Good morning Kitty.  I sent Susan a message on FB so she should get that soon.  We got about 5

inches of snow yesterday.  I was just going to leave it to melt in the next two partly sunny 45 degree

days.  My granddaughter wants to come over to see the puppies again so better do some snow

removal before their car packs it down.  We're supposed to get another storm Saturday and forecast

says might be over 12 inches snow.

Going to miss you, Brian, Susan, and the forum.  I remember all the good you did for people on this

Senior blog here.  You did a great job of paying it forward Kitty.  And I still remember the shells, bear,

and such down south on the island.  I'm proud to have been a small part of it.

I mostly studied the schematic of the Henry amp, searched forums, and emailed some technicians

about the receive relay circuit from upstairs yesterday.  It's gotten cold in the basement and I'm getting

tired of the cold.  I did talk to my brother on the radio at the end of the eve when his signal was strong

enough to hear easily but I was very tired by then and afraid I wasn't very good company.

Hope Brian enjoys finishing your stone wall, I've never built one.

Enjoy the day Kitty.

Ernie

Our wedding day June 15, 1974, posting early.

love the picture....our world is so beautiful....every tree branch is covered with snow....hope the wind doesn't blow it off for awhile....the pine tree is so beautiful .....agenda...... Virtual Dr. appointment...just annual check up....weird I took my own blood pressure so I could tell him...also he is retiring....so will be my last visit with him...sad for me but happy for him...

Dear Platypus…..

Thank you so much. I do remember you from years ago.  We all were so connected, especially in the beginning years.  I also remember Pancake and others who reached out to newbies!  The Forum saved years to my life and I will be eternally grateful to the angels who watched over and guided us.  Keep on…..keepin on as maybe Charlie or another would say.   Susan

Dear Miss Kitty,

I am sad, as well.  In my early days, I was nonstop on the Forum~ literally hanging on to a thread.  I truthfully feel I would not be here if I would not have quit.  YOU have been such an important part of my journey~ especially welcoming me into the Sensational Senior group and I thank you for that!
 

We must all keep in touch…. Perhaps Facebook Messenger.  ??  Susan

A lovely picture of you and your bride.  Hm. 1974~ well, I had you beat by a few years….Joe and I married in 1969.  I gave birth to our daughter, Molly, in 1975.

I am, of course, saddened by the news of the Forum closing its doors after helping so many.

I am wondering why?  So few smoke any more?  Ex Smokers too busy to take the time??

Thank you for being part of this journey with Kitty and myself  I hope we can figure out how to all chat on FB Messenger!   ?? Susan

Thanks for your message susan

it is sad that the forum is coming to an end. I think I started reading about how to quit on this forum in about 2002.  It took me till 2008 to finally have a serious attempt at quitting and I would not have been able to without the help of all the people here.  Have a grand future

cheers

Good morning Kitty.  We had the same snow on trees here.  I was going to just let the snow melt off

the driveway but then granddaughter said she was coming over to see the puppies again.  Did the

snow removal and later picked up the gravel I managed to pick up with the tractor bucket.  We're

supposed to get more snow tonight and tomorrow morning but it will melt soon with days in the 40s

and 50s.  Our pine branches are weighted down onto the pool fence. 

Worked on my 2 meter amplifier yesterday.  Found they left out the coaxial relay that drops the antenna

back to receive when not transmitting because they didn't need it.  So I found a new one on ebay for

less than half price, still $50.  The amp was used for a wireless PA or paging system so they didn't receive

any signals.  I have quite a bit of wiring to do that was left out but a ham radio operator sent me a diagram

so that's a big part of the battle.  I might even have it working before the forum shuts down.  Yesterday I

spent an hour cleaning ink off the front panel where they wrote instructions.

Our family doctor we had for decades retired 5 or 7 years ago.  We've had a few doctors since, they keep

finding better paying positions and moving on.  The best one left to run a residence program so if you make

an appointment with him you get one of the resident doctors.  He's the one that pointed me in the right

direction when I had the dizzy spells.  He sent me to some ultrasound tests that weren't covered by insurance

but just had to pay $20.  So the dizzy spells were actually stopped by taking low dose aspirins which I had

avoided because of bloody noses.  In the ultrasound tests they found my Aortic Aneurysm and they checked

it again in the Spring, found it was getting larger.  So had the special 2 piece stent installed.  Other people I

know have died when they burst.   So happy to be alive from a lucky sequence.  Aneurysm most likely caused

from smoking that left plaque on the artery walls.  It's a huge artery, 3/4 inches wide normally.  Loses a lot of

blood internally in a short time.  There is a special tool they have to insert and leave the mesh and then the two

pieces of the stent.  I imagine it costs a fortune.  I was getting bloody noses from low dose aspirin that would last

for hours but they seemed to have stopped for the last few years.

Wife and I are glad to be retired.  Insurance isn't nearly as good though.  Wife isn't on medicare yet and they got

her into tests for cataracts saying would be around $3000. but then said they don't do the surgery at our hospital

anymore so would be $14000.  We haven't found anyone to do it yet.  When I was working just about everything was

covered near 100%.  Also, we aren't poor enough to be covered for dental and other stuff.  Neither are the clebreties

on TV after they get paid for the commercials they're on saying they get that coverage.  You would have to be dirt poor

and living with relatives to get that coverage.

Enjoy the day Kitty.

Ernie

Our farm in the 50s

Good morning Susan.  Wedding was long ago, lucky I still remember that day.  1969 was Woodstock year.

I lived only couple hundred miles away but didn't know it happened until 1970 when I heard the 8 track

tape.  I remember hearing it in the back seat of a Chevelle Malibu.  Marriage was and still is the best decision

I made in my life.

I think probably much fewer people stopped smoking in this virus thing but just my thoughts.  There were

many things to help me stop smoking but the forum was a big part of it.  I'm grateful my granddaughter

talked me into this last attempt, that worked.  She was about 3 1/2 years old then.  Now she's 18.  Bought

my Subaru Baja then which I've had for 15 years.  Almost lost it in the Fall.  Had to put in a new rear subframe

and have two frame rails welded into the uni-body.  I looked at getting another vehicle and the cost is way to

high right now.  Used smaller pick-up was 38k and the larger one used was 50k. 

...Cocoa was born and came into our lives then also, sadly she left us in May, 2019.  I will always remember

her and love her.  She was a very smart dog and helped lots in opening my eyes to what special beings dogs are. 

When she was a little puppy I tried to walk up the hallway around her, she ran in front of me and sat there facing

me.  Will never forget that moment. 

Enjoy your days Susan.

Ernie

Cocoa foreground, Brandy background.

It’s always wonderful we have these photos and memories of our loved pets.  Do you believe that we will see them on the other side?  I pray we do!  Phoebe’s ashes are going with me… probably Finn’s too.  My collie was buried on our property in North Canton.

Sadly watching this horrible destruction to the people and country of Ukraine.  
 

Even though I am not here daily, I will miss the Forum.     Susan 

Sweet Bronwen, the love of my life…. 

Let’s all gather on FACEBOOK.  The Forum has added years to my life.  I feel sad that it will no longer be here!!  Susan