• Message from Daryl

    From Barry Martin@454:1/1 to All on Thu Jun 27 08:53:00 2019
    Received from Daryl Stout, June 27, 2019:


    The Bad News continues...I feel like I'm cursed.

    I'm still away from the house, staying at an area Super 8 motel at Otter
    Creek, at $75 a night, plus tax. It's a nice place (clean, and no
    bedbugs), with places like Hardees, Subway, and Chick-Fil-A on the
    other side of the interstate. You're lucky to get a room for under $100
    a night. At least I can eat food, then sleep in a comfortable room,
    instead of suffering in a sauna house with no power or air conditioning.


    But, after the severe weather over a week ago, I'm still without power
    and air conditioning at the house. The electric meter off the north side
    of the house has to be replaced. I thought the inside panel box needed likewise, but if it doesn't need it, I can forego that. At least the insurance will cover it if it needs to be upgraded to current electric
    code.

    I'm hoping the insurance company will strike a deal with one of the two electricians I was to call (they didn't convey that initially, and
    screwed around for 5 days after the incident), sometime today or
    Friday. But, then work may not be able to commence until next week.
    And, with the July 4 holiday coming up, it may take longer. It'll take
    48 hours to complete once they start. To the insurance company, it's a
    major catastrophe if they have to pay a claim. But, they want you as
    a customer, and to pay the premiums.

    Right now, I'm set to stay at the hotel through Sunday morning, and
    may have to extend that further. The bill is nearly $800 now (it will
    be over $1000 if I have to extend the stay), and this has devoured the
    funds that I had set aside for the lodging and food at the Duke City
    Hamfest in September.

    Add to that the fact that I may have to pay a nearly $1900 income tax
    bill for my 92 year old Mom, who is dying in a nursing home. I'm waiting
    to hear from Arkansas Asset Protection Group to determine what to do
    next. The money from the Amtrak Trip to Albuquerque, plus money my Mom
    still had in one of her bank accounts, will go to pay the tax debt. If I
    don't have to pay the tax debt for my Mom, I'm going to look into
    getting a GENERAC generator.

    So, I have been FORCED to CANCEL the Amtrak Trip to Albuquerque, and my attendance at the Duke City Hamfest in September. I have sent an email
    to them, requesting a refund for the purchases I had made.

    With my health and the financial situation, my travel days outside of
    central Arkansas are over. This was NOT the last big vacation I wanted.
    I had scheduled a weekend trip to Clinton, Arkansas, for a square
    dance festival in October, but the travel plans to that may get
    cancelled as well.

    I still have no idea when I can return home, get The Thunderbolt BBS
    back up, or get back on the air, ham radio wise. I have to install
    Windows 10 Pro, IObit Utilities, and Synchronet BBS software to get The Thunderbolt BBS back up...plus BlueDV, the ThumbDV, D-Rats, Echolink,
    Outpost for Packet, CQ100 with QSO-TV, and Winlink Express on the BBS computer, to get back on the air for ham radio.

    Then, I have to install Windows 10 Pro and IObit Utilities on what was
    my Mom's computer, along with my laptop computer. And, that's before I
    restock the refrigerator and freezer with new food.

    Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper right now. I'm angry, bitter,
    and depressed. Even if I can get back home this weekend, I may not do a
    thing for several more days. I will post another update when I can.

    Daryl, WX4QZ



    ¯ ®
    ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
    ¯ @Q.COM ®
    ¯ ®


    ... ...And the RESET button lets you re-run AUTOEXEC.BAT.
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47
    þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA

    --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462
    * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1)
  • From Barry Martin@454:1/1 to All on Thu Nov 14 07:57:00 2019

    Hi Folks!

    I received a message from Daryl dated November 13, 2019 at 8:20 p.m. If
    it weren't for bad luck....

    His message follows:


    At present, I am having to use a Verizon MiFi for doing any internet
    with my Lenovo Laptop.. Unfortunately, the data plan will NOT let me do
    ham radio traffic nets (never mind running the BBS), plus it's a bit
    slower than Xfinity. However, with the issues with the rodents at the
    QTH, I don't look to be back on the air, or have my BBS back up until
    possibly early 2020. That also includes any ham radio license
    exams...so,for the moment, I remain QRT (off the air and offline) until
    further notice (UFN).

    After working myself like a dog for the last 3+ years, for being caregiver
    for my Mom before her death, moving back home over a year ago (I still
    haven't unpacked all the items) then all the stuff after her
    funeral...plus, dealing with this rodents issue (which has caused
    extreme stress...had I been a heart patient, I might have been dead by
    now), is far too much for me to handle.

    I can't even get 4 hours of sleep a night, and it may take until after
    the new year before the rat problem is eradicated. We found a place
    where they were coming in..and I was horrified to find kitchen cabinets
    full of old food...I must have bagged up and thrown out at least 15 bags
    of trash. I also had gutters put on the house, and they helped clean up
    the rooms and box up what of my Mom's clothes, jewelery, and videos,
    etc. that hadn't been damaged by rodent droppings...the rest was thrown
    out. They still have my bedroom and the front room to do yet,

    Unfortunately, what it's costing me means I can't afford to go to a
    hotel (4 nights with tax is $350), just to get some rest. But, I'm
    sleeping (or trying to) with the doors closed, so I don't get bit, and
    infected with rabies or typhoid fever.

    I feel like I'm in the early stages of a nervous breakdown, which has
    been building for a long time. Even talking with a female friend and her boyfriend (they have a dachshund who's spoiled rotten, and nuts
    over,me), every time I get on the phone, I practically burst into
    tears...as I'm angry, upset, bitter, and depressed. I did so much for
    others (my Mom,other friends, etc.), and neglected myself. Now, it's
    time to pay the piper, and I've got a big bill to pay. The arthritis has
    gotten worse (my left wrist nearly locked up on me), and I'm in constant
    pain. I am likely going to switch from the cane to a walker,and sooner
    more than later,be in a wheelchair.

    I know everything happens for a reason, and that "The Good Lord won't give
    us more than we can handle". But, lately, the rodent stress, etc. has practically put me over the edge of the cliff. I can relate to the
    article where this author entitled it "The Day I Yelled At God". If I
    can ever get rid of these vermin, maybe I can get my life back to
    normal...but right now, I'm not optimistic of that happening anytime
    soon.

    My luck is so bad lately that I'm like the song from Hee Haw "If it
    weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all", and if I had been
    suicidal, I would've been told that "we are experiencing high call
    volume,and can't take your call at this time".

    But, for now, my computer BBS, and running ham radio traffic nets, has
    to wait. I have carboned this to others to help with Net Control until
    things stabilize for me. They can put the nets on hiatus if they can't
    do them while I'm "in disposed", as it were. So, that means 2 of my 3
    hobbies aren't being done...and the hobbies were what was keeping me
    sane, providing a diversion. But, that's not even the case now. The only
    square dancing and internet I'm doing is minor website updates. My email
    and Facebook are very limited right now, and usually off the smartphone.
    If I give up all 3 hobbies, I have nothing left to live for.

    As to when I'll start doing ham radio traffic nets again, or bringing my
    BBS bacfk online, it likely will be sometime in early 2020...but I can't
    give an answer on that right now.

    Sorry for any inconvenience...your understanding is appreciated.

    --
    Daryl Stout, WX4QZ -- You're DEAD WRONG if you try to beat a train to a crossing.
    For details, go to http://www.theweatherwonder.com/rxr.htm

    <end forward>

    ¯ ®
    ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
    ¯ @Q.COM ®
    ¯ ®


    ... Dec 19 1974: 1st personal computer was solder-yourself Altair 8800.
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47
    þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA

    --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462
    * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1)
  • From Mike Powell@454:1/105 to BARRY MARTIN on Sat Nov 16 10:02:00 2019
    Hi Folks!

    I received a message from Daryl dated November 13, 2019 at 8:20 p.m. If
    it weren't for bad luck....

    I was starting to worry about him and inquiring has been on my to-do list.
    I am glad someone has heard from him because it is not like him to just disappear without saying anything.

    Mike


    * SLMR 2.1a * I had another drink...Drink-a-drink-a-drink-a-drink...
    --- SBBSecho 3.07-Linux
    * Origin: ILink: CCO - capitolcityonline.net (454:1/105)
  • From Barry Martin@454:1/1 to Mike Powell on Sun Nov 17 11:10:00 2019

    Hi Mike!

    I received a message from Daryl dated November 13, 2019 at 8:20 p.m. If
    it weren't for bad luck....
    I was starting to worry about him and inquiring has been on my
    to-do list. I am glad someone has heard from him because it is
    not like him to just disappear without saying anything.

    Yes, I know Daryl will disappear for a day or two because of bad weather considerations, he has been trouble with his brother (perhaps their
    mother's death had put him over the edge), and other plausibilities.
    Didn't expect a scene from a horror movie at his home.


    * SLMR 2.1a * I had another
    drink...Drink-a-drink-a-drink-a-drink... --- SBBSecho 3.07-Linux

    Good news: you're not dehydrated!

    ¯ ®
    ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
    ¯ @Q.COM ®
    ¯ ®


    ... 365.25 days drinking low-calorie beer because less filling: 1 lite year
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47
    þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA

    --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462
    * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1)
  • From Mike Powell@454:1/105 to BARRY MARTIN on Mon Nov 18 19:24:00 2019
    I was starting to worry about him and inquiring has been on my
    to-do list. I am glad someone has heard from him because it is
    not like him to just disappear without saying anything.

    Yes, I know Daryl will disappear for a day or two because of bad weather considerations, he has been trouble with his brother (perhaps their
    mother's death had put him over the edge), and other plausibilities.
    Didn't expect a scene from a horror movie at his home.

    Did I understand correctly that he has moved into his mother's former home
    and not the one he was living in before?

    Mike


    * SLMR 2.1a * "Gasoline clears my sinuses!" - Fred G. Sanford
    --- SBBSecho 3.07-Linux
    * Origin: ILink: CCO - capitolcityonline.net (454:1/105)
  • From Barry Martin@454:1/1 to Mike Powell on Tue Nov 19 07:16:00 2019

    Hi Mike!

    I was starting to worry about him and inquiring has been on my
    to-do list. I am glad someone has heard from him because it is
    not like him to just disappear without saying anything.
    Yes, I know Daryl will disappear for a day or two because of bad weather considerations, he has been trouble with his brother (perhaps their
    mother's death had put him over the edge), and other plausibilities.
    Didn't expect a scene from a horror movie at his home.
    Did I understand correctly that he has moved into his mother's
    former home and not the one he was living in before?

    Yes. As I recall he was living in an apartment building and them moved
    in with his mother at her home (stand-alone house) to help her. She
    then had to be moved to a facility and Daryl stayed at her house. She
    then died and Daryl inherited the house where he is now.

    Daryl's brother lives nearby but isn't at all helpful.

    During the summer the house had electrical issues when a tree fell over
    and pulled the service lines out of the meter, and pulling it from the
    house. Now the rats. As he said he is pretty much living that old
    Hee-Haw TV show song.


    ¯ ®
    ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
    ¯ @Q.COM ®
    ¯ ®


    ...
    Scrolling scrolling scrolling
    Keep that mousewheel scrolling!
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47
    þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA

    --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462
    * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1)
  • From Mike Powell@454:1/105 to BARRY MARTIN on Wed Nov 20 18:53:00 2019
    During the summer the house had electrical issues when a tree fell over
    and pulled the service lines out of the meter, and pulling it from the
    house. Now the rats. As he said he is pretty much living that old
    Hee-Haw TV show song.

    I forgot the electric issue was at this house and not at his old apartment. Geez, he has had some awful luck this year.

    Mike


    * SLMR 2.1a * Keep your stick on the ice
    --- SBBSecho 3.07-Linux
    * Origin: ILink: CCO - capitolcityonline.net (454:1/105)
  • From Barry Martin@454:1/1 to Mike Powell on Thu Nov 21 06:57:00 2019

    Hi Mike!

    I forgot the electric issue was at this house and not at his old apartment. Geez, he has had some awful luck this year.

    Yes, he has! I think he said the apartment building had been struck by lightening a couple of times while he was living there but no power
    issues as he had unplugged.


    ¯ ®
    ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
    ¯ @Q.COM ®
    ¯ ®


    ... Artificial sweetener is like a hug from a mannequin.
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47
    þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA

    --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462
    * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1)