Neonred

It's been a hectic week+. Week ago today added another candle to my birthday cake...Sorry, too hard to do P-math to give you the exact number of years LOL. Did go out and buy myself a birthday present. New huge TV with the help of $889 worth of discounts from Costco credit card and yearly membership return. Tomorrow leaving for the Keys to have our Thanksgiving there. I may regret this, but invited mama Neonred and she said she would like to go....Let the complaining begin. The ride was too long. My back aches. My legs are stiff. That ride nearly killed me. We need to find a bathroom quick because I have diarrhea 💩. I can't eat that because it upsets my stomach. I didn't sleep at all last night. Elderly senior lady . On a brighter note, our family will increase in size by 2 on December 9 at 9:00am. My daughter is scheduled to give birth....C-section...to twin girls. Wife asked me if we are going to the hospital for the birth? I asked why? They don't need me....I don't do C-sections. How am I going to help? Let her mother, the ex-Neonred, be there for her. Will see how this sorts itself out.

Remember....we will be like that someday too, and our kids will be saying the same thing.

??? WTH ??? Sure hope Mama T-B is getting better.

I hate to admit this, but two weeks ago on vacation in Istanbul I went to McDonalds to get a quick bite when my wife wasn't feeling well. Ordered a Big Mac with fries and a Coke. After the money exchange it came to $6.45. I thought it was a mistake because I wasn't sure how well the young girl taking my order understood English. Yes, she assured me the order was correct. A little bit different than what I paid the last time I ordered the same here in FL.

What the heck happened to P-math?? I've got 2 or 3 suites that I maybe wear once a year. I've got some nice sport jackets that I like and wear more often, usually with dress jeans. Most of the time it's shorts and tee shirts...it's always warm here. In the Keys it's a bathing suit and water shoes.

Got back from overseas late middle of last week and planned to go to Key West for Fantasy Fest (adult Halloween) but it was just too much. Seems we got COVID in Istanbul and are still suffering fatigue along with dealing with the time change. Kept the lights off at home and as usual, no kids came buy. Didn't have anything to give out anyway. Today finally feeling a little better, but had quite a coughing spell last night. It has really cooled off here. Early afternoon and it is only 78. Was supposed to get into the low 80's. I'll take it.

NIMBY's All for more migrants entering the US, but not in their back yard.

Hope Mama T-B is getting well. My elderly mother is "playing" with her bp meds as well. She says she knows more than the doctor. Yesterday I saw my first pro-Palestinian protest here in Istanbul complete with police in riot gear. Where else but in front of the local McDonalds LOL. Made a quick U-turn and got out of there. Police were apparently quick to disperse them from the busy tourist area.

I'd pick FLL. I hate MIA because it is so crowded. I'll know better in a few days as I am currently over seas and will be returning thru MIA.

You only get one SSN for life, so the you got as a J-1 is it. Your EAD is currently your DHS authorization. When you get your green card, that will be your authorization.

I am currently in Istanbul Turkey, and before traveling here last week I did something I never did before. I registered with the STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so that the State Department and embassy and nearest consulate know where I am and can keep me informed of adverse activities near by. I've already gotten several notices of protests in the area. There was a large protest last night in front of the consulate here in Istanbul. Of course Americans need to stay away and keep a low profile. Fortunately I am not very close to the consulate. Can't say I feel threatened in any way, but American travelers just need to be smart. I'll have to say Istanbul was not high on my list of places to go, but I let my wife pick this trip. Her two choices were Istanbul or Israel. She made the right choice this time. Sorry, this post didn't go into the thread I thought I was working on. Oh well.

I hope he did get to see the "eating beans around the campfire" scene.

I think he (Bigfoot) is related to our skunk ape. https://www.skunkape.info/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skunk_ape

I'm sitting at MIA, the Miami airport waiting for our flight to Istanbul.... Don't ask, as it wasn't my idea. It was my wife's turn to pick a vacation destination. For her it was a toss up between Istanbul and Israel. Lucky for us she made the right choice this time. Anyway, for all the MANY years I have lived here and most of it spending days in the FL Keys, I still learn something new. This one is for TBoneTX. https://www.islamoradatimes.com/toilet-seat-cut/ or google toilet seat cut for more pictures. Hope you can appreciate this. Might be able to check in from time to time depending on the internet situation. At any rate will be home in just about 2 weeks.

Hope Mini-B is OK. Not usual for kids to have a treadmill test.

Always wondered why we don't have beavers here in FL. LOL

Hey TBone, I have an ugly single cousin that's certainly not a clean freak. Maybe I should send her your way...

If you really want peace of mind I would think the more you pay the better. You know the saying "you get what you pay for".

Oh, come on DAD...

Why don't you just do his homework for him? I'll bet you get a great grade and Mini-B will be happy too!

Oh, those are meant for cats?? I'll have to apologize to my wife....

Just got home. Made the entire 856 mile trip from Gatlinburg back home in 15 hours. Left at 7:00am and got home right at 10:00pm. Still feel like I am driving. LOL

Last days of vacation are here. We have been on a Plymouth Prowler national car event with so many old friends in Gatlinburg TN. 65 Prowlers driving the surrounding areas. Great driving here. Winding mountainous roads and one road they call "The Tail of the Dragon", 318 curves in 11 miles. Decision has been made to have next years event in NW Arkansas, most likely Eureka Springs. At first I said no way I'm going, as it's 1300 miles from home, but I am warming up to the idea. One friend said NW Arkansas is a historical area. A detailed history of appliances can be seen in most front yards... Early tomorrow am the 850 mile drive home begins.

It's OK to lie as long as it's not a big lie.

https://apnews.com/article/auto-uaw-workers-strike-gm-ford-stellantis-7ce3ca9d94b911250d07556b7af376c7 DETROIT (AP) — About 13,000 U.S. auto workers stopped making vehicles and went on strike Friday after their leaders couldn’t bridge a giant gap between union demands in contract talks and what Detroit’s three automakers are willing to pay. Members of the United Auto Workers union began picketing at a General Motors assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri; a Ford factory in Wayne, Michigan, near Detroit; and a Stellantis Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio. It was the first time in the union’s 88-year history that it walked out on all three companies simultaneously as four-year contracts expired at 11:59 p.m. Thursday. I know that the hourly labor costs for the big three is right around $70 per hour +/- which includes benefits, retirement, etc. Actual take home was lower than expected when I last looked it up. For 10+ years we drove Mercedes (wife's choice) and Toyotas (my choice) but three years ago I traded in my failing Mercedes SUV for an American made (Chicago) Lincoln Aviator. Nice vehicle, BUT the quality control is horrible. I feel quite lucky as I have not had nearly as many problems as others. Just water leaks, bad sensors, and a few upholstery issues. So many others have gone thru buy backs. My old 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid is still in the family and now my son in law is driving it to work daily. Almost 200K miles and still no problems. Wish my wife was not a brand snob... UAW auto workers may deserve more money, but they need to clean up their act and make quality vehicles.