Ill ask..did them bulls kick ur a$$ groing up or you just got delt a bad card?
Post up some dime stacks. Learned the other week how to tig. Any monkey can mig and forgetabout stick. Can never push that puddle. My little brother can laydown weld but some of them dairy plumbing builders/fabricators..etc he follows, them welds look like masterpieces.

 

Happy holidays to yours also sous.
tim. Somewhat got dealt a bad hand. I guess.
But a dumb youth didnt help. Lol
Stupid stuff as a young apprentice in pipe fitters union.
I'm not a big guy by any means. 5"8' before surgery's.
5' 6" or so now .175 lbs.
But can remember carrying those large oxygen bottles for torch on job up flight of stairs instead of using a large motor Crane . Because my journeyman was in a hurry.
Not that long ago.
But if an apprentice wasn't running he was on the first layoff. Or culling as it were.
We had cows and horses growing up.
Worked with my dad at home. And on side jobs for the extra we had . An old oil field guy.
that valued hard work.
I've been kicked and beat up by livestock for years.
hip started hurting on day . Went to left foot.
Then finally back pain.
I had the pleasure of working a few years for Texaco chem with my dad before he retired.
Got laid off there with 100 other guys years ago.
But can remember riding to work in the floor board of dad's truck in pain. And in bed of truck on the 50 mile trip home after work.
trying to be tough in front of him.
After about two weeks of that my dad had enough of that.
I can only imagine what that would do to me if I were watching my son in the pain I was in.
He took me for an MRI. I had shattered disc in back.
4 surgery's later I don't have last 5 disc or vertebra . It's all metal rods and ground bone taken from hips.
Had stomach cut and intestines moved over to work 360 * on spine .
Can't say any one accident did it.
Just an accumulation I guess.
But it's all good . Got a handicap tag I don't have the stomach to use .
hard to self justify parking a big lifted F-250 in a handicap spot . To everyone else it looks like a healthy guy with a limp. And there grandma parking elsewhere .
But one day I may use it. Lol

 

Thanks for sharing Tig. Its stories like this of true events that can change someone else life.
Ever think about sharing with a young back surgery patient in recovery??

I was part of AA in my late 20s. Wreckless drinking for basically 10yrs. Always held a job but was a mess. 2 DUI later. A Couple of old timers invested in me. There story gave me confidence. They changed my life.

Family definitely drives a man.

Merry Christmas

 

That's not bad $$ at all!! The insurance company should either make it whole again or if they total it should give you $15k for it. Heck, That's cheap!! considering what a brand new '19 would cost and it wouldn't be a 7.3!!

 

I'm dumb and can't type
offer was $1400

 

Hopefully you have replacement cost coverage. Otherwise they will try to low ball the heck out of everything.

 

It's obvious you don't think you're special, even tho you might qualify for the special olympics . What you are is a good decent person, one who doesn't let the challenges become excuses and doesn't take advantage of stuff you don't need. Your kids will be better people because of it and it'll hopefully continue on to their kids.

You put my chronic pains into perspective, it's very rare that my pains will make me wonder if I can make it out of bed without hitting the floor. But now I have a cold for the first time in several years and I'm almost ready to file for disability. I'd almost rather be shot than have a cold. Not center mass, I ain't that manly, but maybe a wing shot.

 

Undeserving kind words.
like most of us we believe that all we truly leave of ourselves when this life is over will be seen in our children and the adults they become.
IvI' looked into talking and visiting with patents of my surgeon. Never heard back from them .
No local support groups for chronic pain .
Or the mental health support groups dealing with surgery.
I Know it would have helped me .
The thought of my family going un supported if i could no longer work was worse than whatever was going to happen to me physically.
but God's grace has been good to me.
Now when the youngest son graduates college I hope to be able to financial leave the plant. I'll have to do something to supplement cash flow.
But hopefully it's what I want to do.
Hardwood furniture and custom knives being top of my list.
A very happy holiday to my family here.
And a prayer for your recovering from cold or flu.
I'd rather the gun shot (BB) than a cold myself also.

 

88e350
i folgfo my wife has the same humor u have .
A few years ago she bought me a sweet special Olympics t shirt .
must be something to it because last year my fitter at work bought me the same thing shirt to rib me .

 

Put me on your list of customers for custom knives if you go that route. My wife has been asking/looking for a handmade kukri for a while now...

I think she would take great pride in the blade coming from a fellow 7.3 enthusiast.

 

Merry Christmas to you Tig. The story you've shared in this thread has likely touched more hearts than you realize.

 

heres a auction for a new hat

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stetson-Pal...R0A:rk:19:pf:0

 

Ditto - not for the wife wanting a kukri, I think I'd be a little scared... but I would love a quality custom general chef's knife, maybe a paring/utility knife as well. I'm fond of the Asian designs. I don't mind paying the price of a custom knife, but damn, most of the big names have a 1-year wait on top of the $300-plus cost. It would also be special to have one crafted by a brother from FTE.

 

Last two I made.
Wanted somewhat of an Asian inspired blade . With a good finger hold for skinning .
Started on my first leather sheath ever. Not real hard. Just trying to figure best design .

 

One for a friend in rangers overseas in Iraq