Miscellaneous

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Hath Hell Frozen Over?

April 15, 2010 in Family, Miscellaneous, Vehicles by MAD | 1 comment

We are once again a 3-car family.  Yesterday we picked up another vehicle to round out the Disher fleet.

Wait for it…

 

 

 

A Mini van…

A gently used 2003 Pontiac Montana.

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Keeping on the Ramsey debt free strategy we added another clean used car to the stable, and paid cash.  This puppy is fully loaded and well cared for.  Every option, including DVD stuff for the kiddos.   We really only need to get 2 years out of it to break even, but it should last longer.

If you know me, I know what you’re thinking.

“What the hell?  A Mini van? and a GM product no less?“

No I didn’t bump my head, and I’m feeling OK.

This is a strategic move.

(a) It gets Claudine into something more fuel efficient for all the driving she does.  It’s actually easier for her to get Matthew into the car seat in this thing.  If Molly decides to resume gymnastics, all the driving that Claudine does will be better in this over the Excursion.

(b) It allows us to park the Cirrus for a while.  It’s been nickel and diming us to death, and quite frankly I’m just completely sick and tired of driving it.  It’s still a decent vehicle and Maggie will be 16 soon so she’ll need something to learn in.  The Cirrus is a good choice for this but if I had to drive it much longer it may very well have ended up in a lake or river.

(c) It allows me to take over the Excursion and recoup some man-points that have been lost from driving that Cirrus for so long.  Since I ride as often as I can the fuel burden won’t be as bad.

(Sorry tree huggers, we will never, ever, get rid of the Excursion, it is the Ultimate utility vehicle for hauling people, vacation/trips, and pulling the horse trailer, etc, etc.).

The most interesting part of this is that it is a GM product.  I’ve been anti-GM all my life, but this thing fit the bill and we just didn’t like anything Ford had to offer in this space.  Time will tell if that’s a mistake.

Saying goodbye to a friend.

April 8, 2010 in Just Ramblings, Miscellaneous by MAD | No comments

Phil was our auto mechanic.  He lived down the street from us on Radabaugh right over the ‘dip’ in the road.  His house was commonly referred to as the Cracker Barrel house because it always had a TON of stuff on, and around it.  It wasn’t junk though, it was ‘decorated’.   I’m somewhat saddened that I didn’t get to know Phil better.   Most of our interactions involved car repairs, though we did have the occasional neighbor chat, about happenings in Trenton.  He took an annual fishing trip to Canada in the fall and I was looking forward to joining him for one of those trips.  Phil was a laid back easy going guy, always cheerful and honest.  The kind of guy that comes and plows your driveway in the winter and doesn’t ask anything in return.  Heck for the last two years we didn’t have any idea who shoveled our driveway but we caught him in the act this year.  He was also restoring an 80’s Kawasaki K1000 and we frequently talked about riding when he got it back together.

Phil, you’ll be sorely missed.

His Obituary from the Journal news follows:

  morris_phillipstanley_SM

News Death Notice
MORRIS, Phillip S. age 61 of Trenton passed away at Atrium Medical Center on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 12:06 PM. He was born in Hamilton on September 29, 1948 the son of Elmer and Nellie (Chaney) Morris. Phillip was employed as an auto mechanic. He is survived by his mother, Nellie Morris of Hamilton; a brother, Kenneth (Gail) Morris of Pleasant Hill; three nephews, Shawn Morris, Jason Morris, and Marcus Christy; and a niece, Michelle Christy. He was preceded in death by his father, Elmer Morris, and a brother, Dr. Marcus Christy. Funeral service will be held at the Brown-Dawson Funeral Home, 330 Pershing Avenue, on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 10:00 AM with Pastor Shawn Morris of Salem United Methodist Church, Wapakoneta, Ohio officiating. Burial will follow in Millville Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. www.browndawson.com

A Photo update…

August 21, 2009 in Family, Miscellaneous, Photography by MAD | No comments

I cleared Claudine’s camera the other day.

The little man can eat.

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Claudine is just a trouble maker.  She and her friends wrapped the youth Pastors car as a going away present for him.

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Just a Photo update (August)

August 8, 2009 in Family, Miscellaneous, Photography by MAD | No comments

From this album: http://picasaweb.google.com/mdisher/AugustMiscPhotos#

Molly at Firecracker Camp:

Matthew and his Cozy Coup…  He had a busy day including a small ‘incident’.

Hanging on the porch swing

Time to take the car for a walk…

Oh the bees…

He took my coffee

 

This is right before he poured it on Jake…

It wasn’t hot, but Jake was not pleased, nor entertained.

(What do you mean I can’t do that? Sure I can, I just did.)

Escort vs. Train

February 25, 2009 in Miscellaneous, Vehicles by MAD | No comments

This morning on his way to school, Michael hit a train.  Yep, you read that right.  Miraculously, he walked away.  Sore as hell, just a few scratches on his right hand, banged up his knee a bit, but other than that he’s OK.

Apparently, he was behind a school bus that turned right at the tracks.  The school bus blocked his view of the flashing lights, and the train was coming from the right.  When he cleared the school bus he saw the train, but it was too late.   Hit slammed on the brakes and ended up hitting the 4th car from the Engine (according to the conductor).

He’s very, very lucky.

From Escort vs. Train

Channel 12′s Coverage

Channel 9′s Coverage

Ky Post Coverage

Giving up the Nicotine

January 30, 2009 in Family, Just Ramblings, Miscellaneous, Weight Loss by MAD | 4 comments

“It’s Time”

I’m 40-something and started smoking when I was 14 or so. 

When Michael was born, Claudine put her foot down.  No more smoking in the house.   Back then you could still smoke in most public places.  But standing outside in the cold weather wasn’t for me. 

So, I did the next best thing.  Switched up for something with no second-hand side effects.  (Chew or Dip).  It doesn’t affect those around you unless a: you spill it on them, or b: they grab your dip cup or can by mistake and take a swig.   The later was often comical though.

Anyway, that means I’ve been nicotine dependant for over 25 years.

As for dipping, it was a 5-can per week habit, nearly a can a day but not quite.  Sometimes more, sometimes less.

I have quit before, heck quitting is easy.  But staying that way hasn’t be so easy.  My most successful run was about 6 months, and I used the patch to get that far.  So still getting nicotine, only the clean pharmaceutical variety.

I am nicotine dependant, and addicted, there is no doubt about that. 

But I’m giving it up.  It’s simply “time to do so”.   I started yesterday, I’m not brave enough to go ‘cold-turkey’, and I also love my family too much to put them through that right now.   It wasn’t pleasant last time.

So I cut back significantly yesterday.   Only three small ‘fixes’.   May not seem like much but it was significant to me and actually wasn’t that easy.

I stuck with that routine today, at least as far in today as we are.  This mornings little fix was different.  Certainly not enjoyable.  Not like yesterday.  Nope, my body didn’t really like it.

I expect to drop it completely by Monday, heck if later today is like this morning, maybe sooner.

So there, I’ve said it.  I’ve posted it.  It’s public.  So after Monday, give me crap if you see me with tobacco.  It’s important for you to do so.  Now I just need to figure out how to not gain 30 lbs while doing this.  I really cannot afford to gain any more weight.

Forrest Gump Explains Mortgage Backed Securities

October 24, 2008 in Commentary, Miscellaneous by MAD | No comments

(Passed to me via email, but worth posting)

Mortgage Backed Securities are like boxes of chocolates. Criminals on Wall Street stole a few chocolates from the boxes and replaced them with turds. Their criminal buddies at Standard & Poor rated these boxes AAA Investment Grade chocolates. These boxes were then sold all over the world to investors. Eventually somebody bites into a turd and discovers the crime. Suddenly nobody trusts American chocolates anymore worldwide.

Hank Paulson now wants the American taxpayers to buy up and hold all these boxes of turd-infested chocolates for $700 billion dollars until the market for turds returns to normal. Meanwhile, Hank’s buddies, the Wall Street criminals who stole all the good chocolates are not being investigated, arrested, or indicted.

Mama always said: “Sniff the chocolates first Forrest”.

—

Which just goes to show you this whole thing stinks :)

Duke Update V

September 19, 2008 in Commentary, Homestead, Miscellaneous by MAD | No comments

Down to 113,000 Customers. 

I understand some folks are getting mighty testy out there…  Just keep in mind there are folks in Texas who won’t have power for a month.

Duke91908Outages

It sure would suck but it wouldn’t be the end of the world.  Man-Up folks.

Duke Update IV

September 18, 2008 in Commentary, Homestead, Miscellaneous by MAD | No comments

Now down to 212,000 Customers out.

Duke91808Outages

Note there are far fewer of these:

These

Which means the job is only getting harder for them to make headway.   I feel for those who still don’t have power.

We hope to get our cable/Internet up today, they’ve scheduled a visit between 11am and 1:30pm.   I’m not expecting much though as they think my area is clear…

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