HI ALL!!       "    She drove a pickup truck, painted green and blue, the tires were wearing thin, she turned a mile or two, when I asked her were she headed for, Back up to Boston, I'm singing in a bar, I got to fly today on down to Baton Rouge, my nerves were shot already, the road ain't all that smooth, across in Texas is the Rose of San Antone, I keep on a feeling that's gnawing in my bones    " WOW what a great outdoor day it was. Even got out and did some stuff. Got the riding mower in the garage ready for service on Monday. Put together my tow behind spreader, and got some other stuff cleaned up. But, it just took all the energy out of me.  I remember when I could go all day at a steady pace and get a ton of stuff done. Now I am good for little short stints but still manage to get some things done. Going to take the Ranger in for some servicing on Monday as well, time to change oil and etc stuff. It's odd I use to drive over 100 miles A DAY, now it's MAYBE 100 miles A WEEK!! What a change. Nothing going on for eBay, I thought it might be slow this week, because of the NCAA's and Easter. Baseball season starts Sunday night!! OH YEA!! ;) SO I will spend time now running my 3 fantasy teams. I took some measurements today for where I think I want to put the new shed. I think I want a 12 X 10 shed, and the space I got is 18 X 12, so plenty of room. Should be a quiet day for Easter tomorrow, just hanging out the weather is suppose to warm up, so good to be inside. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!       "    I saw her today at the reception, a glass of wine in her hand, I knew she was gonna meet her connection, at her feet was, footloose man    "     Well what's happenin' TODAY?! When ever I hear that song, especially THAT VERSE, I think of my drug induced ex-wife, AND the footloose man, oh The Vincent!! He WAS her connection!! ANYWAY, water WAY under the bridge. Ronald, thanks for your comments, the week after the 7th of April is bad for me, The Master's. Oh and somebody's birthday ..  Any idea who's?? If you think of it, let me know. But, don't tell her, 'cause she will be a whole year older. LUV YA BOTH!! Well took on the money company for my ex-employer and there SHITTY Insurance company. AND, I will actually get 2 months of premium refunded!!! Now I just got to get other insurance coverage! On it goes! Had a MAJOR fight with the Mortgage company yesterday, almost 2 hours worth!! Looks like I may have to pay the actual taxes, but not the interest and penalty. I am still fighting to get them to pay the taxes themselves. We will see. My NCAA brackets continue to just get blown apart. BUT baseball is only 3 days away. Then I will show them who's who!! Starting to feel better today, less drugs and clearer nose. eBay keeps fluxing back and forth. Couple things one day, then nothing the next. But, as long as I am selling SOMETHING, that's cool. Plans to get some outdoor stuff done this weekend, Have the Mower mechanic coming Monday to give my Riding Mower it's annual once over and inspection. Then it will be time to MOW!! SWEET!! CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!        "  Well, you've got your diamonds and you got your pretty clothes, and the chauffeur drives your car, you let everybody know, but don't play with me 'cause you're playing with fire,     "   Well all how goes it? I had to join, YEA, HAD TO join another fantasy baseball league. This one is different, so we'll see what goes on. Now that is 3 different leagues, I wonder how many more?? Well stuff on eBay has started to sell again, good thing. Funny how quiet things were over the weekend, I think Easter weekend will be slow as well. BUT, then the season starts and I hope stuff starts FLYING OUT THE DOOR!! Still nursing a little cold, first time I have had a cold last more than 2 days since I have been off work. Feeling better today and still pile driving meds!! I am storing up some energy so I can fight my Mortgage Company over the past due property taxes. I think this will be a nasty fight. AND, I still have to decide on the Medical Insurance stuff, I think I am in for a fight from my ex-employer on that as well. It is just amazing how some stuff just never seems to go away!?!? The biggggest problem with the medical insurance is there is going to be some money that has to be returned to me. And we all know have corporations are about " returning " money to someone. But I am " IN IT , TO WIN IT!! ". Yea, big talk now, let's see how I am in a couple of weeks. Almost time to get out and mow the yard. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!      "   You were still in school, when you had that fool,  who really messed your mind, and after that you turned your back, on treating people kind, on our first trip, I tried so hard to rearrange your mind, but after while I realized you were disarranging mine.   " Well how goes it today, me? Well I really got a cold today, just laying low and watching the NCAA Tourney and seeing my brackets go all to hell. I am just getting beat up. In the West bracket I only have 4 correct choices, out of 12 games!! WOW, so no $10,000.00 winner this year. The good news is I am tied for 1st in the Rolling Stones chat board bracket. OH BOY!! Got another 362 items listed on eBay, very, very little activity this weekend, I am sure because of the NCAA's and Palm Sunday etc. I had to guess about Easter weekend, I got all my stuff ending on Saturday night, between 8pm and 10 pm EDT. Then I will wait till 1st of April to re-list, and by then BASEBALL will have started!!! Got a roast cooking tonight, and then will make french dip out of the left overs for tomorrow, GOOOOD EATS!!!! Thanks Ronald for getting to and home from your weekend event. I checked the final standings, REMEMBER there were a lot of schools that NEVER EVEN MADE STATE!! Nice job, and next year I know you will knock them out. Want your Daddy's help on selecting the music???? I know some GREAT TUNES!! I feel the need for a trip to B'ham, get ready girls!! This will be a challenging week, I got to deal with the Mortgage company AND medical insurance coverage ( my ex-employer). Fun Times for sure. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!       "  Prince or pauper, beggar man or thing, play the game with every blow you bring    "   Well how goes it? Oh me, well I am getting just throttled on my 6 NCAA brackets. The one year I decide that the Pac-12 isn't going to do good, THEY DO!! COME ON!! Just killlin' me. I got a couple of the "upsets" but not all, and I am getting pounded pretty good. Then if that wasn't enough, I joined ANOTHER Fantasy Baseball league. What was I thinking? This one is set up a little different, so let's see if I like it. Some interesting points. Then today's mail shows up, AND oh yea, my mortgage company is at it AGAIN!! When they refinanced my loan they left off one of my property tax accounts. I have two tax accounts for my property. Now I owe $4600.00, in past due taxes, and the statement I get in the mail today, I see they have charged ME with it. NO  WAY!!!  SO I call and of course the Tax department is having phone system problems and you can't get through to them. WAIT TILL MONDAY!! Also tried to get Sears to set up a service call for my riding mower, STILL waiting to hear back from them!! COME ON!! Maybe I should get a bigger stick and start swinging!! I think BHS got ripped off at State this year, in kick. Their performance was much better than 1st place's. OH Ronald,  How ya like the snow now? What a challenge, but I must say I think you handled it perfectly. Nice job, must be your up bringing!! MORE Creme de Cacao!!  LOVE YOU!!  CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!      "  The telephone is ringing I say  Hi it's me who is it there on the line, a voice says  hi hello, how are you, well I guess I'm doin' fine.  He says  it's three am, there's too much noise, don't you people ever wanna to go to bed,  just 'cause you feel so good, do you have to drive me out of my head?  "      Well first off I must say " GOOD LUCK " to the Red Raiders dance and hip hop team as they head off to State. The cool thing is I will be able to watch the performances right from my computer chair!! The dances get web cast, very cool. So next time I blog they should have earned a Trophy!!!  Well the last several days have been spent doing fantasy baseball. I did last year and finished 2nd and tied for most "category wins". I think Fantasy Baseball should be something that you have to attend to every day of the season. Last year was my first year. The other times I just did not have the time to dedicate to it. And I did well last year, but learned a lot!! So this year same basic plan, I focus on VERY strong pitching, there are 5 categories for pitching and batting. I won 4 of the 5 pitching cats last year. So this year I think I have even stronger pitching. Last year I got soooo far behind in 4 of the batting cats right from the start of the year that I could never get close, or even a chance to catch up. So this year I have a stronger batting line up. Season starts on 03/31. I have been working some trades and picking up some free agents, so I think I am set!! CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!        "    My riches can't buy everything, I want to hear the children sing, all I hear is the sound, of rain falling on the ground, I sit and watch, as tears go by    "    Well a quiet day, just laying close to my dish today. Did find a set of baseball cards that I had put up several years ago. They were only missing 2 cards, and I had those in my extra cards. So I listed the set it's an $80 book set. WOW, just like that. I wonder at times how many more of those type of chances are still just " hanging around "?  Got 6 or 7 items out for mailing today, still managing to sell one of two items a day, that's cool as long as it keeps up. Had a chance to fill out some NCAA March Madness brackets today, I think 8 or so on different web sites. And YES I am a homer, I did pick the Zags in several of the brackets. None of the " experts " really like them, oh well. I have been the last several days trying to resort some of my cards, I get to the point where I have miscellaneous cards stacking up for different reasons, so I sorted through them and have been filling them back in my storage boxes, looks a lot better!!  Not much else happening, there is a little quiet time as I wait to hear about my other medical insurance, should hear by the end of the week, then I can REALLY tell my ex-employer where to get off. I am don't mean that in a nice way!! CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!         "  She said, "My breast, they will always be open, baby, you can rest your weary head right on me, and there will always be a space in my parking lot, when you need a little coke and sympathy   "          Well it is amazing what happens when you say just the right phrase to the right person, and then keep after your task until YOU are satisfied! I called the insurance commissioner and got some " key " phrases to use. I then called the old medical insurance company and used one of the phrases on them. Shortly after I got my " Certificate of Creditability ". So I can apply for different insurance from another company and see if I can get better coverage and better service. I called the Texas company that collects the money, I find out that I have TWO accounts with them! One is the old medical coverage {that was cancelled} and dental coverage, the other is a new account that is offering me COBRA coverage under a different plan!?!?! So the money I have been sending for medical coverage has just been going to DENTAL, I am now paid up to 02/28/2014!!  That is NOT how I wanted my money spent! Unbelievable that they would just SPEND my money that way with asking me?? I have also been exchanging e-mails with the Human Resources guy who over sees employee insurance and COBRA. I have even talked to and gotten an e-mail from the insurance broker who is handling FFC's insurance. WOW I can still get to who I need to. AND still get results!! The lasting problem is that one COBRA plan is over $710 monthly, and the other is over $1200 monthly!! So I hope I can get this other coverage by using the proper forms I got. The other is only $350 monthly. BUT, good news I got dental till 02/2104!! CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!      "   I see a line of cars and they're all painted black, with flowers and my love both never to come back, I see people turn their heads and quickly look away, like a new born baby it just happens ev'ry day  "     Well how does it happen this way? Just about the time you think you got a handle on things, something rears it's ugly head and takes another swipe at you! After all the sabre rattling I did yesterday and taking care of some problems, I open the mail AND there is a notice from my County Treasure "Notice of Tax Foreclosure Warning". It seems may Real Estate Taxes are past due from 2010. How odd, because I bought the place in 2008?? Well after calling the Treasure's office I find out that because we have the Senior Discount on the Taxes, there are TWO tax accounts on our property. One is for the House AND ONE ACRE, the 2nd is for the other 1.5 acres on the property. Well I never knew. And it is past due from 2010, because late in 2009 we re-financed the place and WHOM ever put the documents together, left off the 2nd tax account. WOW!! That was, by the way, the Mortgage Company. The Treasure told me she see's this A LOT, and the Mortgage Company usually ends up paying the bill, because it was their error. The bill is OVER $4600.00. SO I call the Mortgage Company, finally get into the Tax Department, they want me to fax the information to them and they will investigate. I tell him I already KNOW the problem and if he will call the County Treasurer, he will know the problem too. " Oh I am sorry, WE do not make OUTBOUND calls". Well Well, far be it from me. SO I faxed the information to him today. I know one thing, before I EVER send them a DIME on these taxes, I will have a conversation with my attorney!! CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!        "  A smile relieves a heart that grieves, remember what I said, I'm not waiting on a girl, I'm just waiting on a friend "     Well what a day I have had. I am not as good as I once was, but am as good once as I EVER was!! Here I am taking on The US Department of Labor and Industry {DOL}, AND a LARGE Insurance company, AND a Former Employer who doesn't know how to return a phone call, AND a LARGE Company out of Texas that collects COBRA Insurance premiums. No one can tell me why my COBRA Insurance coverage was cancelled. No one can tell me why I did not receive the proper notifications, and no one seems to want to help. Well that's a BAD formula, AND BIG DAVE from ALLYN stepped in and took them ALL on!! YEA I STILL!! got SKILLS!!  I think I may have the problem solved, if everyone sends me the information I made them promise to send me. With a little help from the State Insurance Commissioner. The Insurance Commish couldn't really do anything for me, because COBRA is handled by DOL. But I did ask questions, and figured out an attach plan. When you promise to call me back, WELL YOU HAD BETTER CALL ME BACK!! If not, I call you AGAIN!!  Man people hate that. But I am VERY close to solving the issue. Now just got to figure out a way to get my money back. That should be doable. One other item, while I was out yesterday I got my hair cut. TO A #4 BUZZ CUT!! What was I thinking? I have NEVER had hair this short. I am sure I was BORN with LONGER hair than what I got now. But thanks to a "no response" from youngest daughter, and a "Go for it" from oldest daughter [ of course her husband has about a #1 buzz ] I did it. Wow every time I look in the mirror, I JUMP back because I see a stranger. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!          "   I don't want you to be high, I don't want you to be down, don't want to tell you no lie, just want you to be around, please come right up to my ears, you will be able to hear what I say   "         Well off to see my orthopedic Doctor today, my 6 month follow up. He says I am doing just fine, and to remember that surgery is an option. " If I can get you cleared MEDICALLY? " What, get me cleared, why would I want to have a dangerous surgery on my SPINAL AREA, with 9  months to a year in recovery, JUST to go back to work and get pounded on and taken advantage of again?? The last 6 to 8 years of work I have felt like I have been abused, beat on, taken advantage of, and just generally treated less than fair. I have some leg and back pain, that is NOTHING compared to the pain I had to indure the last 8 years of working. NO THANKS, DOC I am JUST FINE!! WOW the surgery just scares me, but honestly the thought of returning to a work environment that I have had the last 8 years, SCARES me even more!!  The best thing about going to the Ortho Doc is getting to listen to stuff on my USB drive. Today??  COME ON!! THE STONES OF COURSE!! I have a USB drive that has about 20 Rolling Stones albums on it ( Yea I said albums - So SUE me ), some where more than 18 hours of music. My Alpine head unit has a USB port, so slid in the drive and CRANKED IT!!  Then I heard the sounds of the GUIRO (look it up) on Gimme Shelter, reached down and turned it to  " 20 " and just let those FOCAL speakers DRIVE the tunes DEEP into my soul!!  OH YEA!! 90 minutes of The Rolling Stones pumping through my veins!! !! GOOD TIMES !! YES GOOD TIMES INDEED!! CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!       "  As you poured out the drinks for me, I felt your hooks sink right into me, and I knew you were my destiny, and I thought you'd get the best of me  "       One other question from the other day. Did you know they have to erect the chimney that the smoke comes out of for the decision on the Pope. AND what makes the smoke WHITE or BLACK??  Well what an odd day. First off I slept terrible last night. I have had my compression socks off for a couple for days. And sometimes when I put them back on, my feet will hurt for a couple of hours. Well I put the socks on late last night, so they hurt while I was trying to sleep. Then the time change, no I don't think it had any effect. I just slept bad, my feet hurt. Then all day today I have been just in a fog. Not very much concentration I was flipping between the World Baseball Classic and golf. Just didn't have long periods that I could watch either one. SO I have been feeling OK, did some eBay stuff still. I did BAR-B-QUE out on the deck last night!! How VERY cool, did a couple of skinless chicken breast, they were AWESOME!! Felt good to be on the Bar-B-Que. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!  Well I read that the Cardinals are going to get together to elect a new Pope. I learned an interesting fact about that. Any baptized male can be elected Pope. WOW!! I wonder why no females? And who said the Catholic Church is behind the times? I have also heard all day about "spring forward" this weekend for daylight savings time. They are saying you lose an hour when that happens. How do you lose an hour if you turn your clocks ahead, BEFORE you go to bed?? Think about it. Any way lots of time on eBay the last couple of days. Re-listed 368 items today. WOW. Did some re-listing of items and added some autographs and jersey cards. Just hope to MOVE the stuff out!! Actually went out on the back deck this morning and had a cup of coffee. Very nice. pleasant, was about 57 degrees. WOW outside, how odd. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!        " Sometimes I'm sexy, move like a stud, kicking the stall all night, sometimes I'm so shy, got to be worked on, don't have no bark or bite, alright "       Well today may be the latter, certainly NOT the former. I think I am fighting a cold, oh such fun. STILL selling stuff on eBay, so weird. Seems like a couple of things a day. I am also doing some marketing. Sending follow up e-mails to people who have not yet left feedback. That way I can also let them know if I have something a kin to the purchase they made. A lot of my "sets" have other inserts or items that go with it. So if they buy the set, and don't leave quick feedback. Then I send an e-mail asking about feedback and reminding them that there is still some related items they may want to buy. And it works, I have sold several things that way. The whole key, leave fast feedback and I won't e-mail you. Feedback is an important feature with eBay, a lot of people don't feel they have the time to leave it. Yet they got time to shop around and buy. I know on 100% of my purchases I will look at feedback, and sometimes go investigate the feedback to see who I am dealing with before I spend the money. It has stopped me a couple of times from buying, and I am sure has saved me a large hassle. Still waiting to hear about my COBRA stuff. Trying to be patient and let things run their course. I go back to my Orthopedic doctor next week. This time I am taking the Insurance paper to be filled out. ONE of the "big, long time life insurance company's" want me to update them every 6 months. So I will hand carry their request to Doc and get him to fill it out while I am there. Should solve some problems. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!    "  Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste, I've been around for a long, long year, stole many a man's soul and faith...  "       Watched two movies over the weekend. Both were OK. I am not one of these  "Movie Buffs" who has 600 movies in various storage devices, and can watch the same movie 100 times. I am good at ONE TIME, there is only a HAND full of movies I have seen more than once. And, "Sound of Music" was only because my step-daughter HAD to watch that movie EVERY awake moment. My favorite is " Fire Fox " a good Clint Eastwood flick. Seen it about 8 or 10 times over the years. In fact that maybe the LAST movie I have seen in a " REAL " cinema. WOW. Any how, spent yesterday shopping, went to Wal-Mart this time to see if it was cheaper. I am not sure, maybe. Kind of feels like it was. I don't buy Meat or fresh veggies there. I have not been happy in the past with their selections. Today was more eBay, actually sold 4 or 5 items the last couple of days. So spent time sorting and organizing more cards. And time packaging up stuff to be mailed off. One of these days I am going to spend some time working on my Garrard and get it refurbished. I have NOT been friend-ed yet my " little friend in Texas ". I still patiently wait. Stille fighting the "big boys" over medical insurance. I have submitted for another policy and am waiting to hear back for D.O.L. on what they found out.   "  Pleased to meet you, hope you guessed my name, oh yeah, but what's confusing you, is just the nature of my game, um yeah...  "  CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!  Well how goes it? Another couple of days of doing eBay stuff. Listed 300 items Friday, now just HANG ON and watch the sales soar. Also spent Friday trying to get the COBRA insurance thing handled. Still a BIG F$%*ING mess!! The insurance company says I am still "cancelled", I now have the National D.O.L. involved. They are the ones who oversee COBRA compliance. The guy I talked to will investigate Monday, so maybe something will come of it. In the meantime I have gone ahead and started a new insurance application for new insurance. I am tired of all the B.S. that goes with my ex-employer. I do have fun bugging them, but bottom line is I need insurance. So let's see, I have several places to try and then see what my options are. I also spent some time sorting other cards to get ready for eBay or Sportlots. I think there maybe a trip to grocery store tomorrow, that time again. I don't know where all that food goes? CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!    " Don't know come here from sick 'em "  That saying could not be MORE true than dealing with the mess that is COBRA insurance. I had health insurance through my employer, when I stopped working I converted it to COBRA, which believe it or not, was cheaper than an individual health plan in the State of Washington. Well how this works is, 1) you send your premium to a company in Texas who does nothing but COLLECT your money, 2) they "electronically" notify your ex-employer in California that you have paid, 3) your ex-employer notifies the insurance carrier in California that the premium for the current month has been paid. Well with SOOO many people handling things, it is expected to have errors. And in the 6 months I have had it, there has been problems 4 times! P.S. Those are HALL of FAME numbers!! Well now I learn that my insurance was cancelled on 01/01/13 because my ex-employer sold the company I use to work for. I NEVER got any kind of notice about cancellation. BUT the Texas collector of money says NO there is no problem. Even though I can not get meds filled at the pharmacy. Well I have been in touch with the State Insurance Commissioner, and they say it is a National "thing", but there is a local number to call about that very "no notice thing". So I will make some calls and see what I can do. To be honest, I hope it's a BIG fine that they receive. I am also going to look for other insurance. I learned in this mess that my premiums are going up over $200 a month in April. Damn It!! They must of learned that I SHIT GOLD BARS!! Hey, Welcome to March. In like a lamb, out like a lion. CHOW MOI