rich-c: test
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changed username to George rich-c: hi George rich-c: how's things in Philly? George: Hi Rich George: sunny and warm George: i made it rich-c: same here - this weekend we may even see some summer or at least a preview rich-c: yes, when you're on the limp making it is not a given George: i'm keeping close company with the toilet rich-c: after I saw the doctor yesterday I went and got an application for a disabled parking permit rich-c: yes, the doctor told me to up my dose of Arthrotec so that will likely upset my plumbing
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changed username to Guy B. rich-c: hello Guy George: Hi Guy rich-c: been a while since you've made a Saturday Guy B.: Hi Everyone, Abby and I just came back from a walk. Quite warm here. rich-c: yes, we seem to be getting a southern airflow at last rich-c: mind you, it brings up all the crud from the American powerplants, so doesn't do my lungs any good Guy B.: After a cool week, finally the tables have turned. rich-c: just in time too for our big racing weekend Guy B.: Nascar? rich-c: they had so much rain at Pocono that NASCAR couldn't hold qualifying yesterday - it was bubbling up thru the track rich-c: IRL in Texas tonite, Formula 1 in Montreal, CART at Laguna Seca and NASCAR tomorrow Guy B.: That's a big weekend in racing. Will you be able to watch all of it? rich-c: I will have square eyes by tomorrow nite rich-c: yes, the only problem is NASCAR overlaps the GP and maybe CART rich-c: but that's what VCRs are for - the Grand Prix at least will be off-air Guy B.: There you go. rich-c: Frances will love it - she'll be able to surf the net all day Guy B.: Just sent off my final payment to Bob for the convention, So, I'm all set. rich-c: yes, you're well advanced on that rich-c: as you know I'm holding back as our dollar is rising Guy B.: Last of the overtime pay until at least August. rich-c: well, which do you prefer, the money or the time? Guy B.: The overtime helps alot. Especially after my health insurance rates went up starting this month. rich-c: yes, that's right, you pay lower taxes but we don't pay health insurance Guy B.: My company pays 80% of the costs. We pay the remainder. Required by Federal law here in the U.S. rich-c: I thought the company subsidy was set by workplace agreement rich-c: I keep reading about all sorts of people who are employed but dan't have health insurance Guy B.: It could vary. The unions here like the companies to pay all of the health insurance. But, that's now starting to change as companies realize that either they give in or lay them off. rich-c: yes, the unions are rather under pressure rich-c: your economy is not nearly as healthy as ours Guy B.: And now they realize that they don't have much of a choice and a strike will do more harm that good. Guy B.: The stock market here had a bad week. rich-c: oddly enough, our unions manage to be bloody-minded and non-confrontational at the same time
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changed username to Ron rich-c: hi Ron Guy B.: Hi Ron Ron: amazing eh? Ron: I actually remembered rich-c: I'm stunned George: hi Ron Ron: :) Ron: So the sun shines Guy B.: Give him credit. He remembered. Ron: here in the valley rich-c: oh, the doctor said yesterday no barrier to my flying or driving in high altitudes Ron: good news Guy B.: That's good to hear. rich-c: which removes at leasst one major obstacle to our attendance at ACon 15 rich-c: that's the part that really fussed me Ron: glad you confirmed the 15 Rich. I've lost track of the numbers Ron: So the one we're about to attend is 14 right? rich-c: me too - that's a wild guess Guy B.: Yep Ron: These details escape me sometimes Ron: In other news Ron: the 93 Ford Taurus had it's rear end redesigned Ron: Thurs rich-c: well, I keep getting my promise about being at 0E tossed at me Ron: hit by a pickup with a trailer Guy B.: How did that happened? rich-c: or dear, who stopped a few feet further on than he should have? Guy B.: Ouch. Ron: He backed into me inflicting $4097.?? damage rich-c: these days that's penny-ante Guy B.: That's about the value of the car, isn't it? Ron: Thank the good Lord for collision rich-c: if you can pry a settlement out of ICBC Ron: I gather it was almost the book value of the vehicle, and t'was touch and go as to whether they were going to do it Ron: Yes, I'lll be covered Guy B.: Thank goodness. rich-c: I trust there were no injuries? Ron: It will be repaired Ron: this is one of these deals where ICBC suddenly has to draw a line down the middle of themselves Ron: They represent both of us, rich-c: yes, but there are fault assignment rules - I believe they're national Ron: Nope, Mom was in the car but was unhurt. Ron: yeah Ron: They're still waiting to hear from the other party rich-c: I gather the Taurus was parked at the time Ron: anyway.... life goes on Ron: nope.... I was proceeding up the street, and the other guy was parked by the side of the road.....just off on the grass Guy B.: You had more damage done to your car than what happened to me last year. Mine was US$600 and mine was parked when it was hit. Ron: by the time I realized he was backing up, I swerved left to try to avoid him Ron: and didn't rich-c: and he backed into you? how did he manage that? Ron: said he didn't see me rich-c: I assume then that your damage is on the right hand side Guy B.: I bet with the trailer attached. He couldn't. rich-c: what sort of trailer was he pulling? Ron: yes. Mom says that if I hadn't tried to avoid him, he'd have caught us on the front door where she was sitting Ron: as it was, he hit me further back Ron: yes... right hand side..... passenger side back door and rear fender panel Guy B.: Then it was a good thing. Ron: still get this twinge of guilt..... that somehow I should have seen him backing up..... I didn't. I saw him there, but didn't see him moving rich-c: thaty's going to play hell with the rear axle alignment Ron: That's part of the 4 grand Rich. They're going to check and re-align as required Guy B.: That wasn't your fault Ron. It's that guy, since he was backing up his into traffic. rich-c: again, what sort of trailer was it? construction? gardener? boat? Ron: that's what they said at icbc Ron: looked like a landscaping operation.. small GMC pickup with a small trailer rich-c: he should have been able to see over the equipment, then Ron: no backup lights Guy B.: What kind of trailer was this guy pulling? Ron: I would have thought so rich-c: with travel trailers when backing to the left you lose visibility even in your mirrors rich-c: but with the gardening trailers I've seen, that shouldn't be an issue Ron: yes, you'd know bout that kind of thing since you've been there and done that Ron: yeah, the trailer just wasn't that big rich-c: the governing factor is height Ron: ic rich-c: but from a pickup cab you should have been visible over and through Ron: Was a little concerned about Mom and her heart condition Ron: but she took it better than I did rich-c: no matter teh circumstances it always leavews you seriously rattled Ron: that's it. rich-c: why didn't he just pull forward onto the road? Ron: senses play tricks on you Ron: Only thing I can figure is that he intended to back the trailer across the road and into a driveway on the other side Ron: Because, subsequently that's what he did. Guy B.: I wonder why this guy had to backup in order to get on the road. Was there something in front of him? Ron: Looked like he lived there rich-c: that would seem to make sense rich-c: you should see the scene when we bring the trailer home and back it into our driveway Ron: Which would actually mean that the trailer would have been coming at me faster than it would have been if he were only backing straight up Guy B.: It would have been better for him to go forward, then make a turn somewhere to get back straight to his house. rich-c: well, in terms of evasion space, yes Ron: yeah rich-c: backing a trailer into a driveway in a residential area is a real challenge Ron: So as I understand it, the Taurus came within a few cents of being written off, but ended up on the right side of the leger rich-c: since I assume you don't really want to buy a new car right now, that's a relief Ron: you bet rich-c: I have the Behemoth in the shop right now Ron: So... that's my story for the week rich-c: has a burned valve so I'm having the heads redone Ron: Oh? Ron: aha rich-c: I am not looking forward to the bill Guy B.: Just got new brakes for my car this week. It was overdue. Ron: no. That will not be fun rich-c: brakes are an area where I prefer to err on the side of caution rich-c: well, the big bucks will come when I take the van in for a new engine Ron: right Ron: you need a mechanic on staff Rich rich-c: for the money I'm paying, I should have one Ron: :) rich-c: still, I haven't spent THAT much on my vehicles of late Ron: still.... you guys use your vehicles extensively... cost of doing business eh? rich-c: actually we don't use them that much, except for our travels Ron: when amortized over time.... prolly doesn't look so bad rich-c: wouldn't be surprised if last year we were under 19K clicks total for both for the year Guy B.: I drive the most on the weekends. I do drive to the train station and take that to work. rich-c: sorry, 10K rich-c: for George and Guy, that's about 6000 miles Ron: really! Had an impression that you were travelling more than that Guy B.: Mine's about 11000 a year. rich-c: no, our only long trip was just down to Washington, and that's under 1000 miles Ron: about the same here Guy...... depends on how many times we go down Island, but that's about what it averages rich-c: we do very little driving around the city - but Toronto being as it is, that's understandable Ron: I hear ya. Ron: Have enough trouble with Vancouver on my twice a year trips to see Jeff rich-c: just Frances to check on her mother, and grocery shopping once a week Guy B.: And I did a good cleaning od the interior this morning. Mostly one little stinker of a dog's fur all over the place. Ron: ah the infamous dog fur Guy B.: She loves going for rides in my car. rich-c: I've heard cats can do an even bigger job of fuzzing up interiors Ron: but I'd expect that the dog underneath is worth having around Guy B.: Walks are her favorite, then going for a ride in the car. Ron: By the way Rich, I sent off a reply to Geoff Oltmans. gave him some web sites about diving around Victoria and a few other must see items rich-c: I hope you discourage her from sticking her head out the window rich-c: Ron, any idea how much travelling Geoff has done outside 'Bama Ron: none whatever Rich. Don't expect he's been in these parts too often, if at all Guy B.: She sticks her head out the back window which only lowers half way. But, she doesn't stay out there very long. rich-c: if he's been strictly bound to his locality, he'll get a hell of a shock Ron: that's right rich-c: he'd likely have never seen land that stands on edge (and sometimes shakes) rich-c: and Wreck Beach is definitely not Gulf Shores! Ron: or water so big that you can't see across it rich-c: he'll have trouble with the daylight, too rich-c: if he comes in the next few weeks, it will be a real shock rich-c: doubt he's ever been able to read a paper outdoors at 10 p.m. rich-c: and he will face a big dose of culture shock rich-c: think he should be warned that Victoria's normal warm hospitality is a bit cool to Texas accents right now? Ron: guys.... gonna have to bow out..... got a phone call I have to take Ron: See ya's wed rich-c: see you Ron Guy B.: Ok, Ron. See you then. Ron: be well rich-c: gladyou could come by rich-c: you still with us, George? George: yes rich-c: you've been so quiet, I was wondering Guy B.: I was wondering the same thing.
Ron left chat session George: i got lost in tvland Guy B.: Are you watching the World Cup? rich-c: I'll be virtuous - I won't do that till after dinner George: sitcoms rich-c: outside of my chosen sports, I've given up on tv Guy B.: I watched part of the England/Argentina game. England scored on a penalty kick. I don't what the score is now. rich-c: don't even watch the news any more rich-c: it finished 1-0, Guy, you're watching a tape dealy George: our news is filtered here Guy B.: I figured as much. The USA game is tomorrow during the wee hours of the morning. rich-c: not so much filtered as spun, George, and it's a worldwide plague rich-c: unless your cable carries BBC International news, you can't avoid it rich-c: same problem with the newspapers, but sometimes they do run opposing articles and letters rich-c: we get the sorta-left and sorta-right papers here each day George: HA, my cable carry BBC? rich-c: and often enough you'd be hard put to know they wre reporting the same event rich-c: well, it's one of those things they use as a filler in some packages George: i'm lucky my cable company carries CNN rich-c: up here, we would not regard that as kuck - CNN is greatly distrusted rich-c: they are very good at picking up breaking stories, though
moved to room Meeting Place rich-c: here CNN is an optional extra we do not take
changed username to Pamela Pamela: Hi there George: why are they against Turner rich-c: hi daughter Guy B.: Hi Pam. You missed Ron. George: Hi Pam Pamela: forgot about the chat today, thought I'd drop in for a few minutes Pamela: Sorry I missed him rich-c: some klutz knocked the corner off his Taurus and it was a near writeoff Pamela: Ron's? rich-c: yes Pamela: oh dear Pamela: what year is it, do you know? rich-c: fortunately neither he nor his mother were hurt Pamela: thank goodness rich-c: but that's more than can be said for his right rear area George: 1998 Guy B.: if he didn't swerve from this guy, he could have hurt his mom who was sitting in the car. Pamela: sounds like the goof who tried to run me off the road a few weeks ago Pamela: turned left into my lane without checking to see if it was occupied rich-c: this was some gardener trying to back his trailer into his driveway across the road Guy B.: Ron's car was 1993, not 1998. rich-c: unfortunately, he backed first and looked later Pamela: fortunately, I had the center turn lane to move into Pamela: same year as mine - hmmm Guy B.: My Buick Century is 1993 too. rich-c: a bit over $4K to fix it, he said Pamela: about the value of the vehicle at this stage, depending on how well he's kept it up Guy B.: Just about right, Pam. rich-c: yes, ICBC sort of flipped a coin on the writeoff issue Pamela: I'm sure glad they're alright, but I'll bet they're shaken up George: i got lost Guy B.: They were, but they were Ok. rich-c: Ron is, but his mother took it well, it seems Pamela: for all that Ron complains about ICBC, they're pretty good about taking care of things Pamela: at least in my experience rich-c: hmm - do you know any really great bodyshops to recommend in Comox? Pamela: no, but ICBC will steer him in the right direction Pamela: is it a sedan? rich-c: quite a contrast to here - they just want you to take the cheapest rich-c: yes, I believe it's the 4-door Pamela: there was no two door unless you count the SHO, just the sedan and wagon rich-c: right Pamela: and no one in their right mind bought SHO's Pamela: trouble on wheels Pamela: at least in that year rich-c: true, but the ones weird enough to do it enjoyed them Pamela: Taurus as sports car is a concept I have trouble wrapping my mind around Pamela: now as racing cars, yes rich-c: more sporty than sports, but the Q-ship concept has a certain appeal Pamela: well, the good news about my car is that I passed drive-clean without a problem today rich-c: yes, I'd love to have a "stock" Taurus as NASCAR defines it Pamela: me too rich-c: v8 engine - rear wheel drive - better aero - sports suspension - dynamite brakes Pamela: all of the above Pamela: except I'm not sure it's a good idea to give me an 8 cyl engine rich-c: Behemoth is too old to need a Drive Clean sticker Pamela: I'm enough of a lead foot as it is. Pamela: see, there's something to be said for owning a vehicle that's 29 years old rich-c: and when I put the V8 in the van, it reverts to 1980 truck requirements Pamela: why is that? rich-c: there's a loophole in the act that means it's defined as a hot rod Pamela: LOL rich-c: oh, with the trailer off it can get out of its own way nicely even with the V6 Pamela: FYI, gents what we're talking about is the requirements for emissions testing Pamela: vehicles older than three years but younger that 20 years require testing (and passing) every two years. rich-c: by the way, you know Behemoth is in the shop? Pamela: can't renew your plate sticker without it Pamela: no, didn't know that Pamela: how come? George: i have bad emissions without a car rich-c: yes, having the heads rebuilt -problem with a valve Pamela: LOL, George Pamela: remind me not to be in the same room with you for too long
(A strange smell wafts around the room) rich-c: the labout is so extensive and expensive additional precautionary maintenace seemed useful Pamela: hee hee hee rich-c: John tried to talk me out of it but I figured it was worthwhile Pamela: why did he try to talk you out of it? rich-c: when it comes back I can take the truck in for the new engine rich-c: he felt the investment was a bit heavy for a car that old Pamela: so you're going ahead with that right away - didn't know you were doing it so soon rich-c: it will be way north of a kilobuck before taxes Pamela: but he knows what you use it for, right? Pamela: the engine on the truck or the heads? rich-c: well, with the V8 in the van that use may change rich-c: the heads - the truck will be several times that Pamela: Are you getting a new engine, a reman, or a used? rich-c: we're still discussing that - will depend on if there's a core credit for the old engine Guy B.: Well gang. I'm going to go. See you on Wednesday. rich-c: OK Guy, see you then Pamela: if they return it, you should get a core charge credit Pamela: bye Guy, hope I didn't run you off George: bye Guy
Guy B. left chat session rich-c: well, a V6 on a V* may present problems Pamela: look into it, there should be one regardless, as far as I know rich-c: oh, saw Dr. Santo yesterday Pamela: especially since the old engine is still good Pamela: what did the Doc say? rich-c: the good news: he says my l8ngs will take airplane or high altitude travel Pamela: good Pamela: and? rich-c: the bad news: severe osteo-arthritis in the left hip Pamela: ouch rich-c: said he'd sign off on a disability parking permit on the x-rays alone Pamela: I gotta start keeping track of all this stuff, since it seems I got your body Pamela: did you ask for one? rich-c: for the moment we will try some medication variations, but a hip replacement may be necessary soon rich-c: got the permit application yesterday, will take it over for him to sign Monday Pamela: double wow : ( Pamela: I guess this means hiking over glaciers is out for the time being rich-c: all the reports I hear about hip replacements these days seem to be very positive rich-c: knee surgery is another matter Pamela: yes, I've heard some very good things Pamela: Neil rich-c: at the moment, hiking to the plaza is far beyond me Pamela: s mom ( Russell's cousin) had one and is thrilled by the improvement George: i have to get a MRI of the lumbar spine Monday Pamela: but I hear the recuperation is a bitch rich-c: well, if pills won't do it I'll consider the knife Pamela: Have you ever had an MRI before, George? rich-c: but don't want to do it in the summer or early fall rich-c: what's the MRI for, George? George: yes, i got stuck in the tube Pamela: How did you manage that? George: they had to pull me out by the feet George: i'm too big rich-c: gotta take off some weight, George! Pamela: George, did you say you're basically confined to a wheelchair? I can't remember George: i have a disk herniation on L4,L5 rich-c: herniated discs are serious trouble George: i'm notquite in a wheelchair yet rich-c: maybe you should have them cut you off at the waistline and put on a new bottom end Pamela: um, it's about that spinal cord thing Dad George: the doctor trippled my dose of darvocet Pamela: them's serious drugs rich-c: which, I assume, means the pain is getting even worse George: yes rich-c: you must be wandering around pretty buzzed most of the while then George: thats why i say i keep getting lost rich-c: yes, it definitely figures rich-c: Pam, I have a race tonight and three tomorrow Pamela: busy night rich-c: so don't be surprised if your mother ties up the phone for a long time Pamela: oh, is she planning to surf/ rich-c: she usually does when she knows I'll be occupied elsewhere for some time Pamela: I wanted to drop by at some point but don't know when I'll have time. rich-c: well, if you can't get the line, come by anyway, we'll be here Pamela: okay, fair enough rich-c: but now I've got to go shower and get ready for dinner Pamela: yes, and I should get some other on-line stuff done. Sorry to desert you, George rich-c: so I shall have to shut it down now rich-c: right - bye to both of you George: see you Wen.? Pamela: well, maybe I'll come by tonite and just enjoy the front porch rich-c: yep Pamela: will let you know. rich-c: OK George: bye for now rich-c: bye Pamela: bye for now - until Wednesday
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moved to room Meeting Place
changed username to Adam-mtl