My Old Pal

My old pal, the big red truck turned 300,000 miles today. A milestone.


I have towed tons of RVs down the road, dogs loaded on camping trips, week after week of tailgating off this truck, scuba off this truck, hay and grain off this old friend, I have towed a few horses, made many trips on business, towed my Jeep behind, and used the tailgate as my yard work bench for 13 years.

The old boy got a new transmission a few weeks ago so I am keeping him a few more years at least.

I have always done the required maintenance and replaced anything that is broken. It has never been wrecked.

Overall a fine purchase in 2000 with no regrets.

This is Brilliant

Supposedly in Boston you get to pee on the competition at their stadium. I need to get some Dallas, Atlanta, Philly, and New Orleans logos to paste up on the urinals at Carolina.

Stuff I Like

Tailgate and grill.


Hang at the NC and GA coast.



Scuba.


And I have done none of the above lately.

Location:Pinewood Ln,Midland,United States

Per Rock Chef

Your request sir.

I'm coming back to life

Slowly the steroids are doing their trick and I have had three days of relatively pain free heaven.

I am staying off my feet and only venture to feed the horses.


The horses insist on my cooking, and the chickens are no trouble either. Twice a day I do this.

Today I ventured out and bought a scuba cylinder from Craig's List.



It is a dandy 80 aluminum cylinder that needs testing and cleaning before I'll breathe from it. It was a steal at $75. Otherwise if it fails it will make a nice lamp base for my screen room.

I simply drove to he meeting place and exchanged money and he loaded the cylinder.

What a Difference a Month Makes

I've been in bed coming up on a month. Every time I attempt activity, the pain knocks me back in bed. Activity is defined as not being in bed and walking modestly....about 5 minutes slow walk to the barn and back.

I am on my 4th round of strong steroids with all the side effects of puffiness, sweats, jumpiness, sleeplessness, buzz head, etc.

Yesterday and this morning I feel better. There is very little pain and I am going out to eat breakfast with friends. I am thrilled with anticipation of shredded hash browns.

I hope for the best and know I am healing. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be down this long.

There is a long recovery period yet getting back to my active lifestyle. I day dream of diving and being the independent person I was. I know it is coming back.

Support

I have been over whelmed with support of friends, fellow bloggers, tailgaters, divers, business colleagues, and long time friends. It means a lot to me to get a call, email, text or whatever to just check in on me.

It appears all is not going as it should, and we are devising a plan to resolve my less than stellar recovery.

I will let you know what is going on when I know, but for now the pain in my leg is back along with numbness.

Thankfully I have been able to give rest a serious try and could get used to it, but rest is not helping.

I am able to work some from bed with my iPad, iPhone and two border collies lying on each side of me.

Gigi is taking great care of me, and I have hired out most of the heavy work needed to be done around here on a weekly basis.

So for now, more powerful steroids, rest, reading and keeping my fingers crossed.

Meat Marketing

Grass fed, hand cut meat. Huh? Wtf?
Before, did the butcher tear the meat with his teeth...or did robots cut the meat?
My horses are grass fed. Common knowledge to a 3 year old. Cows eat grass too.

Good News - Very Affordable Healthcare

I have met my $6,000 yearly medical deductible.

$18,000 for the surgery and hospital, and $2,770 for the MRI did me in.

Not bad for 70 days. From now until March 1, 2014 everything is free after I pay $1400 a month in healthcare premiums.

$22,800 a year for healthcare at group rates. I hear my costs will soar neat year when Obamacare kicks in 100%.

People are going to absolutely shit next year when you have to buy this stuff or have the IRS take from you.

So What the Hell do I do With This?

They are $80 on Amazon. Gigi and I have three now, a walker, crutches, two canes, shower seat, and bed side potty.

Seems like I could make something cool out of this.

Life Cycle of a Cooked Hen

Last night it was rotisserie chicken with rice and green beans.

Today is will be chicken soup.

Cripple Upgrades

Now that I am old, spent, and cripple, the mind comes into play. Check out this hydronic lift that I will mount to my old 5th wheel mount in my truck bed.






Scuba tanks, grills, generators, camping equipment may take a bit longer to load but they'll never get my back again.

I should have done this years ago. I may attach a come along for hay to drag it on the bed of the truck.

I Can't Clean

The dog pool is up for the season. God the dogs love to lay and play in this pool.


I can no longer pick up the edge and dump it.....so....I siphoned it yesterday, cleaned it gently with a string mop instead of scrubbing on all fours, and filled it again with minimal stress on my back. I'm learning to protect my spine.

I siphoned the water off the jeep tarp too. Usually I would just muscle the water to the edge and create a giant waterfall. Saved by back again.

My old golf cart has been pulled from the well house and is being converted into a small hauler for stuff around the yard like spray tanks, scuba tanks, coolers, camping stuff, etc. More attempts at reasoning with my back.

I may try and mount the pressure washer on the cart soon to blast off the deck and patio.

I Love This Boat

They really have old Reliance looking spiffy. A lot of decking and staging work was done last year and the hull was painted before the season. Now the top is trimmed out in diver red and white with contact information.



Captain Cook waves from the top deck as she pulls into harbor. Scott Cook is a hoot. I always enjoy his company and remarks.

The Diesel engine on Reliance is old, smokes, and sputters, but seems to work good enough.

It is better to look good anyway.

I Was Indestructable

I have followed the doctors new orders carefully since my flair up and I am better. Bed rest and steroids are doing the trick.

I realize recovery is a mind game. I keep wanting to do stuff because I measure accomplishment subconsciously by the stuff I do.

Yesterday I had a "must do" meeting because of time constraints involved with an investment. I asked my business partner if he could drive me out of town so I could continue rest and yet work. A 90 minute ride in a Mercedes was a breeze. It was nice to get outside and sight see.


Finally, I really like ducks.

A Nice Eternal Place

My last shore dive on St Croix was to this old Danish anchor resting beside a coral head. The spot is about 100 feet down and just a few kicks downhill is the Wall which plunges thousands of feet down. The place is breathtaking.

The surreal images are the closest you'll ever get to be in a living Roger Dean "Yes" album cover.

So I'm leaning to this place to drop off my ashes when the times comes. Mix me in with some Concrete Mix and a plaque, and old wReg should be just fine here for a few centuries.

I'd prefer to be over there to the left, kind of under that coral....a nice place for me and a lobster.

A Small Setback

It has been a week since surgery and since I have followed the rules wReggie style.

It means I pushed a bit too hard yesterday and now I am in the bed by orders from the doctor.

Apparently my walking activity was excessive and I have enflamed stuff in that general area. Now it requires bed rest.

And so I am in bed again.

I'm Not Impressed

My used tire experience hasn't been pleasant.


I was taking my walk and noticed my new used tire had exploded. But, I did it the redneck way and saved money.

Now I have an exploded $25 tire (useless)...$50 in pocket. Could have had a $75 good new tire (useful)....$0 in pocket.

The redneck sorrow continues. I also have a bad battery in the truck.