BigStewMan

i know this couple at my church, her late husband was into audio stuff. she and her current husband were ready to throw away a pair of McIntosh MC30s. My brother stopped them--they had no idea what they had. beautiful cosmetically and appear to have been stored carefully. they’re not hooked up to anything and i’ve never had a tube amp so would not know what would be red flags to look for. they’re more than willing to sell them; but, since i’m an honest guy and they’re good people -- i don’t want to rip them off at all. i think they’ve been stored for YEARS. say they’re working fine; what’s a fair price and what is a fair estimate for having quality tubes replaced and whatever else would be the proper thing to do when buying a tube amp.

way to go Ben … stop in more often…haven’t seen you here much lately. have a great birthday.

it’s becoming clearer to you now … you are thaddeus … we all are thaddeus.

Stick with chuck...guitar chords will get a lot easier.

most likely yes. that’s the only avatar i’ve ever had and was done back in 2007 i think. yeah, lost weight since then … once upon a time was 234--two years ago was down to 173 (back when it was just me and my fork) but since my older brother moved here with me, he’s a regular guy that had furniture, dishes, etc… and keeps food in the house -- i’m probably about 193 right now (and starting to feel some of those old familiar ailments creeping back). case in point … i hurt myself sleeping the other night. felt fine when i went to sleep and woke up with the bottom of my foot very painful and can’t move my middle finger without a shooting pain down my hand…must have flipped someone off during the night and hurt my foot while running away.

Any truth to the rumor that they’re trying to clone him?

Hi Dave -- One of my favorites is Moody Blues -- Lovely to See You. YES 35th Anniversary is a nice one too -- one disk has their rehearsal (comically narrated by Rick Wakeman) -- it’s an acoustic performance. Having met Brian May several times--I’m always quick to recommend an nice Queen concert. I know they recently realized their 1974 Live at the Rainbow concert--not sure if it’s just audio or both--but, it’s an excellent show.

Spent an August through December taking care of my late wife, as she progressed with Malignant Melanoma. Doing fine to bedridden to Glory in four months. We had hospice care for her, from Thanksgiving to the end, which was an incredible help. Last month and a half I was off work and home with her. Bruce ps I tried the Keurig filter you use to put in your own coffee, but it's a real pain to clean the filter (unless the make little paper filters to go in the wire filter basket...). i remember you posting about this before Bruce, and i’ve said it before and i’ll say it again--my heart aches knowing what you BOTH endured. I’m very happy that you’ve found love again and it sounds like you’re happy and doing okay.

i hear you Bruce. Had my BMW in the shop once and got a loaner from the dealer. they give me this paper with all the charges if i don’t bring it back with a full tank and clean, etc… they clearly hadn’t cleaned the car before they gave it to me--paper wrappers, spilt coffee (hopefully it was just coffee), etc...

i live in the land of panhandlers … some quite militant. i had them chase me down and race me to my car, knock on the window of my car and tell me how they prevented someone from breaking into my car--i say thanks and then they ask for money. sometimes i do give some cash--sometimes i don’t. i wrestle with this issue as i know i’ve been blessed and think we should help out those in need; but, where i have trouble is determining if they are in need or not. perhaps that’s not something that i should consider. i generally do not give money to those that i see day after day after day -- those i fear have just accepted begging as their way of life. you see the whole gamut though -- guys playing the guitar hoping for tips -- and they’re playing a Martin or Guild; i did see this one older fellow, very dirty appearance -- digging in a trash can at a bus stop--pulling out containers that once had someone’s food in it and eating or drinking anything left in the container. Now that guy really needs the help. heard this guy from a rescue mission on the radio once -- he said for those of us in the Los Angeles area there are so many missions, shelters, and other places available that it would be virtually impossible for a person to go hungry if they needed help. his organization had business cards that he suggested people get and hand them out to the panhandlers--the cards had directions to their mission/shelter. i know i have felt guilty seeing someone with a sign on the side of the road as i drive by in my nice BMW and head home to rooms full of tvs, guitars, amps and speakers. it’s raining today and i’m sure to see someone standing in the rain with a sign -- i think i’ll give them some cash today and not worry about what they’ll do with it--i’ll hope they buy food--if not, they can laugh at me for being a sucker; but, i can live with that and shame on them anyways. hopefully i’ve helped someone that really needed it sometime in my life.

i’m not the guy to ask…white tree, black ornaments and a string of black-light Christmas lights. i’m not exactly mainstream.

same neighbor that whined about the alleged excessive volume?

the brain alone… perhaps. That same brain inside a human … highly doubtful. Doubt me … watch CSPAN and within a few minutes you’ll agree.

this is a tough one actually … can’t fault the kid for wanting to see a live show; but, i do agree with the distinguished gentlemen from WVU that is an event for adults to enjoy. I say that somewhat hypocritically as the father of four that did take my kids to a concert or two. Three year old was dancing in the aisle at an REO Speedwagon show about 30 years ago … but as a cranky guy now…i’d be mad at me.

Wow, well thank you it was really just things I thought about from doing it, it was all new to me but when someone is dependent on you like that it makes you realize how it must feel. When it's all over you will appreciate it more than you do now. you both are quite the sons. Biological Mom and Dad both died when i was 8. Adopted Dad when i was 18 and adopted Mom about 6 years ago. Was there at the hospital when she passed. A few days before, she had been unconscious all day, came to the following day. All five of us kids were there. I asked her if she remembered anything about the day before, she said no. I said, "I helped you the most." I think by that time she knew not to take me seriously. Now Elden -- go drink that fluid or take the pills, bend over and get that scope. You have a wonderful wife and kids that want you around a while longer.

​forgot my bank card at home this morning -- stop at this donut place to get a cup of joe before hitting the office and realize i don’t have any money -- scraped together $2 in change out of the car, which was enough for a cup (Hazlenut flavored). Despite spending 20 years in the military--i girlie up my coffee with milk and sugar. Gone are the days sitting in the Quarterdeck shack, drinking bilge water and smoking cigars (and no we weren’t supposed to smoke on watch).

maybe there is this mystical point of no longer wondering or caring if there is ‘better” out there. Just feeling that even if there is, i don’t care … my gear sounds incredible and i’m satisfied. However, as some have mentioned, there is pleasure in the journey and i look, as i type this, at some Cornwalls and Heresies in the room--which are fine; but, long ago I said “someday i’d like to have some KHorns” so i don’t think i’ll stop until i have some.

Awesome pic man. I recently got re-married and adopted 2 teenage girls. I'm happier now, I feel truly blessed. sounds like you are. Congrats brother.

​If only we could do it over … at about 14 i entered the wonderful world of drugs. Honestly thought everyone did them because i only knew one person that didn’t. it wasn’t until i was older that i realized that it wasn’t everyone -- just everyone i hung out with. It was a long road that took years to travel and left me with permanent scars. Spent all those years, while people are going to proms and all that social stuff, in an altered state and with people just as messed up as me. Some got busted. Some died. I walked away from that lifestyle and those friends and never looked back -- and have zero contact with the people from the “dark years." So i’m happy for those of you that have pleasant memories--my memories, well they’re collateral damage. But i’m all cleaned up -- so I’m making memories now.

Where? With two wins in the past three games -- we can go anywhere! Raiders are undefeated this week.

i think this is 100% true; however, unless i misunderstood, this isn’t what you said early on. You said there was no way your doctor friend could appreciate his jeep as much as you do yours, right? You don’t think the doctor has his own baseline by which he judges? OldTimer can surely speak for himself; however, he is absolutely correct that one with no experience can enjoy equally as one with great experience. You both can enjoy your jeeps (or whatever) equally and for completely different reasons.

Hey Chuck -- my friend is a UNC fan. He asked me, “If God isn’t a Tarheel, why did He make the sky Carolina Blue?"

I can; but, i don’t like to show off.

Got bit by a venomous spider. Doctor gave me a shot of some antibiotic that halted the progression of the infection and eventually got rid of it completely. I sure appreciate that medication; but, can’t tell you much about it at all.

how can you gauge another person’s appreciation of something? It would be nonsensical to use “your” standards.