My prayers go out to you and your family Matt. I lost my parents 40 years ago and still think of them every day. It does get better.

Thank you all for your kind and caring comments. It does help. It's going to take some time to get over the loss. Every time I come in the house, I look over to his bed to see if he is there sleeping.

Last night I lost my faithful companion of 13 1/2 years. He was my dog, Oscar, a Brittany Spaniel. He got sick yesterday with very labored breathing. I took him to the vet and he had pneumonia. He was given all sorts of antibiotics and he died at home on the rug in front of my chair a few hours later. This poem by Gene Hill gives my feelings.

HE'S JUST MY DOG
He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea.
He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.)
When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.
When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags.
Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful.
He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion.
With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant.
His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things.
He has promised to wait for me . . . whenever . . . wherever — in case I need him. And I expect I will — as I always have.
He is just my dog.
Gene Hill, Tears & Laughter

Those are some nice Cannes.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. I just got back from the Dr. a little while ago. He said everything went great and the graft fit perfect. I asked the nurse if I would be handsome now, she said, " Not a chance." Oh well, the lady barber told me the same thing when I asked her if dyeing my hair blond would make me look like Brad Pitt.

My new Indian name now is Big White Ear. I got to leave the bandage in place for 2 weeks. The nurse said don't remove it even if it gets dirty and smelly.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't know if I want to go through the hassle of taking out the leaf springs at this time. I'll have to think on it.

I just got back from the Cardiologist (160 miles one way). the report was good. But I have to go back tomorrow to see a Derm surgeon. A month ago I had a mole removed from behind my left ear and the biopsy from Mayo Clinic said it was a malignant melanoma. Thankfully it isn't invasive or fast multiplying. The Derm surgeon wants wider margins, so he is going to remove most of the skin on the back of my ear and do a skin graft. This all happens tomorrow afternoon.

He said no work or lifting for a couple of weeks to get the graft to take. I told him no problem because I normally do nothing Monday through Friday and then take Saturday and Sunday off.

Thanks, Bill, for the ideas. That is pretty much what I thought. The coilovers seem to be the best answer.

Do you or anyone else have suggestions on what to buy and where to get them? Out here in western ND, it is pretty barren with supply houses. I would greatly appreciate it if someone would tell me just what to buy. I have looked at some in the past and am a bit confused.

Thanks for your help.

My problem is that before I got this car, someone had lowered it by removing the rubber bumpers on the front spring. I like the look but it is very low.

Last summer I replaced the shocks with KYBs and that helped a bit. A little stiffer ride and seemed to raise it up a bit.

I am wondering if there is anything I can do to raise it up in the front by using coil overs, other shocks, or maybe air shocks. I am open to suggestions. I really do not want to put in a new spring with the rubber bumpers to get the ride back to normal.

I can live with what I have but would like a little more clearance if possible.

Thanks, Don

Quote:

What about 1032? I think I still have some from my 56 Ford, my first car.

It was nice here yesterday. It was 69º, no wind and the sun was shining. I got the Blue Toy out of mothballs and did a bit of spring driving. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Suppose to be in the 70's today and I'll out playing again. Even here in ND it gets nice once in a while. Have a good day everyone.

All those warm weather predictions have made me come out of hibernation. It's suppose to be in the 50s today and 60s tomorrow. Have a good weekend.

Sorry Tommy about the dog. I know what you are feeling. I have an old Britany who was 13 in October. He is overweight and very arthritic. He has trouble getting up and down so I give him a couple of pain medications, rimadyl and gabapentin, every day. He still loves to eat and is a great companion. He wants to be everywhere I am. It will be a sad day when the inevitable comes.

You might want to read this link for what its worth.

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-c ... -bearings-made-china.html

Thanks for the song, Tommy, one of my favorites. Brings back old memories.

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The Corner bar in Baker had some class acts back in the late 70s and early 80s. It is only about 50 miles from where I live and have been there many times.

I remember the fall of 1969 like it was yesterday. I was a senior in college and just turned 21. Lots of time spent in the bars. It was an easy load in college because I had all of my required classes finished and was just picking up the last few credits to graduate in the spring.

Mostly I remember this girl who used to sing with a local band I got to know real well. She was in college studying to be a kindergarten teacher. She was the lead singer and boy could she belt out Proud Mary. She drank Rusty nails and I was in love or was it lust. I don't remember too clearly but I sure do remember. Thanks for the reminder.

Happy Fourth of July to all of you GURUs. Remember to thank all of the Veterans who with the Grace of God have kept our nation free all these years in spite of some of our so called leaders.

Quote:

You wouldn't happen to be talking about the 2 page poster of bare bottomed girls on bicycles, would you? If so, I just happen to have that one also.

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No, Tommy, you're not the only one. I appreciate the cycles and the window dressing. I have a Honda 1100 Shadow ACE.

TommyT-Bone wrote:
Sorry, Don, for taking a seemingly innocent post and hurling it in another direction. I do that sometimes ....

No problem, Tommy. They didn't have any herbs this year. Must have had a bad batch last year.

Happy Friday all. I'm off to the local garden show to get my garden plants for the summer. Lots of tomatoes (easy to give away), peppers, a few cabbages and a few herbs. The rest will be seeds, carrots, radishes, squash and maybe a couple of surprises.

It doesn't look like I'll be able to set the plants out just yet. It is suppose to be down to 30º Sunday and Monday night. Maybe later in the week. Well, off to breakfast.

Congrats also, Tom. I retired from the teaching profession 13 years ago and have no regrets and I enjoyed teaching as well. The administrative crap kept getting worse, not the classroom.

I did keep up my part-time tax preparation job up for another 10 years. That made 40 years with the same firm. Retirement is a lot of fun. Everyday is a challenge figuring out what to in my many hobbies or just to do nothing but fun stuff like looking to see if there is another car I might like to have.

Best of luck in the future. I'm sure your many talents will keep you busy.

It really looks great. I am more than a little envious.

Congrats Letty. Sounds like a nice ride. Is it a convertible like you wanted? What color?

I'm still using a flip phone that only makes telephone calls and plan to stay that way.

Have a great week. It is 27º here this morning and will be in the 40s and 50s all week.

Morning,
It's not 80º here either, but it was 81º here yesterday. Almost like spring. Cooler today, high in the 60s. We've had plenty of wind but it is suppose to be nice all week, mostly in the 60s.

I had a good report from the cardiologist last week. He said blood was flowing good and the heart efficiency (ejection factor) had increased by 10% up to normal range. He did say with all of the stents that I would probably have to continue on Plavix for a long time, maybe indefinitely. I don't need to see him for a year or 100,000 miles.

Have a good Palm Sunday and a joyous Easter.

It looks like a couple of weeks of great weather up here in North country. It was 70º today and I had to get the Blue Toy out for a spin. Got the revs up close to 6 a couple of times, squealed the tires a bit and even broke the speed limit a bit. It made her and me both feel good. Even played a little Meat Loaf (Two outta three ain't bad) for a mood enhancer. Feels good to be alive and hitting on all 8. Even the old dog was out exploring in the yard. It is suppose to hit 75º on Sunday. Last time the car was out was in late January during a 60º spell. As the saying goes, Keep the shiny side up.

You're not the only one up, but it is damn cold here this morning. It is -13º. I am just going out for coffee and a little snack. It didn't take the dog very long to go out this morning. It is suppose to get back up in the 30s tomorrow.

Best wishes to your wife, Tommy. I would like to see the video also.

It is 33º here today, but we are getting more snow. We've got about 2" so far this morning. Great big fluffy flakes.

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Yes, I was. They gave me a valium before the procedure and a local at the entry site in the wrist. I wasn't even sleepy at any time. Then the nurses showed me before and after pictures when it was done. The doctor talked throughout the procedure.

Hope your brother gets better Tee.

Morning,

Good to be alive and I feel great. 23º this morning and it is suppose to be in the 30s today. My dog, Oscar, is talking to me in the background as I write this. He is feeling neglected lately with all of the traveling to the doctors.

A side benefit is that I seem to have a better attitude and am looking forward to summer so I can play with the cars and maybe do some wrenching on my old pickup. I'm sure it need some new injectors. I was going to do it last summer but never could seem to find the energy to start on it. I put them in my last 90 Vette without too much trouble and I'm don't think my 89 Ford pickup will be any harder.

Have a great day and try to stay out of trouble.

Just a short note to thank everyone for the health mojo. It worked. I went in and the angiogram found 4 blocked areas, These were on the 2 left branches of the main coronary artery. One had three blocks and he had to put in 2 stents totally 56 mm long. He said that one was about 99% blocked. The other blockage he used a 20 mm stent.

This was all done this morning and I am home tonight feeling good and lucky on Friday the 13th. I've always thought 13 was lucky.

Have a good one and best wishes to you all.

Thank you all for the well wishes. Everything went good today. I saw the cardiologist and 2 good looking nurses and a fairly hot FNP. The lady that did the echo cardiogram sat right next to me on the bed and ran ultra sound wand all over my chest and side. One of the most enjoyable procedures.

But they do feel there is a blockage and I am going in for an angiogram and stent placement in the morning. They say they do it as out patient surgery and I get to watch partially sedated. He said they will probably go in through the top of the hand. The doctor said less invasive than the groin and far less bleeding hazard after the surgery. I will probable be able to go home the same day unless complication occur.

Morning all,

Shortly I am of to see the cardiologist and get the good news. Hopefully no more than a stent or two. See you all later.

Thanks to you all for the well wishes. The stress test went okay, no pain or heart attack. The doctor was to call me in 2 or 3 days with the results. However, just after I got home, the doctor called and said there was some blockage and scheduled me for a consult with a cardiologist tomorrow. I asked about later, and he said tomorrow. So I have to travel 160 miles one way to see the cardiologist. I will know more later.

Morning all,
It is cool today, 18º, and windy. I am off to the doctor for a cardiac stress test. The doctor saw a past event in my EKG last week and suspects some partial blockage. I'm sure things will go okay.

Up here in the Northland, it is -10º and we got 4-6" of snow. Not too much wind, but it sure feels like winter after being 60º above last week. It is suppose to last a week or so. I did get the 94 out last week for a short spin. My insurance agent wanted some new pictures so I went out blew out the cobwebs. It felt great after 2 months of driving the Jeep and the pickup.

Morning all,

I woke up to rain this morning and temps in the high 30s. It is suppose to be in the 40s to near 50 until next Thursday. Must be a winter Chinook. Have a good day.

Morning all. It is -19º so far this morning and will probably drop some more. They are saying -39º wind chill. It sure didn't take the dog very long when he went outside. Think I'll go back to the warm bed and listen to the morning news before I go to coffee.

The bottom dropped here in western ND. It was 30º at 9pm last night and it was -1º at 6am. We also got a small layer of snow. Have a good weekend.

Best wishes for a great New Year and that all your Vette dreams come true.

Time looks okay here in ND. Thanks.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all of you.

Good morning everyone. I haven't said anything in a while but I have been a faithful reader. I do enjoy the Forum. Lately, I have been working on a 1989 Jeep Wrangler. Getting it ready for the winter. We've had a nice fall so far.

Morning all,
Cloudy here also and 50º here at 7:30am. I've got to wash clothes and do the Sunday crosswords. It is suppose to rain some tonight and tomorrow. We did have a nice day on Friday. However Saturday, I did get my garden planted. I planted 40 tomato plants. Should be enough for all the friends. I also planted 12 pepper plants, some hot, a few cabbage. a few rows of carrots, radishes, lettuce and a bunch of cucumbers and squashes. Might even keep the garden raiders happy. Better go and have my coffee.

Morning,
Cloudy and rainy here this morning. It has been nice during the day, up to 68º yesterday, but down to the low 30s at night. I'm off to the local garden club's plant sale in a few minutes. Have to get my tomato plants, 36 or so, to help feed the neighborhood. One thing you can always give away is tomatoes. They often return as salsa, soup and sauce. Win win for all. Have a great weekend.

I have a Hurst short throw shifter in my 94. I like it. Nice solid shifting. The white cue ball has a nice feel.

I got the email as of 11:08 MDT last night, May 1st.

Good morning Gurus,

Thanks Andy for your great efforts. I've missed the Guru and all of the great comments. I saw the notice on Face Book and tried to log in. It wouldn't work. Changed the password and it worked for a while. This morning I tried to log in but no luck. I requested a new password and viola, I am here. Hope the new host works out.

Don

Thank you all for some of the best music I have heard in a long time. It was much appreciated.
Don