HEY ALL!!    " Don't question why she needs to be so free, she'll tell you it's the only way to be, she just can't be chained, to a life where nothing's gained, and nothing's lost, at such a cost " 
WOW no Birthday shout out today. :( Well any guesses on the lyrics??  Spent most of the day reloading stuff on eBay. I am transferring the die-cast cars over to my other eBay account. I have decided that it would be cheaper to run all the sales through on account, instead of splitting it up. I originally did that to keep track of costs, since I was doing the selling for a friend. But at this point it makes more sense to combine. It just means I have to reload 60 some plus listing. OH well patience will be needed. Other than that caught some baseball on TV, COOL!! I think it will take 3 or 4 days to get all the listing re-listed. I can only sit at the computer for soooo long. OK lyrics time. The above is from The Rolling Stones "Ruby Tuesday". Written by Jagger and Richards. The song is said to be about Keith's ex-girl friend Linda Keith. She was THE major figure in the discovery of Jimi Hendricks and getting him hooked up with music people to help promote Jimi. When asked about the song Keith is quoted as saying " Well it was a Tuesday, and it felt kind of Ruby." Only Keith could describe it that way. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!  The weather is interesting this time of year. A little sun, some rain, some wind. It was warm the first part of last week and now it is cooler, just cool enough you can feel it. Another week of wind and rain. I have been using my gas fireplace in the afternoons from about 3pm to 430pm. Then the furnace kicks in and stay warm the rest of the night. I had turned down the heat pump a couple of weeks ago, just a couple of degrees, but I really feel it. But, it is great to have the gas fireplace it does a nice job. Well oddly quiet the last couple of days on eBay. Just seems odd. A peaceful weekend, did have a chance to shuffle through some more cards to get ready for listings. And cleaned off the table a little. I still find it odd at times on this retirement thing. Use to be I could get phone calls any time of the day or night about some kind of problem at work. Billy or Suzy would be acting up or had done something wrong and someone would call to tell me and find out what I wanted to do. And of course then all the side stuff, what would the boss say, what would the customers complain about etc, etc, etc. For the most part I have gotten by that. But, every once in awhile I get a little "ping" when the phone rings. My thought is "Who is that NOW, and what problem is there?" But then it turns out to be another "final" offer to lower my interest rate. And I go back to relax. The other thing is the time deadlines. Gotta get this and this done BEFORE I go back to work, etc, etc. Then I catch myself and go do something else, putting off that "must do" task till tomorrow. Just odd after 40 years of working under those circumstances that those feelings still hang on. I hope it doesn't take the next 40 years to get rid of them. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!      Well VERY first thing ..  
  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FIRST DAUGHTER!!
And I mean first born, not first first. OR DO I???? Anyway love out to the 2nd born daughter toooooo!! OK WOW Mom's birthday and then daughter's two days later. COOL. Well I am headed out to take mom to doctor's office. I think we will get some dinner out tonight, for her birthday. Then maybe a quiet night in front of the TV, maybe a movie?? I have been on two chat rooms looking for the 17 minute version of Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon. Stevie Nicks made a comment about the "real long" version the other night on Letterman. So I have been all over the web and two chat rooms looking for any info. One of the chat rooms that deals with Fleetwood Mac says they think it was a joke that Letterman was doing. But I have watched a replay and it doesn't seem like it to me. In fact Stevie brings it up. So anyway my hunt continues. Selling has slowed on eBay, I thought I would see a bump for the die cast cars because of the race coming up, maybe later this weekend? And cards have slowed, but spring ball will start to be televised this weekend, sooooooo. Anyway, I have not received a friend request back yet from " you know who ". I am still being patient. May start playing around with my Garrard turntable this weekend. Start oiling and lubing etc. Just take my time and do a little each day. On my Rolling Stones chat room the other day someone asked about " What do you do with your weekends now? " And I thought, my weekends are just like my weekdays, there is nothing separating the two any more. Like work you know? It is weird to think like that, it use to be you would do  ANYTHING to get a free weekend. Now mine are free all the time, fact is my weekdays are free too. WOW what does that say? CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!       FIRST AND FOREMOST 
                          HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!!!  
Thanks, Well ran some errands yesterday. Took the Rouge in for servicing and bought an extended warranty. The rig only has 35,000 miles on it, but it has that new variable speed transmission. And just to be safe I got another 6 years of coverage. If any thing happens to that tranny it could cost over $2000 to fix. So just a little insurance to feel better. AND it is the rig mom drives, I just don't want any problems and then doubled with expensive repairs. It was a pretty penny, but I slept VERY WELL last night!!      " I can feel your tongue on mine, silky smooth like wine, I'm living with these memories, that's all that's left of you and me. " I have been struggling with memories from Texas. I have decided to send her a friend request through Facebook. I guess we will see if she even wants to hear from me!  Got stuff re-listed on eBay this morning. Hope to sell a bunch of die cast cars this week because of the Daytona 500 race. And spring training has started so baseball cards should be heating up too. There is another birthday coming up this week too, I just gotta remember it.   LOL  LOL Wow I love giving her the business!! She takes it very well, and can dish it out when required. It has to be a tough job to keep dad, well not in line, but some what controlled. LUV YA BOTH GIRLS!!! CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!   "  Ooh see the fire is sweepin' our very street today, burns like a red coal carpet, mad bull lost its way  "  Come ON, you know I gotta open with some lyrics!! It has been a very trying two days on eBay. I have one guy who has been chasing after a set of cards for about 2 months now. I get several emails a week from him, He wants to know about the set, " Never seen it before ", he wants to know my offer price, he wants to know how many cards, he wants to know why they are numbered odd, he wants to know what color my sofa is. Well it feels that is how silly his questions are. If I come across something " NEW " I go research it! What a GIFT the internet is for that. But I guess he has only figured out how to log into eBay and send ME messages. Finally yesterday he comes back with an offer. The set books for $75, I got it listed for $60 and I will take $46 for it. I get four emails about how I should drop the price to $40, " That's all I can afford. " Well I respond each time, $46 is it, SORRY. So this morning I see HE BOUGHT IT AT $46!! WOW, now just gotta hope I get the money. And today another guy leaves me negative feedback, because I refunded his money to him!! He bought a die cast car and I could not find the car. I looked for a whole day yesterday. I think I listed it wrong is what happened. Well he doesn't care about that, so I put a note in the comments " about can't find car ", and sent him his money back. This morning I get negative feedback because there was no communication. I included a note, NOW WHAT I GOTTA READ  THE DAMN THING FOR HIM TOO!! REALLY?? But that is the fun of eBay. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!  WOW I am amazed how many baseball cards I STILL have to sort through. Spent most of yesterday and today sorting and organizing cards. But was able to get 10 more items listed on eBay yesterday. Probably got another 4 or 5 items I will have ready to post in the next couple of days. Still not selling any thing, but am getting some interest on a lot of stuff. Sold 3 Muscle Machines today, COOL. I think the car sales will pick up around the Daytona 500 race. Watched Skyfall last night  [Bond movie]. Not too bad, this one took the Bond series more into the advanced cyber stuff. I think a place where Mission Impossible has already been for awhile. Have been feeling stronger through out the day, nice improvement from a couple of days ago. Almost got all my "stuff" in regarding my Garrard, almost time to get it put together and set up so I can start playing some vinyl!! Have put out a call for my youngest to see if she would like to help daddy set up the system. She also wants to borrow my old unit so she has something set up for herself COOL! It should be a challenge to see when she has some time off. Nice to get the IRS return in  the bank!! Now just gotta figure out a way to spend it. IDEAS?? CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!  Well a couple of simple days. Paid bills on Wednesday and spent some time cleaning up things, etc. Then off to the grocery store Thursday. WOW, still a real challenge, but stuff does seem to be getting easier. But WOW spent A LOT of dollars on groceries today. Sure doesn't take much to add up. But we seem to eat it all, don't throw much away, which is good. The bills seem to be in line, just controlling them till the Home Mortgage Adjustment takes a hold for good. The key is just watching, closely, where the money goes. Tracking it so you can account for it is a big key. Any way, I once had a wise man tell me{daddy} " It's only money. " And how true. Not much going on with eBay this week, or not yet anyway. There are times like that where nothing happens till the VERY last moment. I hope this week is one of those. Some times stuff is selling all week. But, I will just keep plugging along. I am STILL very please with my procedure results from Monday. WOW that REALLY makes me happy. It feels like my energy is coming back, I am still waking up early, but feel stronger longer into the day. Maybe time to start playing with my Garrard soon. Got more parts in the mail yesterday. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!  Well a very successful day yesterday! The procedure went VERY WELL! The pre stuff was WAY worse than the actual procedure. Doctor said EVERYTHING looked good, no biopsy's were taken [everyone tells me that is very good]. And Doc even gave me some pictures to remember it by {glad I had on my wedding smile}. I do not remember much, wasn't sure I was put out, but I guess I was. Very tired after I got home and just kind of slept away the rest of the day. And feel great today, not as much energy as normal. I am sure that is a carry over from yesterday. Was able to get stuff re - listed on eBay. Even got the Muscle Machine die cast cars re - listed! SO then just chill out the rest of the afternoon. Did some clean up and sorting to get ready to get my phonograph set up. Just waiting on parts to come in to get it complete. Then will probably need someone to help me run wires etc. I am just not as flexible as I use to be. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!  Well it will be a short one today. I am about to start on the " prep " stuff for my " procedure " tomorrow. And from the GREAT advice my eldest daughter gave me, [ no not the one about run, run as far as you can, now ] I think I will be spending most if not ALL of this sunny day tucked away in a room where truly the sun don't shine!! But all for a good cause, and piece of mind. I guess. Yesterday was just a quiet relaxed day did some more shuffling of baseball cards. I have started to fill in the 2010 sets, which means I probably got 3 or 4 more sets to get filled up and then I will have everything completed. Then it will be what ever I can find to put up on eBay. Hope mom has got all her stuff screwed down!! CHOW MOI

HI ALL!! Well there are things that some BIG time corporations do that just really don't make sense or that you can even understand. Case in point, Chase Mortgage. I got there IRS form stating what I had paid in mortgage interest. On the form one of the "blank" boxes was " Mortgage Insurance ", there has been a change in what you can and can not deduct for Mortgage Insurance. So fine, I read the requirements on H&R Block web page and figure I can use the deduction. So I figure out how much it is. Then on down the line I go and finish my taxes. A GOOD 14 to 17 days after I got Chase Mortgage Interest form, I get a letter in the mail telling me how much I paid in Mortgage Insurance. Over TWO WEEKS?? Really, does the whole F&%$ING world revolve around you Chase? You couldn't have sent the letter THE SAME DAY you sent out the IRS form? Guess that is asking TOOOOOO much. I think my number is a little smaller than what Chase came up with, not sure at this point I even trust Chase's number. WOW!!!  Well had a bunch of items end on eBay today and nothing sold. I will wait to re - list after my procedure on Monday. Have been doing more research on the Garrard turntable and what is needed to get it back up and running. I have ordered some stuff and will wait for it all to get in. Quiet couple of days and just relaxing, I have not been able to take pain meds for three days and I feel more sore and stiff all over. So I have just been taking it easy til after Monday. Then I will " kick it loose " after that. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!  Well still spending time with taxes. It just seems like that takes forever. BUT, this morning I got a message from H&R Block that they had finished their review and my taxes were ready to file. COOL, in fact VERY COOL. They were able to find me almost double what I had done. So I got them to sign off on it and got them filed electronically!! This may be the last year I file. If I do not have any other income than I will only have SSDI and at the amount I get every month it is not high enough to be taxed!! Again very cool. Did spend some time searching out more cards to finish off more sets to get on eBay. That's what started this tax problem to begin with. OH well onwards and upwards. I have started my restricted diet to prep for my colonoscopy. Just sounds like sooo much fun. But certainly the pros out weigh the cons. Not much else going on, getting a tingle out of the baseball PED problems. It seems that every couple of days another name is "leaked" that may or may not have ties to PED's. WOW time for the season to start and the rest of this "crap" to go away. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!    " And as we wind on down the road .. our shadows taller than our souls .. there walks a lady we all know .. who shines white light and wants to show .. how everything still turns to gold .. and if you listen very hard .. the tune will come to you at last .. when all are one .. and one is all .. to be a rock and not to roll .. "   " Ooh, see the fire is sweepin' .. our very street today .. burns like a red coal carpet .. mad bull has lost its way .. "  Well just some thoughts, stuff I am thinking about. Sometimes it is hard to put your minds words into verbal words. Thank God I know a lot of music, and when I put down lyrics, you may read the words, but my mind is playing the music also. Spent SS [superbowl sunday] watching the game, not too bad. I thought the worse team on the field were the referees. They missed a call or two, and made some calls that shouldn't have been. Yes they are human, but it's the Super Bowl, must bring your  "A " game. The players do! The commercials were great, I enjoyed most of the new ones, the nice thing was " THEY WERE NEW ", but the best thing about the Super Bowl? Football is OVER, and Baseball is only 10 days away!! OH YEA!! Spent Monday dealing with Tax filings. WOW I think I got stuff straightened out. Looks like I will not have to sell something to pay the IRS. Spent close to 5 hours today on the computer doing tax stuff. Didn't even get a chance to play around with baseball stuff the last two days. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!  Well I have been keeping busy the last several days. And, look we are now into February. " It's late September, and I really should be back at school ". I know lyrics for  September, but not for February, maybe I can make that a project this week. Well on Friday I re - listed items on eBay, and spent some time { 3 hours } tracking down cards to finish off another set to get listed. Also on Friday I visited a web site that is a message board for the Rolling Stones, I have been off and on the site for several years. Well as I am reading some of the posts they are all talking about putting on their old vinyl LP's and playing them. And it got me to wondering about my turntable, a Garrard Zero 100 C. So I put out a post for any tips or hints about setting up my Garrard. Well I got plenty of responses. And I spent most of Saturday researching some stuff on the inter - web. I did not know what a " phono pre - amp " was. I know what a pre - amp is, but had not heard of a phono. I also went looking for the owners manual for my Garrard online. I know I got the original owners manual still, SOMEWHERE { editors note: next time my daughters are down to visit me we will go looking in the garage for my Garrard owners manual, oh what fun that shall be!! }. So I have pulled out my Garrard and am looking it over to see if there are any other items that need adjusting. I know I will have to buy a new needle/cartridge. My thought was why let my 200 or so vinyl LP's just sit there, why not hook up my Garrard to my MUCH NEWER Onkyo ( that's why I need a phono pre- amp ) and spin some records. Sounds cool CHOW MOI