Real life thread

[Jeff Head]

Thank you so much my dear friend Jeff. I still get teary eyed, especially as I was reading your story about your final hug with your father. I tell you that not a day goes by that I don’t think of him and the sacrifices he made for the greater good of the family. I sense that you, as I, strive to be a good a man as our fathers where. It is reassuring to know that we will all be reunited again.

May God keep you healthy and well my brother so that you can be that good example to your children and grandchildren.

Thank you my friend. I am grateful for whatever measure of health I am blessed with. I have learned to not mourn what I may have lost as much as I rejoice in what I do have when it comes to health.

Given the cancer I had and the lengths the doctors had to go to to remove it and keep me alive, it is miraculous that I can walk at all, much less continue with my work and career as I have been able to do.

Even more, to have now lived these last five years and seen four more grandkids come into our life, and be in a position to help and love our own children and all ten of our grandchildren...it is all just beyond my comrehension given the circumstances five years ago at this time.

We may live in different countries, we may have grown up in different cultures, and we may live under various governments...but these things are common to us all and can, if we will allow them...bring us together. In our humanity, and in our relationship with God, none of us are better than or more important than the other. And all of us face these same experiences...both those that are more challenging and those that are so wonderful.

 

[Jeff Head]

For those who don't know, I drive a 44 tonne artic ('Semi', or 'trailer Truck' in the US) for a living which is a very highly skilled job especially in this country where the roads are too small and the car drivers are very rude! After two weeks away from my 'ship' I returned to find the wing mirror had been broken (and repaired and there was a chunk of trim missing from the door frame. I've had that truck from new for two years and not put a scratch on it myself...

Really, Obi? That's something I did not know and am glad to learn.

I drove large trucks earlier in life. While in college, I enjoyed it so much that I thought about making a career of it...but then went ahead with my engineering.

But, from the time before I was a teenager, I drove trucks on the ranch. Usually bob-tailed hay trucks and the like with 24-32 foot beds and what we called an overhead, head-ache rack, and two drive axels.

Then, while in college I drove semi tractor trailers...mostly for my father-in-law who was a over-the-road, professional truck driver his whole life until he finally retired at 81 years old after driving from 1949-2012...63 years!

I drove both what we call convetnional tractors and cab-over tractors. Usually Peterbilt.

I just finished a 1/24 scale Peterbilt 359 convetnional model for my father-in-law. One of my grandsons helped me do it.

We we are going to present it to him at Christmas...with a nice bronze plaque commemorating his dirving history:

​

 

[Miragedriver]

I'd just like to thank you all sincerely for your support over the last week or two, it was a scary experience but I'm emerging intact out the other side! I returned to work this week on Monday, my boss simply asked 'Are you fit for work?' to which I said yes, and it was back to the grindstone once more! Not too bad actually, it's been a quieter week than usual so not too strenuous. For those who don't know, I drive a 44 tonne artic ('Semi', or 'trailer Truck' in the US) for a living which is a very highly skilled job especially in this country where the roads are too small and the car drivers are very rude! After two weeks away from my 'ship' I returned to find the wing mirror had been broken (and repaired and there was a chunk of trim missing from the door frame. I've had that truck from new for two years and not put a scratch on it myself...

I believe I can say that we are all so happy that your surgery and frightening ordeal is over and that you came out better than before. Please let us all now when your next surgery is so that we may keep you in our prayers and thoughts for a speedy recovery. Now you just have to find the bloke that damaged your lorry!

Besides, I need my fix of English humor and wit.


I will now get back to bottling my Malbec

 

[Jeff Head]

Wow...we went from record breaking snow fall and cold (with several days below zero Farenheit) in November, now to record mild temperatiures yesterday in December.

We tied a record yesterday for a high of 63 F degrees on that date. The normal high is 38-39 F degrees.

But it will be short lived...we have a cold from coming in tonight with rain and then some late snow and getting things back to normal for this time of year.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Wow...we went from record breaking snow fall and cold (with several days below zero Farenheit) in November, now to record mild temperatiures yesterday in December.

We tied a record yesterday for a high of 63 F degrees on that date. The normal high is 38-39 F degrees.

But it will be short lived...we have a cold from coming in tonight with rain and then some late snow and getting things back to normal for this time of year.

Any chance of a White Christmas this year?

 

[Jeff Head]

Any chance of a White Christmas this year?

Yes there is a chance.

We do not have snow on the ground right now here in the valleys (there is of course in the mountains which we can easily drive into), but a storm is coming in on Christmas Eve which may give us snow that night here in the valleys and make for a white Christmas just in time.

 

[Jeff Head]

Woo-hoo...filled up on gas today at $2.25 dollars per gallon here in the Boise area.

It was really nice.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Woo-hoo...filled up on gas today at $2.25 dollars per gallon here in the Boise area.

It was really nice.

My family is actually taking advantage of the low gas price and going on a road trip to Corpus Christi/South Padre Islands on Sunday!

Will be visiting U.S.S Lexington when we stop by Corpus Christi. Can't wait since they not only have WWII era displays on the flight deck but also modern aircraft like the A-4, F-14, and F-18 (repainted Blue Angel style) on loan from Pensacola. This will be amazing!

 

[SteelBird]

Woo-hoo...filled up on gas today at $2.25 dollars per gallon here in the Boise area.

It was really nice.

That is really cheap at about $0.59 per liter. The latest price that I filled in my car was $1.12 per liter (92).

 

[antiterror13]

Woo-hoo...filled up on gas today at $2.25 dollars per gallon here in the Boise area.

It was really nice.

I am very jealous of people in the US ... jezzz, like US$0.6 /L or NZ$0.77/L ... we pay for 91 for NZ$1.93/L or roughly 2.5x the price in the US