Exhaust Brake

Exhaust brake is in but not working yet, I will finish it tomorrow. It took longer than I thought, started at 9:30 and stopped about 6:30. I did take my time, had to remove both front tires and fender liners along with both batteries and the air intake hose. Also had three rain showers to deal with. Robert, Kelsey and George came over and helped with the fan belt install. I also changed the antifreeze/coolant as the truck now has 50k miles on it. About it for now. Hope to meet up with Mark, Dortha, Jim and Ellie Sunday in Tunica. Speedy the evaluations are for employees, sorry about that.

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Bad Side Of Vacations

Normal FD day, not much going on today. Caught up on paperwork, that is the only bad thing about vacations is catching everything back up when you get back. Should have everything I need to start the exhaust brake install tomorrow which I plan to do myself. Hopefully a less then 6 hour job. Finished another evaluation today with 3 more due next month. Bridget is working on getting the rooms ready for painting. I hope to get the house on the market before the end of May.

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Friday thru Tuesday

Left out Friday morning with Cheaha State Park as our destination. After 5 1/2 hours of driving we had arrived and set up. This is a beautiful state park with full hook ups at $21 a night plus 10% tax. Cheaha State Park is located at the highest point in Alabama at just over 2,400 feet above sea level. This is a park we will return to when we are in the area. If I can figure out how to link to Picasa I will add a link of our weekend trip to Talladega Super Speedway. Try THIS link. Please work.
Friday night we went into the city of Oxford, AL for our daily Walmart stop and ate at a restaurant called "The Fried Tomato" which was a buffet. The food was very good and we did not eat too much. When we got back to the trailer I was going for my chat fix when low and behold I found a spot that Verizon doesn't work, not surprising since it was 14 miles from any city and the highest point in AL.
Saturday after breakfast we headed out to the track for the Nationwide race 117 laps which was 312 miles, the Sunday race was 188 laps for 499 miles. Saturday night we grilled T-bones at the campground.
Sunday after breakfast we headed back to the track and met up with my niece Renee. After walking around and getting autographs for her we met up with Troy and his family, they were tailgating right next to the park. Troy is a captain on my shift at the FD. We walked over to the track and enjoyed another NASCAR race, this is our third event. Talladega in Oct 05, April 09, and Bristol Mar 09.
Slept in Monday after breakfast we went to Camping World and the grocery store then did some sight seeing. Relaxation after that which included more grilling of food.
Tuesday after breakfast we put everything away for our trip back home. Uneventful with a rest stop for lunch and a Flying J fuel stop.
See you in chat.

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Memories

Today was a sad day. We traveled up to Oxford, MS for the funeral of Bob's sister, we know she is no longer suffering and is in a better place. It was a lovely service and she was buried with her first husband in North Oxford. After the services we went to her son's home where folks brought food for the family and friends. Lots of memories were shared with one another and relatives I had never met until today. They are a lively bunch and like to laugh alot.

Busy All Day

Worked the mall 7-3 normal day plus pressure washing sidewalks in front of one of the restaurants. Bridget picked me up and then picked up the TSC gang, Amy, Kay, Frank, and Cecily and we all went to a Mexican restaurant, after lunch we went back by to drop them off and had the orange cheesecake for dessert. When Bridget picked me up at 3, we left heading for the Cummins dealership to pick up the exhaust brake, left there heading to pick up the truck, the A/C is working. Got home and fixed the neighbors push mower and riding mower, she had too much oil (quart or more) in the push mower and a bad spark plug. The riding mowers deck was bent so I straightened it and raised the front of the deck. After that I went down to Crystal Springs to meet with the floor guy. When I got home one of the fire fighters called me and said he had a friend that was heading to Talladega in their motor home and were having electrical problem. I went over to Timberlake Campground and started checking electrical. Turns out the inverter is not working. Rewired the microwave to a different circuit until they can get the inverter changed out. Tired and going to bed.

Sad Note

Started out this morning leaving the FD heading to Cummins MidSouth to pick up a fuel filter and order an exhaust brake. The EB will be in tomorrow and I will install it on the 30th. Leaving for Talladega Friday morning. Got home and changed the fuel filter. I had promised Amy an orange cheesecake for her birthday which was last month and I finally had time to make it, a cheesecake is time consuming. After lunch we dropped the truck off at the body shop to get the A/C repaired and have them respray the tailgate bed liner. I ordered the 19.5" tires and wheels for the truck from Rickson Wheel Manufacturing and will pick them up in June, they are located in Maryland.

On a sad note, Aunt Sis, Bob's sister, passed away today at 12:30pm, funeral arrangements are being made but look like it may be Thursday. I would like to thank all of you for your prayers and comments and ask that you continue to keep Bob (Bridget's dad) and his family in your prayers.

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What Is Going On Here

Slow day at the FD, 3 evals to finish. Our ladder truck did not start this morning for a call, finally got it going and took it to the city shop, a loose starter relay wire, back in service, that call was covered by the rescue. Shortly after that on a trash fire, the driver got the truck stuck, had to call the city shop and they brought out a backhoe and pulled them out. Hopefully that will be it for the shift. Can't take much more of this.

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Nothing Day

Lazy day, I did go down to my mom's to take a shop vac to my sister and take up the tack strips so the new floor could be put down. Took a nap when I got home and have been surfing the web and reading blogs.

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June Vacation

Home from the FD. Went to Lowes to try to figure out how I was going to make a stand for the satellite antenna. As I was walking in I saw the outdoor lawn furniture and then it dawned on me that I could just use the base of an outdoor patio umbrella. Purchased the base and went home, took out the pipe I bought the other day and it fit into the umbrella stand. Put it together and set up the dish. Went inside the trailer and turned on the TV and dish receiver, in a few minutes I was watching TV. After that project was complete I headed inside to put the cabinet doors back on in the master bathroom, done with that. Lunch then planning our June vacation up to Gettysburg, PA. Most of it planned out and some reservations made then was off to the mall to work 3-11.

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Quick Read

FD day, nothing unusual. Normal paperwork and errands. I did have lunch at McB's with Kay, Bo, Amy, Frank, Sam, Mike, Steve and Bridget. We are grilling steaks tonight. See you in chat.

Birthday Dinner's For Two

Worked the mall 7a-3p, usual day. When I got home the 150 psi air compressor had come in. I unboxed it then let it run and cycle a few times to make sure everything was working correctly, it was so I topped off the trailer tires at 125 psi, the suspension at 70 psi and hitch at 75 psi. We will be leaving next Friday for Talladega. Compressor is now in the basement in the front, I also put a moisture separator on it. We are going out to dinner for Annie's and Amy's birthday, Amy's was actually while we were out of town and Annie's was Monday so we scheduled it for tonight. Dinner will be with Amy, Kay, Bo, Cecily, Annie, Bridget and I. I also have to make Amy a cheesecake. Will try to make chat tonight.

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Public Employee's Retirement System

Bridget met me at the FD and we went from there to the body shop that did the repair work from the accident on Dec 1. We dropped the truck off and headed down to Crystal Springs to remove the carpet. As you know, my mom has been diagnosed with chronic leukemia and my sister wants to put down the Allure wood floors to cut down on allergens. Chronic leukemia attacks the immune system and infections are contracted easily. After that we headed home. I piddled in the trailer and after talking with Mark the other day I was finally able to figure out the satellite wiring, Thanks Mark. We will now have satellite at Talladega and all our other trips. I had a two o'clock appointment at PERS for my retirement questions and found out I have allot of time that I need to take as I won't get credit for it and will lose it. After that we headed home but also called the body shop to check on the truck. They said the condenser had a pin hole leak and ordered another one. It will be replaced when it comes in and we will have A/C again. Temps right now are not bad, 70's day and 50's night. Got home and piddled some more.

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Late Night

Well we left Mark and Dortha late last night and got home after midnight but we had a really good time with them, dinner and then giving Silverstar some money. Looking forward to our next gathering. I slept in til 7 and was at work at 7:54, that was pushing the envelope. Just a few calls today, no fires just EMS. EMS calls make up almost 75% of our calls. We are at a little over 600 calls for this year. Found out yesterday the A/C has gone out in the truck so we will drop it off in the morning to have it checked. That's it for today.

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Happy Birthday Annie

Today is Bridget's sisters birthday. Happy Birthday Annie. Update on Bob's sister, Aunt Sis' condition has worsened and it looks grim. Please continue to pray for her. Spent the morning piddling around the house. Left in the afternoon for Philadelphia, MS to meet Mark and Dortha on their way thru. We all ate at the buffet in the Silver Star Casino, played the slots a while then went to Mark and Dortha's rig and visited. Had a great time and enjoyed their company.


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Bridget

Prayer Request

Wishing you and your family a happy Easter. I am having to work at the mall, checking in every hour or two for problems, at least I am not having to stay up there for 8 hours. During my home time I have been painting the bathroom cabinets. Bridget, Annie, Bob and Marcy have gone up to Oxford to visit Bob's sister. She is 86 years old and in the hospital. She is not doing well. I ask for your prayers for Aunt Sis. It started raining an hour ago and we are under a tornado watch.

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Busy Day

We have been running steady with EMS calls today, nothing major to report. Today was also our high school reunion lunch at Hamil's in Madison. It started at 11a and ended at 2p, Bridget graduated in 79 and I graduated in 80. Classmates from Class of 78-84 were there and we all had a great time. Looking forward to some camping trips with some of them. Bridget is at home preparing Easter potato salad, it always tastes better the second day. She is planning on baking a ham tomorrow. I also ordered a compressor for the truck and trailer. Not much else going on around here. See you in chat.

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Tax Time

This morning after breakfast I sent my mom's tax returns to her by mail, she will have them Monday to sign and mail off. I also sent ours off this morning. The wireless printer arrived this morning so it is now set up on both laptops and hardwired (USB) to the desktop. I am posting from the mall, working 3-11.

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C4580

Got home from FD and had breakfast. HP had credited my Paypal account so I ordered the C4580 wireless printer. Spent most of the morning trying to rig up a satellite dish for the Suite Ram and tinkering on it. After lunch and a short nap we headed down to Crystal Springs to clean cut closets. Then to Robert and Kelsey's to work on a plumbing problem of a slow drain. Will need a 50' snake for the drain, I only had a 25'er. We took them to O'Charley's for supper then headed home.

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Slow Day

Another normal FD day, started out cool in the low 40's and ended up in the low 70's. Our cool weather is gone, at least for the next few weeks but hopefully til fall. Computer and paper work today, evaluations and vacation scheduling. Bridget is bringing supper to the station, I don't know what it will be but I am sure it will be good.

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Two In One Day

Normal mall work day of 7a-3p. When I got home I had a package in the mail and one at the door. The mail package was the LP detector for the trailer and the other was the HP C5580 printer I ordered. The printer was first and only to get unpacked. I first installed it on the desktop and then on my laptop. Tried to print from my laptop and nothing, I was thinking about calling Speedy but didn't have his number. Ended up calling Jim and Dee, they had a similar printer. Turns out the one I ordered was not a wireless printer but a Bluetooth printer thanks to Jim's help and less then 2 minutes. Called HP for an RMA #, that was a treat. I ended up talking with some of Speedy's friends in India for instructions on sending it back. I thought they were simple instructions from what I could understand. I printed off the email and boxed the printer, took the email with RMA # and address down to FedEx/Kinko's. Cart the printer inside and set it on the counter. Lady says I have to have the label with the bar code on it. I don't know about a bar code and ask her to print one off, she says they can't do it. I called our friends in India to find out I had to print the label, new information. Guess where the printer is. I went over to F/K's label maker at .20 a minute plus .49 for the label, I go to work. 4 minutes later it says web address doesn't exist. I called the lady over and she read the address to me to double check (I didn't have my reading glasses with me) and still nothing. Not a happy camper so she calls the 800 number and she reads the address to them as she is putting it in her computer, yes that is it they say, web address doesn't exist. They have her do a Google search and use that link. Poof, there it is. Turns out the address they emailed me is an old and out of date address link. Anyway, the printer is on it's way back and when my account is credited I will order the C4580 printer.

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My Day Off

Got home from FD and had breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and sliced banana's with juice. Had to run by the UPS store to get the Missouri land sale notarized and sent off, then to the chiropractor for both of us. After that we went over to Terry's moms house so I could change out a bad water heater relief valve. Then home for a meatloaf on onion roll sandwich. After lunch it was off to Aunt Shirley's to take her bathroom drain apart to retrieve a pendant she had dropped in the drain. I dropped Bridget off and the house and went and got a haircut. That was my day off.

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The Race

Slow day at the FD, little tired as I worked til 11pm last night and had to be at FD at 6:30am. I ordered an HP Photosmart C5580 All-in-One Printer , it is wireless. Watched the race, napped through some of it, JJ finished 2nd. Just got off chat where the discussion was Yoville on FB and travel. Calling it a night.

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The Proposal

I got up at 7:30 and Bridget got up an hour later. She made eggs and toast for breakfast then we watched TV and read blogs. She got ready to go to the movies with her sister Annie and I stayed home and took a nap. Got up and ready for the 3-11 mall job. Normal day at the mall with the exception of having to remove the Easter bunny display under the clock tower so a marriage proposal could be performed. She said Yes, after an hour or so of pictures we were able to reassemble the Easter bunny display. Got to get back to work.

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Busy Day After Work.

Worked to mall 7-3, when I got off I headed home to pick up Nathan's (Dawg) trailer. Dawg is a fire fighter on my shift and James dropped the trailer off at my house. I hooked up to the trailer and pulled it up enough to get the mower off. I cut my yard then had to take the high rise commode out and take it to my mom's house in Crystal Springs. It was to tall for Bridget. Drove down to my mom's and installed the commode there then cut her grass. Left there and headed to Clinton to drop Dawg's trailer off at his house then went home. After supper installed the new commode at home, it is a standard height commode. Sitting in my recliner relaxing.

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Back At Work

I forgot to write the blog, got on chat til about 9:30 or so, read some blogs, got on FB and started bejeweled blitz and Bridget FB'd that I hadn't written on the blog yet and I was about to go to bed. So nothing happened today at the FD other than the usual paperwork and a few EMS calls. I'm back from vacation so I had a lot of stuff to catch up on. Going to bed now, I have the mall tomorrow and Saturday then back to the FD.

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Back Home

It was raining when we woke this morning at 7:30. So not being in a hurry we had breakfast and started getting the inside ready for travel, the rain soon ended and I moved to the outside stuff. We were on the road a little after 9 with a 6 hour drive in front of us. No problems on the way home, stopped in McCalla at the Petro for fuel and lunch. Got home, backed the trailer in, unloaded and went out to eat supper. We enjoyed our vacation and the time we were able to spend with Jim and Dee, they are great people and fun to be around. Look forward to meeting up with them again on down the road. Tomorrow is FD day.

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