said they mailed my check on the 30 August. I thought that this day and age you could get a piece of US mail to almost any place in the world in 8 days. Not from the IRS though. They did say they had paid me $19.68 in interest That's for keeping it for almost 8 months. No I'm not bitter, right.

My foot is just pink right now and my stomach is back to normal. So I am doing something I should not do, eating everything in sight.

I bought a HumGUS bucks lottery ticket today ($5 ticket) There were 10 winners out of a possible 12 tries, each worth $10 for a cool $100. I have been cold in my bones as of late so I am going to take $50 and buy a heated mattress pad. I do not get much help from electric blankets, but I have been sleeping on a small heating pad for my shoulder, and it is really helping me. Not only my left shoulder but also my upper back and some on my right shoulder.

Betty i really up set as her case worker from the Office of Aging was here today and told her that she might lose her helpers as she will not turn off the oxygen while she smokes. I can not understand her as her favorite aunt burned her lungs very badly doing the same thing. But she says, she had a face mask on not just the nose tubes. We are also having trouble with the insurance that pays for her medicine and I can not even try and get it straightened out till tomorrow.

Well enough for now, I'll try and keep everyone posted a little better in the future, I have been a litle slack of late.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love
Bob

9/06/2006

Wednesday Morning 9/6

Well I survived the weekend from hell, it stared on Friday morning actually. As I have said before we have friends that have a tent at the Grange Fair in Centre Hall. I was taking my trailer to the fair to let them load all there stuff. There are like Betty and I, All the children have drown up and gotten married, they keep the tent for the grand children. I was using the 93 Dodge, as the Ford was still in the shop, and when I hit the top of the hill it coughed and quit running. I was able to coast it to the bottom of the hill to a spot that was safe and I was able to get completely off the road. It was 7/10 of a mile from the house, mostly up hill. The walk home almost did me in. Of course there was only one key to the rental car and it was on my belt.

When I got home I called the garage and a tow truck ($45). Called the people about not being able to get the trailer to them. Got in the rental car and went down and unhooked the trailer and transferred the stuff that could be stolen from the trailer to the van and in doing so fell and hit my left shoulder on the asphalt, hurt like hell. Then made my appointment 9:30 AM. Friday afternoon I picked up the Ford and returned the rental car. Then I took Betty and Russ to do the monthly shopping. Saturday was rainy and I spent most of the day in bed with a heating pad under the shoulder, it really did help.

Then Sunday morning Russ and I took the first rear seat out of the ford so we could load the carts. I was not sure how I was going to make it work, as the ramp is built to be used from the rear door of the 93 Dodge. I was able to make it work but in the trial and error process, the wooden floor fell on the arches of both feet. The left one was the only one that was really hurt; there is a 2 inch wide black and blue area that goes all the way across the foot from about half way up the toes to about half way up the arch. We got to church and unloaded but the pain started to make me sick to my stomach so we came home early. I am one of those people that is in constant pain due to the Post Polio, so I have a fairly high tolerance for pain. The pain got so bad by about 1:30 PM I took a perqoset (sp) which was a huge mistake. I had such an allergic reaction, upset stomach and a violent case of diarrhea. I took more Imodium than I should have, but finally got it stopped yesterday afternoon, 48 hours of hell.

I have a non fasting blood test on Thursday morning.

I must close for now and go get Betty some cigarettes.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love

Bob

8/30/2006

Wednesday evening 8/30

I got the ramp rail finished this morning. It Seems to work well, I'll know better after I use it for a while. The renal car is a pleasure to drive but I have trouble getting out of it as I do not have much push left in them. For such a small car the trunk is quite large and also has good leg room.

It has finally dried out and tomorrow is supposed to be great but then on Friday the rain returns. We Had 3.7 inches over the weekend and another 3/4 of an inch yesterday and last night. We could also get another 3 to 4 inches this weekend. We are starting to get warnings about high water and flooding already and the storm has not even gotten back over water.

Betty and I plan to go to the Grange Fair tomorrow I am going to plug in the carts as soon as I finish this. I will try and remember to take the digital camera with me. WE have friends that have a tent there and need help moving out on Friday and Saturday. I am going to talk to them and see if I can leave my trailer Friday morning so they can fill it and I can pick it up Saturday morning and tow it to there house and leave it till I have more time to pick it up and they will not have as much pressure to get it done in a hurry. They have the same problem I do,We are not as young as we were.

It will knock our sugar way out of kilter, To many bad things (real good tasting junk food) to eat and you just do this once a year like Thanksgiving. Yea I'll just eat a salad on Thanksgiving, Not.

Well I must close for now as Betty needs the heating pad as she has developed lower back pain. I think it is because she has started to walk to the bathroom and to her bed, and she has not used the muscle's to that in over two years. She has had to increase the use of Aleve to the point she gets afraid to take more.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love

Bob

8/29/2006

Tuesday night 8/29

I am going to let Jared's mother worry and do the set up on and with Jared's blog.

I am not home enough to really do the necessary supervision of him and it will be restricted to friends only with close monitoring. So everyone that is concerned about his safety will get a better feeling.

I picked up the third rail for the ramp yesterday and will try and do the final fitting in the morning. It pored off and on all day, every time I got to a time I could do it, down came the rain. So I have been puttering, right now on the table behind me, in my office/library, is the wooden silverware drawer from the kitchen. I have taken part of it apart and applied a heavy amount of Elmer's glue and clamped it and added extra support strips on the front and left side. Which are also glued and clamped. I'll know if all the work paid off in the morning.

Ill finish the ramp in the morning and get to the bank in State College before my 1:30 dentist appointment in Lamar.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love

Bob

Helping Jared get his blogger account


Jared is sitting at my elbow as I try and write this, so if I do not make sense you will understand.

I am trying to show him how things work like the spell checker, he is rteal smart as far as comouters go.

Tuesday Morning 8/28

We had 3.7 inches of rain in the rain gauge yesterday morning an we had rain again last night it showed another .5 inch and is still raining and is suppose to for most of the day. I am of to pickup 5 prescriptions for Betty Lee. I also must go by the bank at the bottom of the hill and cash a small check I recieved in the mail yesterday. I must also check with a neighbor about a new rail for the van to streghtin the ramp. After I get it I will need to drill another hole to fasten it to the floor at the door.

Well I guess I had better finish getting dressed and even put on some shoes.

The rental car surprised me in that it had just under a 1/2 tank when I picked it up. By last evening it had hit the red mark. So I put in $20 and it almost filled it, I had filled the 93 Dodge on Sunday ($87) big difference.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love

Bob

8/28/2006

Monday Afternoon 8/27

I have a pretty, fire engine red Dodge Neon for a rental car. It is costing me a huge $0.76 a day. I am really trying to get the R/V started. My charger does not seem to get enough charge in those big batteries. I changed where I put the connections from the charger, I hope this helps. The batteries do not turn the engine over fast enough to get that big diesel started.

I have finally figured out how to work the spell checker on this post writer. I also changed the look of my blog let me know if you like this one better or should I go back to the first one. A couple of people yhought that it was hard to read because of the dark colors.

Be safe out theree and be well.

Love

Bob

Monday Morning 8/28

Well it is 7 AM and have had a cheese omlete, made a pot of coffee, checked my sugar (149) and taken my medicine. I did sell the Dodge mini van for $50 last night. I was very lucky, taking out to Woodward. As I went through Millheim some one kept blinking his lights behind me, so I pulled over and he pulled up besude me and hooered "check the ladder on your roof" I had forgotten that I had put it on the roof when I cut the grass, it was not tied down. I put it inside and said a prayer of thanks that it had not fallen off.

I am off to the Ford Dealership in about 20 minutes. Betty just got up so I am going to quit this and feed her.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love

Bob

8/27/2006

Late Sunday night

I just upgraded to the new Beta version of Blogger. The say there is a new spell checker but I not figured out how to use it. I finally found it, it finds the missed spelled words but does not give you options on replacements. So I guess that I'll continue to write in MS word and cut and paste to the blog.

Be safe out there and be well

Love

Bob

Sunday 7/27/06 10:30




I could not get the brocure to publish the first time, but will try one more time. I think it worked this time.

Be safe out there and be well

Love
Bob

Sunday night 8/27

Well there is something going on today that I am having trouble figuring out. It started with the rain, then when we got to church I was suppose to run the program and the president of the board said she would do it so I could rest and take care of my legs. We had what we call “ Sit and Chat” it really is a small finger food pot luck.

Betty Lee has been writing on her blog for the last 30 minutes so I figured I should at least 10 minutes, but have no idea what I am going to write about. I had a call from Will, one of my mechanics, He wants to buy the Dodge Mini van with the blown transmission, I only will get $50 for It, but the junk yards do not want it, so that will help a little.

We are planning to go to the Grange Fair on Thursday, which is the last day of the fair and also senior’s get in free day. It is also the day of the parade. I really enjoy the fair, I think that this the first year that we will only get there for one day. Usually we get there for at least 2 days most times 3 days. as it is huge 975 large military style tents, 1300 RV’s a playground, 300 concessions, amusement rides, over 7000 exhibit items, livestock, horse shows, and draws crowds in excess of over 200,000. They have nationally known entertainers appearing in the grandstands nightly it runs from the 24th of August till the 31st of August, but they started allowing people to start moving stuff in on Sunday the 20th. We have friends that have a tent and most of the family, grand parent’s tent and all 4 generations stay there most of the time, especially the kids.

Then the following week is the Antique Machinery Show and Flea Market at the Penns Cave grounds, it runs from the 7th thru the 10th. I usually go to stock up on those hard to find items for the shop. Special screws, bolts, fasteners, tie downs etc. It is also great to watch the steam driven tractors and hit and miss engines and many other antique engines plus many different machines.

I am having trouble wit both shoulders I think it is a touch arthritis. My legs seem to be doing a little better. I have been taking an extra vitamin 4 evening a week and an iron pill daily. I seem to have a little more energy and stamina, which is a real good thing.

I am scanning the brochure for the grange and will add it to this Blog.



Be safe out there and be well

Love

Bob

Sunday before Church



This is a photo of the hit and run damage on the 98 Ford. It will be at the shop at 8:15 AM Monday. I am picking up the rental car then.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love

Bob

8/26/2006

Saturday AM 8/26

Just letting you know that my vacation trip to upstate New York worked out well. We left at midnight Wednesday night, and started back Friday night at about 10:40 PM. I was in my own bed by 6:10 AM. I slept till 9:30 AM. Had breakfast ten started to get the Ford ready to go to the Ford Dealer to get the hit and run rear right quarter panel replaced on Monday at 8:15 AM. I’ll pickup a rental car then and use it for running around to save on gas. These big vans get between 12 and 15 mpg and that little car should get about 30 mpg or more. Well I am off for a nap I’ll have to finish this later. All of a sudden I just can not keep my eyes open.

I slept for an hour then the phone rang but no one was there so I am up for nothing. I guess I‘ll get ready to peel potatoes for supper, I am fixing roast pork, sauerkraut, and mashed Potatoes. Betty just asked if I was going to town as she is almost out of cigarettes. So I guess there is no rest for the wicked, I’ll be back later.

I’m back the potatoes are peeled and cooking, the pork and sauerkraut is just waiting on the potatoes. I am back from getting Betty Lee’s cigarettes. I also picked up my powerball ticket I also picked up a $5 scratch off called Humongus bucks, the first one I won $6 the second one I have won $5, I’ll turn it in when I get the Sunday papers. Wish me luck and prosperity.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love

Bob

8/22/2006

Saturday evening 8/22

One of my Amish neibhors called tonight and said I know you are not driving any more but could you please take my wife and I to the midwife’s as she is in labor. I said sure as I knew the next closes person was at least 10 miles down the road, and the already had a few kids. About half way there she said we are not going to make it. Her husband called the midwife to meet us on the road. The midwife met us about 2/3 of the way there. She transferred an assistant and towels and blankets to my van (which took less than a minute) and I was off again 80 to 85 miles per hour again. We arrived at the clinic at 7:20 and at 7:23 he came out and said it’s a boy, he was born about a minute and a half ago. Damn I miss the excitement of driving these people. By 9:30 I was home again and we had stopped at her fathers to show him and his wife the baby. The mother sat up and joked all the way home about how she had scared me and her husband. The clinic is about 36 miles from my house on winding hwy 192 near Miflinburg PA. It is a pretty drive the top speed limit is 55 but most of it is posted at 45 and some at 40, so 80 to 85 was pushing the limits for that 15 passenger van. They gave me a $50 for taking them.

As I wrote earlier the damn income tax check did not come in. My original filing was the last week of February. They said they had not received one form, and I know it was there, because if it was not they would apply my refund to an old tax bill of Betty’s from before we were married. So I always check for it. I resent the form and they sent it back saying it was not needed, then I was told to resend the whole income tax 1040 and all attachments again which I did the a few days later I received another letter saying to send the injured spouse form again attached to this letter Which I also did. Then I started checking on line again on the status of my return, they kept telling me even up to today that I would receive it by 22 August, they lied. So this is where it stands after 6 months, I filed a claim the advocate general today this will even fix it or make it worse and probably get me audited next year.

Well be safe out there and be well

Love

Bob

Lousy Luck 8/22

Well it is 12:40 PM and the mail just came, and no income taxes check. Right now I am in the process of filing with the advocate general. I am on hold on my cell phone while he is making out the complaint, we will see if this helps or makes it worse. I feel like I am drowning in my own stuff.

After this is done I must go and see a couple of people that I owe and make all kinds of apologies to.

I think that I am just going to try and get away for a couple of days and vegetate. I have a friend that needs a ride to upstate NY Wednesday night I might take him if he pays all the expenses.
This would let me get my head together and figure out what to do. This is a big financial mess for me. And I am not the kind that usually can not figure out how to fix these things. I also do not usually get depressed about this stuff but I sure am this time.

just writing about it pisses me off more so I will quit for now.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love

Bob

Tuesday Morning 8/22

I have to meet Rebbeca and taake her to the churches bank and help her transfer money from savings to checking. It will take both our signature's to transfer the money's.

I really would rather just lay around the house today, but that will not work. The church uses one of my banks so I will make a deposit at the same time. Well the income check did not come in yesterday so I do not know what is going on. I will go to the IRS site later today and try and find out what is going on. As I have said I filed at the last week of Feburary. That is about 6 months today.

Well I had better go get ready to get my act together. I need to shower and get dressed, so I'll write more later.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love
Bob

8/21/2006

Monday Morning 8/21

Monday morning, I had planed on sleeping till 7:30 AM, but got up at 7 AM. I had slept from 5:30 PM till 9:30 PM. I went back to bed about 2 AM and tossed and turned but feel rested. My sugar was 143 this morning. Not bad for hosting a 9 year olds birthday party.

I am off to the notary as I received the application for the change of names on the title and transfer of the handicapped plate from the 93 mini van to the 93 Maxi van. We also received the application for a permanent handicapped placard back as we forgot to sign it.

I hope the income tax check comes today; it will get me out of the financial hole I am in.

When we went to church yesterday I forgot to take her oxygen with us. It scared the shit out of me, but she said she would OK and was. This is a real good sign, I think the not much humidity was one of the keys to this. She has started to walk to the bath room and to the bed which I also think is helping her breathing. Her color is much better and her legs look great. I do not think they have looked this well since before she was sick. In fact probably about 2 years before she was sick.

My legs are still giving me fits, they get tired real easy and start to tremble and I get tired so quickly that it is very disconcerting. I have been trying to take it easy but the work alcoholic in me keeps kicking in, it is so hard for me to sit and do nothing. I ordered a full set of books given away by E-Bay to setup a store on E-bay. I am thinking about opening an E-bay store to sell Amish made products. This probably will be items from furniture to trailers and about everything in between. This will be on a commission basis I will just act as a middle man and not keep any inventory, and I will deliver certain things for a fee. I have not figured out exactly how this is going to work, it is a work in progress.

I must close and get to my appointment with the notary.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love

Bob

8/20/2006

Sunday night 8/20

Well we survived Jared’s birthday party; he got a lot of loot a new intendo game player from his Dad and his brother and father. He also got a big rubber duck, a movie on DVD, a remote control 4 wheel drive truck, two board games and some other things which I have forgotten

The dinner went well roast beef, boiled new potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini and tomatoes, cantaloupes cubes, gravy. We still have chocolate cake to go. There were about 15 adults and his younger two cousins in the party.

I have plenty of boiled potatoes left over for home fries, and roast beef for sandwiches, there was also zucchini and tomatoes, and cauliflower. I had picked up 3 cantaloupes at an auction yesterday for $0.50 each and we all ate on one and there is some still left.

Well the cake was destroyed and I only had 2 pieces. Which of course Betty Lee hollered at me for, so what is new.

I went to an Amish benefit auction for a sick child yesterday and when I left I backed into an older Dodge Caravan. I took her right side rear tail light out. I filed a claim with Nation Wide Insurance last evening, what a pain in the butt, but I am glad for the coverage.

I could not send this earlier when I wrote the part above this. I do not know why I could not connect to the blogspot server.

I then had to take a nap as I must leave here in about 15 minutes (10:15 PM) I must be at a friends place at 11 PM. His car broke down and he must be to work at midnight. I am going to heat a big cup of coffee and get ready.

Be safe out there and be well.

Love

Bob

8/19/2006

Saturday AM 8/19

I have not been checking the content of my blog messages, so some things do not read the best or flow correctly. I sometimes think that my mind works that way jumping from I thing to another in no special order and then back to the first thing and then to third thing and finally back to the second.

This not being able to work is a bummer the bills are not getting paid and I am going crazy, not being busy. I always have been a work alcoholic so this is very hard.

I turned in the accident on the Ford, for those who do not know, I was hit and run in the North Atherton WalMart. I have Nation Wide Insurance, I took it to the Ford dealer they sent me to. The bill is for $1177.82.The work will be done, starting on 28 August 2006 I will also be getting a small rental car through insurance, it is going to cost me $0.78 a day. The big problem is my deductible is $500. So I hope my income tax finally comes in. The IRS web site say’s I should have it by the 22 of August.

For something to do today I am taking a neighbor to a hospital benefit auction this morning. They are going in early to help set up. It is to help with the medical bills for a child that has cancer and a head injury that left him with partial paralyze and also diminished mental capacity.This will help me from being so board today.

We are celebrating Jared 9th Birthday on Sunday afternoon. It seems like just yesterday that he was fighting to breath at the Hershey Medical Center, not 9 years ago.
I must close for now and eat as my sugar was 81when I just tested it. And I can smell the fresh coffee.

Be careful out there and be well.

Love

Bob

8/18/2006

Friday 8/18

It is Friday about 7:50 AM and I have had breakfast and taken my medicine, my sugar was 151 not to bad but could be better. I am off to the Ford dealer to get the estimate for the repairs on the rear passenger side on the 98 Ford.

I am a little tired so I do not know if the upping the multi vitamins and one iron capsule a day is cutting it. I slept 9 hours last night and only got up to go to the bath room twice so I should not be tired. It is the heavy eye lid type of tired, and my legs are a little shaky.

I might have over done it yesterday as I felt so good and well. I had not felt that well in over two weeks.

I am going to try and finish painting the middle section on the right side of the bus/RV, this really makes it look newer and sharper.

Be safe out there and be well

Love

Bob