dave

Amen

The injury is at the top of the thoracic. I am getting better with steroids. Neurosurgeon said NO chiropractor's. Absolutely no spine manipulating. Today was the first day in four weeks I've taken no percoset. At just over 18#, I can still stand.

I had an MRI Monday. Tuesday my doctor called to tell me it was not normal but, we knew that, he said. An hour later he called back and said that he passed it along to a neurosurgeon and the neurosurgeon would be calling me Tuesday. He called that afternoon and told me that he wanted me to have TWO more MRI's, one on my cervical and one on my lumbar and he wanted me to have it now. I had two more MRI's Wednesday. My case was so unusual that a consortium of specialists, neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons and cancer specialists, looked at the three MRI's Thursday morning. My appointment was Thursday afternoon. He asked me some questions about the pain and ran me through a battery of physical tests. The only one I didn't pass was the strength in my fingers test. He asked me to sit back in front of his desk so he could show me the MRI. He showed my the mass that was pressing against my spinal cord, cutting off the fluid a bit. He told me that he was surprised to see me today because people with a MRI like mine, usually come to see him in a wheel chair. He must have told me that he had no words or explaination for why I was walking around and moving like nothing was really wrong, five or six times. He just couldn't believe it and kept repeating it. At first glance, the first doctor thought cancer (lymphoma) but, the rest of the history didn't go with that diagnosis. The consortium came to the conclusion that it is a badly herniated disc, that herniated inside my spine rather than outside. Taking it easy and not lifting anything heavier than twenty pounds for a while. I told him about the fishing trip I had been on this past weekend. 45" plus red drum and dozens and dozens of rays and sharks. He said that I could have been one stringray away from being a quadrapalegic. He again commented on how my body is handling this and has no idea how I am doing it. If I had been in a car accident and he saw this MRI, I'd have been in surgery that day. Again he repeated how remarkable it is that I show little symtoms. I've been sleeping sitting up on a sofa for four weeks. Percoset and Motrin round the clock. Pain is getting slightly better. He gave me the steroid pack for six days. I actually feel a bit better. He said it should slowly heal itself. In the end he again remarked about my physical extraordinary condition and how good it is that it is not cancer. God is good.

Tebow played college football and won the Heisman and won two National Championships at...quarterback. When he played for the Broncos at...you guessed it... quarterback, he led them to the playoffs. He plays with his whole heart and throughout his entire career has been a winner. Perhaps the wearing of his Christian faith on his sleeve for anyone to see is part of all the hating. It's one thing for arm chair football experts to determine that he sucks and is not really a quarterback but, the prayer leader comment is very telling.

Amen

I will continue to recommend the H2O Mettle. It is an incredible reel for $50.

My mom passed away after battling melanoma for three years. She (we) were blessed that all of her medical care came at the hands of the cancer specialists at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore. We were able to have her with us for much longer than the typical melanoma patient. I still don't think I have experienced the gravity that she is gone. I believe I am closer now to my dad. (we always had a good relationship, it is now just better) I know his mindset as a Catholic, as both she and I were and are devout Catholics.. It is an incredible comfort having that relationship with God, knowing that she and your dad are on the road to Heaven. I don't want this to become a deletable religious post. Never stop praying for your dad and never stop asking God to allow your dad's prayers for you, to reach you. On the dreams part, I had a best friend shot and killed nineteen years ago. Shortly after, I had dreams in which I was talking with him about death and the afterlife. Those dreams were as vivid and real as if he were alive and in the same room with me. They have meant a lot to me.

How were you able to move in such precise, jerky movements? LOL

If it is a ported spool, try threading it through the ports and tie off.

I unscrewed the gauge / tank connector assembly and pulled it out. The pick up tube stayed in the tank because the fit wasn't tight. I picked up another tank just in case but, I think I'll try to find just that assembly cheaper or try to seal the old one somehow.

I replaced the primer bulb because I thought it was bad. (it probably was and doesn't hurt to change it) Gas still won't pump out of the tank. When I open the tank and pump the bulb, I can hear a sucking sound in the tank like it is trying to pump but, nothing is coming out. Is there a part in the tank that can go bad and not allow gas to pull through? If so, is it replaceable or do you just go for a new tank? Could it be the hose to tank connector?

This past winter, I watched from beginning to end, every episode of: The Andy Griffith Show, the original Star Trek series and Star Trek the Next Generation. My wife allowed the subscription to run out after that. LOL

I picked up a new (used) boat and need to sell my other. It is a small fiberglass bassboat made by Glasstream. It is a 14ft. Stinger. Basically a pretty neat one man bass boat. The floor has some soft spots and the color is faded bad. I already know that the boat itself isn't worth much and I plan to cannibalize electrical parts for the new boat. What does have value is the outboard and trolling motor and trailer. 2003 40 HP Tohatsu with relatively low hours and works really great. (this motor is almost bullet proof) 40# thrust Minn Kota Edge bowmount hand controlled trolling motor. Venture trailer. I have a good friend that wants the Tohatsu right now but, I have know idea how to value it. Do I try to get as much as I can as a package deal or sell the parts individually and trash the hull. The boat as a whole doesn't look all that great but, it is very funtional.

Worst thread ever. Man thong? free balling? Really men? Really?

I caught a foot and a half (estimate) wide skate on 6# clear with a medium spinning rod. I had to purposely break off in order to move on. In open water, it was a beast.

Not to start up an old (and recent long thread but) 30 yards is pretty decent cast.

Thanks Koofy, that helps. Mine is either missing the strap or being used for something else. On mine, there is another strap on the other side where the wires are held. Maybe I need to reconfigure the strap. It's mostly a matter of, "it's there and came new as part of the kit so, I want it to work".

Exactly

I purchased a used boat from a customer of mine through my job. Two days later, he brought the trolling motor to me and gave it to me free. The control box covers were all smashed and cracked and it looked like h#ll. I bought a new cover kit and it looks almost like new and works just fine. It was so beat up when I got it, I can't tell whether the light gets mounted somewhere in the cover or just lays in the cover. Does anyone know?

Happy for him. I wonder what happened to Elaine? He talked a lot about her.

Muddy, by his own admission, doesn't play well with others on the internet.

Thanks

I'll give it a whirl.

The solenoid clicks but, the starter will not engage. The piston is movable by hand. What is typically the problem? New starter motor needed? Electrical connection? 60 HP ELPTO.