Well, we have been hunkered down here for the past couple of weeks with 7 family members moved in for the long haul. Making arrangements for all the new company has stalled the work on my '51 F1 as we move in multiple campers. We haven't closed the front gate in more than 10 years, but now we keep it locked as many of us are high risk due to age or medical conditions. Kinda feels like we are doosday preppers, but we all need to stay safe.

 

I was hunkered down in Gatlinburg. Now I’m in Memphis. Bad choice.

 

To be honest nothing has really changed here, I normally go to town twice a month, still do...

 

Nothing has changed a bit for me. I work, I eat, I sleep. I try to work on the truck.

I've always done what I could to avoid the idiot society to begin with so nothing is new there either. Most of my family is the same way. We keep to our own and avoid others.


Now as far as work goes, that's changed. We aren't working really, just "improving" our work space so to say and pondering how many of our jobs will be furlough or laid-off and how soon will that come.

 

I’m back in Gatlinburg. I retired from my Memphis job last year. Found work pretty quick at Ober Gatlinburg. That shutdown in late March.

 

Well..just to add to this thread, I did lose my job in Oct. 17yrs with the company and they decided to close the doors for good. I've taken the past 3 months off and was very prepared to do so. Much needed to get a ton of stuff done thats been neglected for a while. Hopefully the new year brings a new job. Hard to work on my truck without money to do so....

 

Wheelchair lift in my 99 E350 finally gave up, trapped me in it, been looking for a used one, seems all those available before covid have been scrapped, only one handicap shop is still in business and they only want to do new, $7000 is far too much to spend on a 20+ year old vehicle, this virus has sure made life near impossible, having to fall back on my 73 for hospital trips, it is not really suited for passengers or anything far away, runs poorly in the cold. Been making trips to wound care at the hospital for over a year now, had to get surgery to have infected bone removed, then sewn up, treatment did not cure the infection or close the wounds, so I have been in/out of wound care several times a month, amazing I've not gotten covid, obviously immune, had a picc line in my arm administering IV drugs to myself for about 3 months. I'd give anything to get a new engine in my 73, awaiting the stimulus so I can at least have the transmission rebuilt, seems to be the only thing I can drive, can't even get in the 99 anymore, have to hotwire the lift to make it work, the switch wires on the vehicle were done by a complete moron with inferior wire that the insulation has crumbled, shorting out every bit of it, the circuit board on the lift itself has the tabs that wires plug into coming off, as if the solder has melted, have to say I am no longer surprised at anything, everything I own is falling part, and so happens to be doing it all at the same time. If it hadn't been for the fellas in the chapter who came out and set the wheelchair lift in my 73 over 10 years ago, I would be without any transportation at all right now, even tho it is worn out, I can still depend on it to get me where I am going, guess I can compare my health, to the old van, and we both happen to be the same age, so perhaps when it is finally done, so will I.

 

I'm sorry to hear about your horrible luck. Not sure what I can do to help other than encourage you to hang in there. I pray things will get better. Perhaps you could start a "go fund me "
page? I'm starting my new job today at 6am, when I get my first paycheck, I would be happy to contribute.
Maybe other TN members will read this soon and someone close to you will have a plan, or perhaps maybe we as a group can figure out how to reach out and help.

 

Oh no, no go fund me, I am on government assistance, that would really wreck things, I'll get by, just kind of agitating, been trying to find someone who could sit a lift it, wish I had a forklift and help to get it in, had to get dad to come by and get me out, we've been watching the FB marketplace to find another lift, a hydraulic one, many are too tall, or the control box is on the wrong side, and there is so many of the one I have, they are to be avoided, there are no parts for them, the company that bought them out will not sell to an individual and often times refuses to send any parts at all, talk about a monopoly, buy your competition and refuse to keep them working. I gotta say I sure miss having the ability to do my own work, for reason of inability of reaching it, or requires another person to operate it, things just seem to be a pain. If you ever have a family member get injured, and require a wheelchair you'll find everything has the cost increased, just gotta add handicap to the description for markup.

 

I understand. I spent some of my time off building a few wheel chair ramps for my grandmother. She's on a walker now and can finally get around better in her house and outside when going for her appointments.
Hopefully things will brighten up in your life soon.

 

I need to swap the 2 barrel out on my van again, fix the choke wire while at it, flooding again, time to open the one thats on it and remove the debris, need a replacement fuel tank, too bad they aren't available, filters won't catch the fine rust, just so tired I don't want to mess with it. Can't wait for spring, got a lot of things that need done, radiator, shroud, etc.

 

I tested positive with no symptoms. I spent 9 days in the basement by myself watching t.v. and playing video games. No wife. no kids. Best 9 days I've had in years.

Hawk

 

Several surgeries, amputation, all lead up to after my head on collision, totaling out my 73, someone speeding to beat the turn light to make a left, turning in front of me, bought a dash cam after the experience, many cars waiting at the light, No witnesses, really mad at society! One can't appreciate the lunacy of the medical field handling covid, they will completely ignore the dangers of MRSA, I had a resistant strain alright, had to see infectious disease, cut my leg off in fear of spread, which it did so the amputation was pointless, yet reminder back when a nurse was mad I refused to allow her to remove the bandage and expose the entire room to it, but wasn't covid so there was no concern. This year has sucked.