Back in the saddle

cowboydoc · Feb 16, 2002

I know how you feel Pete. I had an aneurysm in my left optic artery about three years and had to undergo major surgery for that. It's not too much fun. I couldn't even have any light to my eyes for about six days. Had to go around with these big sunglasses that covered my entire eyes even inside. It wasn't fun.

Boondox · Feb 17, 2002

Heck, Frank, I did lift my sights a tad! From a tiller to a backhoe! Seriously, it's become something of a joke with us, and the gentle teasing about implements have become part of our love play. I don't know many other couples who tolerate and even appreciate each other's quirks the way we do. Our lives are intertwined and I can't imagine life any other way. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Regards, Pete

RobS · Feb 17, 2002

Ouch Pete, that doesn't sound like any fun at all. Glad to hear you're on the mend /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

cedarranch · Feb 19, 2002

So did you know it was there these 27 years?
In 1989 I was working on a refueler. The pumps where running and a gauge was leaking. I walked about 15 feet away to get a line wrench when one of the pumps squealed and exploded. The only damage I got was a scratch on the leg next to my knee were a piece of the pump tore through my pants or so I believed. In 2000 my knee started giving me a lot pain. Xray showed a tiny piece of metal behind my knee cap.

Boondox · Feb 19, 2002

CR -- Yup, every time I had an xray it was there, and occasionally when I was wanded at the airport it would beep. The stuff in my legs pretty much worked its way out the first five years, but this piece was really in there!

Good thing you chose that moment to walk away from the pump! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Luck is a fickle thing, ain't it?

Pete

cedarranch · Feb 19, 2002

Yep!
Also got a bath in JP5 (jet fuel) once. Fitting broke while I was under the panel. I was stripping my clothes off as I was running for the shower. That was the rawest I have ever been. Still have a scar that only my can see! /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif That will put poison oak to shame! I seem to have good luck in some ways and bad in others. I had good luck that I was not bad hurt. But bad luck that I seem to always get stuck working behind the morons that caused both of these "accidents". During the 6 months that I worked their I filed 3 accident reports. All three were due to people not doing their job!

MarkV · Feb 19, 2002

Pete,

I have been behind on my reading and just saw your post about the surgery. Glad to hear it is working out well. That had to be a scary thing to go through. You sure your sled run didn’t jar something loose?/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

MarkV

Devildog · Feb 19, 2002

Pete, Hey Bro, Glad to here your doing good after the sugery. I know about the eye surgery stuff but it wasnt no shrapnel. Have to carefull with them. Also glad to see you getting some seat time. You need to aim a little higher like telling the wife you need a bigger tractor and then settle on the backhoe/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif But if she's anything like my wife that wouldnt work either/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
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Take care Bro, Jim

Boondox · Feb 20, 2002

Thanks, Jim. I'm actually looking forward to my next wand at the airport; it'll be nice not to set the thing to beeping!

I took advantage of the warm (30F) weather and lack of forecast snow to pop off the front wheels and have them reloaded with washer fluid. Lost the ballast in one when I let the pressure drop too low and the rubber separated from the bead. Lost the other when I ran over a logging hook and poked a hole in the thing. So both tires are having tubes added and filled. Really noticed the loss of traction on ice and snow without that additional weight up front.

BTW: Yet another reason for an FEL is the ease with which front wheels can be removed. Just lifted the front end by curling the bucket full down and left it there for several days. Nice and easy.

Semper fi, Pete