| Author | Message | ||
| Ian Giffin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 1252 Registered: 7-1997 Posted From: 24.239.13.27  Rating: N/A |
Continued from thread entitled "Fellow Busnut Burned Out" (below this thread); excerpts as follows: May 12, 6:27 pm - Jack Conrad: I just got a phone call from a fellow busnut that lives in Louisiana. Kevin recently purchased a GM Buffalo near Ft. Myers, FL and stopped by our place for a few days on his way back to Louisiana. He just called me to tell me they had a fire at their house today. The house and his bus were totally destroyed along with 14 pets (10 birds, 2 cats, and 2 dogs). Kevin said his parents and brothers are OK, but he suffered some 2nd and 3rd degree burns. That is all the details I have at this time. When posting, Kevin went by MacGyver. I am sure they would appreciate any help that can be provided. If anyone wants to make a donation, Kevin's PayPal account is phyrebyrd@yahoo.com Kevin's phone number is 318-840-9254. Jack. May 18, 9:11 am - Ian Giffin: Hi Folks, Macgyver sent me a PayPal "Donation" button that you can find here: http://www.busnut.com/macgyverdonation.html. If you can help out financially, this link will take you to a web page that will start the process of sending money directly to Kevin. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity. Ian. May 20, 7:16 pm - Ok. I have some news. I've finished removing the remainder of the burnt wood/furnishings from the bus... It looks pretty good overall... Not as bad as it first appeared. One upper skin panel is warped... I'm still examining the panels, but the only one that seems to have any warpage/rippling is the one that still had cabinetry attached to it that burned... I can fix that. Not a problem. I can also fix the dash. I'm going to do what I had intended to do previously, just much sooner... I'm going to design my own digital gauge system and replace the analog stuff and build in a touch screen LCD panel for displaying information and use LED's for the "dummy lights". I'm going to be taking my time on everything and research the best glass prices, naturally... I had a BUTT LOAD of conversion equipment that burned... According to State Farm, they're going to replace it... Which is pretty much everything I'll need for the conversion except the glass, wood, wiring, etc... So, this is good. State Farm, however, is still trying to screw us over pretty good... But, I have some news on that front too. A friend of the family, and several of her friends, have had problems collecting from State Farm in the past... They all used the same lawyer. We'll be contacting him very soon... The kicker is, from what I understand from my mother... The guy has NEVER lost a case against State Farm. In fact, State Farm won't even let his cases get to court anymore... They settle quickly because they've always lost!!! And here's the icing... He always gets more than the policy was worth in the first place. Now, I know... "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"... But right now... It's just hope... And hope is a good thing for us at this time... even if it turns out to be false hope. It's still something.... So please don't shatter that hope! ;) As I'm sure ya'll can gather... I've decided to move forward with salvage of this bus. I simply can't let a beautiful machine like this, that's so rare, just go up in smoke and not give her a second chance at life. It's going to take me a long time, and of course, I can't do it all at once... But for me, it's a form of "therapy" to keep myself occupied and not think about the disaster that's befallen us... Even if, ultimately, she proves to just be too far gone to salvage... Like the birds I couldn't save, I can at least say I tried, which is important to me. Also, things are on track for moving in to our temporary apartment early to mid next week... So I'm looking forward to that. What I'm not looking forward to, however, is having to clean everything. lol... What an ugly black powdery stinky mess it all is right now. Sigh. I'll be happy to get my pooch back... I miss her terribly.... Once I get my main workstation back in operation, I'll be able to work with the pictures and video I have and put something together that ya'll can see the extent of the damage... And the companions we lost as well as the ones that survived. I just wish I could have done more to save the ones we lost... We miss them. :-( -Mac | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 413 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194  Rating: N/A |
Ian, Thank you... Also, since I got confirmation today that we are, indeed, moving into the apartment across the way from our place, we won't be needing the mailbox you were setting up for us. Thank you for the effort on that front... Everyone... Here's the address we'll be staying at until my parents' home is rebuilt: The Nebus Family 3933-A Benton Rd. Bossier City, LA 71111 ----- Craig, Thank you. My parents still need a system that they can use to get on the 'net with. I currently have them set up with an old Gateway laptop, but it overheats and shuts down if you simply sneeze... It's the best I can do for them right now and it's proving to be more of a nuisance than it is a help... I finally got this laptop I'm on now reloaded with XP, but can't find my Office disc... It's around here somewhere, I'll find it... I have OpenOffice installed for now. Now I can start work on the itemized list of things that I lost in the fire... My parents are working on their list already... Not sure what my bro's doing though... I'm not sure he really cares at the moment since it seems he's going to be leaving for an overseas job soon. I, on the other hand, don't wish to go far from home right now. My mother's health is very poor and she needs someone nearby for help and support... Especially now. I'm generally the one that gets that task between my brother and I... One day, he's going to wish he'd taken the time... One day, she's going to be gone like our companions are now gone... And he'll realize he can't change things anymore and what's done is done and it's over... Just don't try telling him that now... He won't listen. Anyway... I don't know for sure what day we move in, but I know it'll be early next week sometime, and I'll be within walking distance to the house and bus at the new place... So, that's good! ^.^ Going to bed now. I'm absolutely exhausted. -Mac | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 414 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
Well, today wasn't very productive I'm afraid... Though, I did take more pictures of the progress of stripping the bus... We also got more boxes of "stuff" out of the house, but I was only there for a couple of hours today. I worked yesterday and the day before in the heat without taking many breaks to cool off and rest, as a result... I'm paying for it today. Working in the heat and overstressing my body was what caused my first heart attack... I've taken it a lot easier since then, but it still gets to me faster than before... So, today was more relaxing and recuperating than working. I'm going to be processing some of the pictures I've taken and post them on my Flickr account and post the link here so ya'll can see more details of what happened, and what's been going on. I'll also be taking the opportunity to send out some thank-you notes to those of you who've helped with donations... They've been a great help, but ultimately may be needed to help retain the lawyer... Not sure yet if he's going to work on contingency or what yet... I'll keep ya'll updated on that front as well once I know more. And, like I said... Once things are taken care of and I have money flowing again, I'll donate back into the system through Ian. It's just going to take some time... probably a lot of time.  Anyone out there need, or know of someone who does, a custom phone system built? I build with Asterisk and use Grandstream telephony products... I've found they're reliable and feature rich, and have a MUCH cheaper cost of ownership. I also charge reasonable fees for building them and use off-the-shelf server components for easy maintenance... I also build custom computers using quality components (Asus motherboards, Kingston/Crucial memory, etc).. So if anyone wants a computer built, I can quote a price if you'll give me the specs you're looking for. I also build servers... I also build DVR's... I built one for myself that records 4 channels at once... 2 Standard Def cable channels and 2 HD channels at once and can store about 3000 hours of television.. Mine is built from a miniature Shuttle system and uses external USB and network enabled tuners... So, I can build those too... Soon, I'll be building digital dashboard displays once I can get my electronic tools replaced and get my scope checked out... Right now, I need to work... My bus is important to me, but my family and our companion animals are more important. My mother is extremely depressed over the loss of her companions... I've been trying to keep myself busy enough to not think about the friends that died in the fire... The material stuff can be replaced, and I have the memories of our companions... But they're missed and have left holes in our hearts. My parents are also going to need considerable financial help with the rebuild of the house since Snake Farm is estimating the rebuilding costs in excess of the policy coverage. So, if anyone knows someone that needs the kinds of services I can offer... Please let me know. I'd love to work. The donations have helped, but obviously, we can't survive on them alone... The initial response was truly impressive and we were surprised... So thank you from my family and myself. -Mac | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 415 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
New photo sets up.... This first set is of some of our companion animals. All the survivors are shown... I couldn't find pics of one of the cats, my brother's bird or my mother's birds... We're still searching. Each photo is marked with surviving or deceased in the fire... http://www.flickr.com/photos/36522796@N04/sets/72157618596155638/ This next set is of the house... http://www.flickr.com/photos/36522796@N04/sets/72157618596274126/ This next set is of the bus.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/36522796@N04/sets/72157618509052185/ Some of the pics for the bus are from today... after I started cleaning it. -Mac (Message edited by 91flyer on May 21, 2009) (Message edited by 91flyer on May 21, 2009) | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 475 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.197.237  Rating: N/A |
Mac; After looking at the pictures, my mind went back to the fire that my parents went thru and my heart goes out to mom and dad and you for all you all are going thru,and I want you to know that in spite of the losses you encountered, I know that God will give you all strength if you will trust in Him COMPLETLY!! Things may not turn out like you want them to but remember that you are alive and can share with others who go thru life with even less problems. Please give it to God and let Him supply the answers and strength. I would give you my 4905 but I am like you, I like it very much and don;t want to part with it, I may have some parts I don't need if you will e=mail me from my profile. Gomer | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 739 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.209.184.249 Rating: N/A |
Great Gesture, Gomer.. God Bless YOU!!! Galatians 6:9.  RCB (Message edited by chuckllb on May 21, 2009) | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 478 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.197.237 Rating: N/A |
AMEN AND AMEN Gomer | ||
| Craig Campbell (Craig_4104012)
Registered Member Username: Craig_4104012 Post Number: 47 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 72.60.202.83 Rating: N/A |
Kevin, I can get them a desktop system asap that will get them on the net no problem. it seems to be the way of the universe that the minute you need something no matter how many times you tripped over them before they can not be found and that is what is happening with the laptops around here. i will grab a desktop and get it shipped out. we don't have any monitors around here so you will have to source that locally. send me an email with your shipping address and i will get a p4 1700 to you | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 416 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
Craig, Thanks... If you'd like to ship it, ship it to the new address... I think my dad can pick up a monitor/keyboard/mouse and stuff at the office... I'm sure they'll appreciate having a PC again. None of the computers we have now are reliable in the least... After the fire, the seem prone to overheating and shutting down... I'll have to take them all down to component level and clean thoroughly, but it's going to be quite some time before I can even think about it. :s ------ The bus is now "plasticized"... It's wrapped front to back in 7mil plastic. Of course, it started raining while I was doing it... but it's done. I got up on the roof and took a closer look at the warped panel I saw... It's ONLY one panel on the passenger side, just behind the buffalo windows... Looks like a 2.5'x2.5' panel I'll need to replace. Not too shabby... Once I have the money saved up to get the windows replaced, I'll start work on the dash and refitting the electronics. It's not as bad as it first appeared, and it's not as terrible as the pictures seem... Once I'm done stripping everything, including the original bus paneling and insulation... I'll take new pictures and get ya'lls opinion, but right now... I'm leaning towards saving her. She's one of the last surviving members of her species, after all! Yes, I treat my vehicles much like I do my animals... ;) My burns are healing up nicely... I'll take some snaps of them on the next dressing change (tomorrow)... It looks like the hair follicles survived the burn, but only barely... I can see pinpricks of hair, so... hopefully... it'll grow back and have minimal scarring... We'll see. Power was turned on at the rental today, but still no furniture and stuff... We're going to try to do that tomorrow. There's a lot of stuff that the landlord needs to fix before we'll move in though... plumbing, electrical, etc... it's in need of serious repairs. heh. Oh... I had almost everything I needed for the conversion, minus little things like hose fittings and such... The insurance company wants a list of everything. My original equipment was all 12v, but I decided halfway through collecting everything that I wished I'd gone 24v... So, here's my opportunity to do so. Assuming they don't jerk me around on the stuff... Everything was brand new, in the boxes still... Never used. The receipts (the ones I had, at least), were of course in the boxes... So not sure how SF is going to work that, or if they're going to screw me on it... I'm betting on the latter. We'll see. I'll keep posting as things develop... -Mac | ||
| Keith Wood (Ft6)
Registered Member Username: Ft6 Post Number: 115 Registered: 8-2008 Posted From: 75.208.155.193 Rating: N/A |
I hate to sound like bad news, but make sure that you don't put any weight on the roof until you have seen from underneath that it's not damaged. Aluminum burns, and before it burns it loses just about all of its strength, holding its shape until the last moment. The shape of the roof ducts heat the whole length of the coach before any one spot degrades enough to be obvious. From your ladder, you want to look the whole length of the coach from both ends, checking for anything that looks warped. Once you have the ceiling down, take a wrench and tap every panel and every one of the stringers that make up the structure. You may find that a lot of them won't ring right. A number of airplanes in museums got there because of this kind of degraded mental, either from hangar fires or from neglect. Be prepared to write the whole coach off due to structural issues. If so, there are a number of folks with Buffalos for sale on Craigslist or elsewhere. | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 420 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
Keith... I checked the front roof section carefully, only the one panel has any warpage. The rest looks/feels sound, though I haven't torn down the old ceiling to rap on it... Though, I was forced to get onto the roof in order to wrap her up... No give to it.. Seems structurally sound. No twisting over the length of the body, no obvious warpage over the length either... It's going to take some time before I can make a final decision to save or scrap her... But right now, I need something to do to keep me busy... Even if the work I'm doing now is ultimately a moot point, it's something to do to keep my mind and body occupied. Otherwise, the reality of everything sets in all at once... I'd rather keep busy. I'll keep ya'll updated as to progress and plans... We're heading out to look at rental furniture right now for the rental house... Who knows, maybe we'll have beds tonight. lol. -Mac | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 193 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.235.190  Rating: N/A |
best way to guess at the heat temperature occurred & how it may have affected the metal temper is to look at the materials that did burn at lower temperatures. Perhaps after a complete chassis inspection have someone drive while carefully observing the heat damaged areas in question for "flex unison" , If the chassis was severely distorted you may notice it in a change of handling on a tight suspension on dry roads. | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 422 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
Clint, Once things settle down and I can finish stripping the bus, and have time to look REALLY close at things... I'll know more. I honestly haven't touched the bus for a couple days now... Just too much going on... We have to finish removing the stuff we can save from the house before demolition can begin, so we've been concentrating on that. The only thing I've done in the past couple of days was wrap it up since the rain was moving in... We're going to be getting a lawyer sometime this coming week... Hopefully, he can come up with a way to make either State Farm or the City pay for the damage to the bus. I'm hoping State Farm doesn't fuss when I turn in my list of conversion equipment that burned up. I had over $35,000 worth of equipment I'd been buying over the past 5 years or so.. Only two things have been found that are even recognizable in the rubble. One was the Xantrex 60a dual bank battery charger (ruined, unusable), and the other was the post box for the hookup to the house... Haven't taken it apart to see if it's OK or not... But, that's it. Out of all that equipment, that's all that was even recognizable. Most of it I picked up off of Craigslist, but was all new in the boxes... Some of it I bought from places like Camping World, West Marine and Alt-E, but very little of it... And all the receipts that I did have were *in the boxes*! Could be an interesting fight very soon, 'cuz I'm not going to just let 'em run over me and not replace the stuff I *NEED*. About the only thing I didn't have to complete the conversion were the batteries! -Mac | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 423 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
Figures.... There's a pair of MCI-8's and Silver Eagles on eBay, each for a lousy $5k right now. Sigh. Somehow, I think I'm doomed to just never have a bus. Grrr... First one (60 footer) simply deteriorated while I was away, and this one burns when my parent's home burns down before I've even had it home a full month. Wtf?? Should I just give up???? -Mac (Message edited by 91flyer on May 24, 2009) | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 753 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 70.210.187.242 Rating: N/A |
Kevin... as others have intimated... and from my point of view...(I have had a couple of years experience to apply thinking here), seems it would be best for you to "look ahead", one day at a time, and not dwell and sleep on your "problems". We all have them... and you would not want to hear about mine, for sure....but what has always worked best, for me at least, is to "learn from the past" and go on down the road. In my case, I have come to lean on the LORD for that...and can say unequivocally that without that in my life, I most probably would not even be around today. Takes a lot of guts and faith to turn it over to HIM..... but I would solicit you try it.....what have you to lose in trying? I have heard since childhood..."faith is the victory". It is for me. RCB | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 424 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
RC, it's just been a bad day. heh... It comes in waves, ya know? :s Here's a Q that hopefully someone can help with... I'm going to be getting a lawyer soon... How can I find out what the actual value of my bus was before the fire? I mean... Given that there were only 331 ever made, and it's considered a "Classic"... How can its value be appraised so I know how much I need to be suing for? If I end up not saving this particular bus... I still want a GMC. If I can get my hands on a Scenicruiser, all the better... Though, I'd really prefer to stick with the one I have. It runs, it moves, and I mostly know what needs to be done to fix it... And I can do most of the work once I have the materials... Any welding or machine work I'd have to contract out, but there won't be too much of that I think.... I just need to know what its actual value was... Someone forwarded me the information to a local lawyer that works on a contingency basis... All the better. I'll need to research him to see what his stats are, but... It's a start. -Mac | ||
| Len Silva (Lsilva)
Registered Member Username: Lsilva Post Number: 239 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 24.164.20.23  Rating: N/A |
Bus Conversions Magazine had a monthly used bus value based on it's advertising. I don't know if that might help. Basically, your bus is worth what you paid for it. The fact that it is a "classic" or limited production has no impact at all on it's value. Buses are not like old cars, they do not appreciate in value with age. Scenicruisers and very old (1920's or'30's) may be the rare exception, but not by much. If you have good pictures of the bus inside and out before the fire, a dealer may be able to appraise it for you. Try Horizon Coach, 863-993-1600 or Heartland Coach 863-993-2871. | ||
| John and Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 195 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 96.42.7.186  Rating: N/A |
Mac, Just a note. If you go to the American Bar Association Website, they have a state by state listing of lawyers who will work "pro bono" or for reduced rates. Maybe it would be a start for you. http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/directory.html | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1094 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.3.157.139  Rating: N/A |
Len, Bus Trader Magazine www.busmag.com is the magazine that list used bus prices. The prices listed are the asking prices in the ads in their magazine. | ||
| Len Silva (Lsilva)
Registered Member Username: Lsilva Post Number: 240 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 24.164.20.23 Rating: N/A |
Thanks jack, brain fart! | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 429 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
OOOHHHHH KAY. Now we're getting somewhere with the glass (no, I haven't bought anything yet... ) Thanks to Mike, who supplied me with a couple of places to check for the windshields... One place gave me the quote today. I have to wait until next week sometime for the other place... But, this is MUCH more promising than the first quote I got... TransLite quoted me a price of $129 for each windshield, $65 crate fee each and about $100 freight fee... So, both windshields for a little under $500. Much more reasonable... Of course, they don't sell the seal kits... I'll have to give Luke up at USC a call for those (in fact, the guy I talked to referenced US Coach but couldn't remember Luke's name until I mentioned it)... I'll wait for the quote from the 2nd place and once we're done clearing our stuff out of the house, I'll revisit the coach to see if it's worth moving forward with or not. My feeling right now is that I can salvage her... But I'll reserve final judgement for when I can dig into the dash to see just how bad the damage really is. I know I can rewire the coach... And I know it won't be TOO terribly expensive to do so. I just have to wait and see if it's going to be worth it in the long run... Right now, that answer is yes... I simply can't go buy another coach right now, and I *NEED* it. So... Next question is... How the hell do I install these huge windshields myself? I know it's at least a two person job... Likely three... What are the tricks to doing so? I'll be taking the seal surfaces down to bare metal, priming with rustoleum and using a flat black (also rustoleum) for the final coat. Probably 10 coats of primer and two to four coats of the final flat black, just to be sure I don't have to do it again and keep the surfaces protected from rot for a LONG time... Some of the seal surfaces need a little more work than just a cleaning and paint though... I'll probably take it up to the welding shop (since my welding rig burned) and have them weld in some new metal for the seal surfaces if I move forward with it... I can't do anything until I get the money to do it with anyway... I have enough left to order the windshields and probably the seal kit from Luke... But not enough for anything else at this point. So... Tips? Hints? -Mac | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 430 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
Oh... And, does anyone have a spare passenger side air wiper motor they would part with? The driver's side still functions fine... Passenger side no longer functions at all... Just hisses at me... Looks like some of the plastic bits melted. Sigh. -Mac | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 484 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.197.237 Rating: N/A |
Mac; it isn't hard to replace the windshields in a coach. I replaced both in my 4905 and Mci-8 in a little over 2 hours on each coach. All you need is Dawn soap,double suction cup[Harbor Freight 8.00$].. ON the wiper motor check at a truck salvage yard, take the old one with you and see if it mounts and air lines will move around. They may even have some electric ones that you can run of 12 volts that will work. Did you try Curved Glass .com for your glass? On paint try to find some zinc chromate in spray cans for small jobs or self etching primer for a larger spray area. Thanks for keeping in touch and updated on this situation. Still if you need anything I may have let me know. Gomer | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 431 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
Curved Glass is the one I'm waiting on the quote from still... Their guy won't be in until next Monday... He's apparently in Europe right now. lol... We do have a salvage yard here that MIGHT have the wiper motor tho... I'll check with them when I can get out there to look. ^.^ On the windshields... What exactly is involved in the installation? I'm assuming I should start at the bottom edge and work around? How heavy is the glass? I'm also assuming the seals are the "H" type? -Mac | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 337 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62  Rating: N/A |
Could someone pass along the translite contact info to me as well or is it the one in VA that comes up in Google? | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 486 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.197.237 Rating: N/A |
Mac; when I installed mine, I took the gasket, put it in place,put the glass in place at the bottom,re soaped the channel, spray bottle mixture to keep it slick,Had a tool that is slightly curved with a ball on the end and kept working the gasket around the glass, keeping a firm pressure including smacking it with my hand to keep it going in. then I put the insert in with plenty of soap and walaa it is done. Look on Snap-On web site for the tools. One has a curved end with the ball and the other end has a flat piece on it. The other tool looks like a heart shaped end the the insert goes thru and seperates the gasket for installation. I will look and see if I can find the part for you. They only weigh about 30# so weight is not a problem. Can't find it but I will ask somebody about where I might locate one. Gomer | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 432 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
Tim... TransLite contact info: http://www.translitebusglass.com Translite Enterprises, Inc. 107 Trumbull Street; K Bldg Elizabeth, NJ 07206 Toll Free: 800-934-3450 Local: 908-355-3250 Fax: 908-355-4250 Email: info@transliteent.com --- Curved Glass contact info: http://www.curvedglassdist.com Curved Glass Distributors 72 Chapel Street, Derby CT 06418 Phone # in CT: (203) 735-4665, Toll free in CT: 800 922-1369, Outside of CT: 800 243-6546 FAX: 203-735-3623 E-mail: info@curvedglassdist.com | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 338 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62 Rating: N/A |
Thanks. Would be nice to find a domestic source for glass. Windsheild for the flxliner can still be had from mexico since it is still being used down there under the DINA name | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 433 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
Mike supplied me with the info... I just passed it along. -Mac | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 434 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
I'm getting one more quote from U.S. Coach... Luke said they ship windshields too! Woot. And... Looks like what I've spent so far for clothing, tools, gear and food will be replaced by the Snake Farm too... So maybe, just maybe, there'll be enough to get the windows after all. I sure hope so... I took the plastic off the front of the bus and moved it around back. She's got an air leak somewhere that I'll need to track down, but it's not too terrible. I expected it... So it didn't come as a surprise. While I was in there again, I took a close look at the window openings and saw no obvious warpage. I'll have to get a measuring tape after it to make sure though... Didn't have time to do that today. Probably tomorrow. The welding shop that I use to store my other bus (skoolie, it's nothing more than a storage unit now)... The guy said I could use his business address for freight shipments... So I can get the glass and whatever else that ships freight to his place of business... He's got a forklift to unload and load things up for me too. Still fighting with the Snake Farm for everything else though... I'm still putting the list of destroyed items together to turn in for my claim... Not sure what they're going to do about it though... Everything was new, still in the boxes and crates... The receipts were, of course, in the damn boxes... So I don't know what they're going to do. I'd been collecting that stuff for about 5 years and had _almost_ everything necessary for the entire conversion, minus the wood and trim materials. Even had the wood shop to do a top-notch carpentry job on the damn thing. About $50,000 worth of equipment and tools. Sigh... And, like I said, I spent pretty much every last penny I had on the bus... I was in the process of stripping it to start the conversion when everything went up in flames. Naturally, most of the equipment for the conversion was aluminum. The fire was hot enough to melt STEEL... so the aluminum and circuit boards didn't stand a chance. I've found only TWO things for the conversion that "survived". One was the 60a charger, which is useless as the fire boiled the capacitors and burned the board, and the other was the steel encased 50a service receptacle. That's it. That's all I've been able to find in the rubble from the garage. So... I dunno what's going to happen next. A lawyer is obviously the next major step. We're nearly done clearing out what is salvageable from the house, so next week we should have time to pursue legal recourse against the Snake Farm and possibly against the city for the bus... Or possibly against Snake Farm for that... We'll see what the lawyer has to say. I did get the prices for the windshield seal kit from Luke @ US Coach today... I'll probably end up ordering the windshield glass from him too. He's looking up their price on the wiper motor, but I'll still see what I can find locally for that from a salvage yard if possible... I might bite the bullet and just switch to electric... It just depends on what I can do cheapest at this point. --- On another note... JACK! The mirrors came today. Unfortunately, they don't fit the contour of the coach, so I'm not sure if I can use them or not just yet. I'll take a closer look when I get a chance and see if I can maybe adapt them somehow to fit. I can clean them up and repaint them with no problems though... As long as I can get 'em to fit! Anyhoo... I'm going to get going for now. I'll check back again later. I'm pretty exhausted lately... These damn burns sure take a lot out of you... 3rd degree burns really suck... At least they seem to be healing up fairly well. I'll have pictures soon... Just haven't had time to process and upload them yet. Again, a big thank you from all of us to those who've helped, had kind words or simply given me a call to ask if we're doing ok. It's appreciated... My parents wanted to make sure I passed along their message too... They say thank you, and once we have some sense of normalcy again, any of you are welcome to stop in for a cold one or just BS or whatever. We have plenty of space out back to park a coach, though no services available here (like Jack has at his place, for instance)... Just a place to kick back and relax if it hasn't rained recently! -Mac | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1100 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.3.157.139 Rating: N/A |
Mac, If you can't use the mirrors, pass them on to someone that can. No need to spend money to send them back to me. Jack | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 435 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 12.198.81.194 Rating: N/A |
Well, today was reasonably uneventful... Though, I discovered why a cat has been hanging around our place... Seems she delivered a litter of kittens in our shed. We noticed her hanging around right after the fire and didn't think much of it... Then we discovered she'd been hiding out in the shed. Well... After looking through the shed for some stuff, she made a quick escape but then I heard a "mew"... Looked down, and there was a jet black kitten with white strands of hair here and there... Well, where there's one, there's more... So, I continued tearing the shed apart and found four of the little rascals... Three are black with sparse markings... One was white with grey tipped ears, tail and feet... We put some food and water down for them and they began chowing down on the soft canned food, then... To our surprise, started chowing down on the hard cat food once they caught a whiff of it... So, they're weaning age. I took the little white one up to the vet to be checked out and get their opinion... I thought it was male, my mother thought it was female... Vet says male. They also said they're of weaning age and will be abandoned by their mum within a week... I had them go ahead and keep the white one for me, I'll adopt it as my own. He needs to be wormed, treated for fleas and ear mites and get his shots... They'll be doing that tomorrow. He's a gorgeous kitten... Blue eyes, but what's unusual is his irises are tinged purple... Really light purple... Never seen anything like it before. So... From the fire and devastation comes a breath of life... I'll post pictures when I get a chance... I didn't take the camera with me today. I'll take it tomorrow to get pics of the kitten. -Mac | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 436 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 74.193.225.243 Rating: N/A |
Well, I've moved in to the apartment.. Everyone else is still staying in the hotel for the time being... I went ahead and moved in so the animals wouldn't have to stay in "doggy jail" up at the Vet's office. Internet was just installed... So now I can post again. Not a great deal has happened in the past couple of days.. The insurance company is screwing us pretty hard though. We spoke with a lawyer today... There's no chance of suing the city nor State Farm for the damage to the bus. Even if I'd had "Uninsured Motorist" coverage, I'd still have been screwed because it wasn't a motor vehicle accident. So, I'm SOL. The lawyer wants a 33% cut of whatever he gets.. That eats into the money that's supposed to go towards rebuilding the house, as well as replacing what material possessions were lost. Well, the total for his services would exceed $80,000. Leaving just as little to rebuild and replace as we're already (not) getting. For the time being, we have a roof over our heads... But there's no telling how long that will last. I'm unemployed (and can't find a damn job, even Mickey D's isn't hiring) and my parents depleted their bank account just paying for hotel and setting up in the apartment. We still have almost no furniture.. I'm sitting on the floor writing this post on my laptop at the moment.. Can't build furniture because all my woodworking tools burned. Sigh. We were told by the insurance company initially that if we bought anything to replace things with, to just turn in the receipts and they'd pay us back out of the pool of money from the insurance coverage... Now, today, they changed the tune and now say we must furnish them with the complete list of everything that was in the house, how long we had each of them and how much it's expected to cost to replace each item... That's going to take weeks to compile that list... Especially my parents.. I can compile one pretty quick, as I know what I had... They don't, and they never documented or took pictures of any of it... They can't remember what half of it was either... Although I can remember 90% of what I had and can provide what they're asking for, it's still going to take me a month to furnish MY list... And we still won't get the money to actually replace anything for at least a year. Grrr. I hate insurance. It's all a scam. Every last bit of it... They nickel and dime you to death when you make a claim, and then pay nothing near what anything was actually worth. Oh yeah.. The lawyer said I can't sue the city because he was "doing his job", and I can't sue the insurance company because it's written in the policy that way. My dad elected only 93% structure and $100k contents coverages... A quarter of the contents is already "billed out" for them coming in and STEALING our stuff, claiming they were going to "clean and return" what could be salvaged... I'm glad I told them they couldn't touch my room and my computer equipment or I'd never have gotten ANY of it back. They've "written off" the entire content of the house and "thrown away" nearly everything they stole, and what they didn't throw away and they deemed had "resale value", they're actually selling it and KEEPING the money they get for it! My dad's a Vietnam Vet... My parents are both disabled. I'm on the verge of being able to claim disability myself because of my health problems, but not quite there yet. (Not that I *WANT* to be, I'd rather be healthy as a damn oxen)... So... I did go ahead and order the windshields from Luke @ US Coach, but did it before the insurance started really putting the screws to us. Wouldn't have mattered much either way though... I can at least get the windshields in, fix the marker lights and driver's seat and be able to move it when I need to. I don't NEED the rest of the windows right now... Just enough to get it "road legal" again. Maybe then I can get the hell out of here with what little I have left and find a damn job. Word of warning to those who use State Farm for ANYTHING... Run. Run away. Run away FAST and DON'T look back. Go to Farmer's Insurance... Everyone we've talked to loves them. EVERYONE we've talked to about the Snake Farm that's had to make a real claim has been screwed with a 6 foot sword right up the rear end... I'll finish this for now, my back is killing me from having to sit on the damn floor. heh. -Mac | ||
| Kasse Weikel (More_s_than_as)
Registered Member Username: More_s_than_as Post Number: 39 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 24.205.97.163 Rating: N/A |
hey mac i sent u an email earlier. i really got to climb into bed but i cant get off the forum reading all the fresh threads! i finished reading all of your tragedy here and my my i hope it helps knowing that many many others have experienced the same thing and its part of life. one day we will be gone too and it most likely wont be in the style and fashion we always pictured. you dont want the ones u leave behind to dwell on you right? you would want them to continue and ENJOY life right? well trust me, your friends shared a bond with u, im sure they will want you to be happy. i have heard a lot of small creatures scream that i never knew could, and one day ill be the one screaming...no worries mate this is how is. u ever hear that old bhuddist story about the girl trying to save her son from disease and the monk tells her "find me some mustard seed from a house that has not experienced dath in it and i can cure your son." long story short she frantically goes around and EVERY house had some story or another about a family memeber dieing, her son dies, and she finally realizes what the monk was trying to point out...we humans love to put what scientists call "values" on everything, for in the wild these values do not exist and often cannibalism is an accepted practice in times of hunger among very common animals such as bears and coyotes (watch "grizzley man" its a great psychology case). so now to those questions i mentioned in the email... if the insurance agency has "totalled" the house then is there any chance of getting that chack cut to your pops and not a contractor???? if so then i would suggest you simply buy a new home under anyones name whom you trust and has never owned a home before (maybe yourself). there is a federal first time home buyers grant that guarantees you 0 down and a fixed 3.65 rate (as of right now). past that there are state and citiy grants as well. this is on one extreme side of the spectrum but in south lake tahoe here theres a city grant for 100k but you hafta pay back if you move or sell within i think 20 years (thats how bad the rich cats here want the transients out). the federal program has a website for it and everything with a loan calculator on it. for me on a 200k home the payments will only be less than 1800 on a 20 year, 30 year would be less. FOR YOU HOWEVER you can get even 100k from insurance towards new house you will only be looking at 900 a month on a 20 year. HOUSES ARE CHEAP RIGHT NOW!!!!! u can get a 3/2 on 6.5 acres in placerville (great spot) built in 1995 for 180K right now and thats up here in the fancy parts of california. if u sacrafice some scenery im sure youll get a better deal! what are u willing to sacrafice as far as morals and ethics are concerned? can u be a cynic? i used a skilsaw they had htere at home depot to chop up ramp boards, all i had to do was ask and sure enough they had some wood horses to cut on in the back and everything! buy a hammer a box of nails, borrow a saw and build some functional yet modest looking furniture...use recycled foam and cloth for seats and backing from your local fish or thrift store. foam is hard to find a deal on sometimes though no roadside furniture were u live??? at this time in the economy with lotsa ppl losing homes to financial reasons, i have been seeing lotsa piles on the side of the road with a free sign on it. ALL of my furniture i built from recycled materials or picked up road side and took me mums kirby to it (i highly recommend shamppoing any roadside coaches). up north wehre my bus is i poo in hte bush and it feels great man, i sleep under the stars and realize that FOOD IS FREEDOM!!! if you have food in your belly than essentially you are free. dont sweat the small stuff for as someone said in the posts "we came here with nothing and will leave with nothing, but its the experiences that count." maybe more appropriate for an email but what exactly were some essential items that are of high value to you right now (im going to avoid the whole need and want thing). all the doggie gear i can go get fairly cheap down in carson and mail to you...as well as some kibble money. ive always valued other species lives as equals to mine and gosh darnit some leashes, collars, chewies, and beds arnt asking a lot at all in my opinion (the beds i can send a check for as well but ima want pics ;-p )the kennels though...bro im not a huge fan of kennels for many reasons one beeing the cost of a good sized one! PLZ update us on the ESSENTIALS your still missing. im not a rich man by any means but the "animals" in my opinion are the furthest thing from animals they are your companions in life, equal to a brother in my eyes. these family memebers i know are often left out of the scheme or included minimaly when it comes to red cross and relief. once again, maybe a top ten of essentials that you and you family would love to have right now (besides sanity). what of those kittens??? dont go to a vet, find a CLINIC that has deals on deworm and Vac.s most of that stuff you can get over the counter now but i found a clinic once that every 1st and 3rd weekend of the month they did shots and vacs crazy cheap and u had to show up eraly cause a line would form out the door. find the best possible deal down there and i will pay teh clinic for the kittens deworm and shots (i dunno bout cats but i know dogs are four different rounds the last being the rabies). i dont mean to sound like the insurance agency for i know you must be hurting but if you want to do it OTC then just send me the receipts if you can afford it out of pocket first, otherwise just find a good small clinic/vet DONT GO TO A BIG OFFICE OR PET HOSPITAL THEY RIP U OFF THERE. maybe your brother already heads you words and has made his peace with his own decisions in life as shall we all in order to be truly happy? try not to make him regret his decisions but rather help him learn from them perhaps? ok im off to bed but i was mainly concerned about your fury friends for i know all about it and i have already made arrangements with friends for lil steve (hes really an 80 pound mutt) if anything was to happen to me. i can say for sure i would risk my life in an attempt to save him if i was forced with the situation, you are not a fool in my book at all, if you had no burns then i might question you character ;-p so lemme know bout doggies and kitties and post here anything you humans are lacking essentialy as well. in my opinion however it sounds like you have food and shelter but not much else so your in the same spot i was in for the last month, its very humbling. and dont think "ahh well u had your bus" cause u still have yours as well!! if the roof is structurally intact i think your fine for if anything underneath the deck woulda have gotten hot it would have been your air hoses and wires melting first. u dont need another 5k for it brotha used recycled and found goods, only things ive payed for on my bus was glue and binding for the floor, and two tubes of black silicone to make her water tight. (teh ramps i bought the wood new and a box of screws and some glue but they arnt technically ON the bus lol). | ||
| Kasse Weikel (More_s_than_as)
Registered Member Username: More_s_than_as Post Number: 40 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 24.205.97.163 Rating: N/A |
oh yeah! my buddies bed up north is just a 4x8 of OSB (7bucks at the depot) and a big piece of foam with sheets and blankets. i thought he was joking but after seeing it and giving her a test roll i found it to be actually quite nice and i think this is what ill do for the bus (cut out a put together a bed) for i will need an irregualr matress size and good used matresses are hard to find. with a bed skirt, blankets and a pillow no one will be able to tell that your bed is a piece of OSB and foam, i think he just has his on some old 5 gallon buckets hella ghetto, u may want to figure out another support maybe recycled pieces of 2x4? | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 437 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 74.193.225.243 Rating: N/A |
Well, Kasse, unfortunately.... Almost all the lumber I had saved up for the buildout was also in the garage... _everything_ for the bus was in the garage... Even the big fiberglass bathtub I was going to use (I have a bad back, it was a jacuzzi type tub)... I'd been collecting conversion equipment for about ten years... Oh well. I'll just have to do it again. My biggest concern at this point is just rebuilding the bus and getting it cleaned up and roadable again. I know I can do it, but I have to find work somehow.. For what I do, no one hires here for it.. Telephony Engineering isn't something the locals really have any need for. There are few businesses big enough to warrant designing, building and installing a full PBX style telephone network. Most places here use Lucent Partner key systems... Which I was a certified installer for, but those materials and reference manuals were in the garage too, along with my telephony tools. I had just sold the spare telephony tools I had laying around too. go figure. Sigh. We're just taking things one day at a time for now... The animals are doing well, which is my primary concern. The kitten is growing fast and enjoying the air conditioning... lol. I have yet to try to bring any of my PC's online yet... It's going to take many, MANY hours of cleaning before I can even attempt to power them on... Whether they'll work or not is still up in the air, and highly questionable... My main workstations were up high, close to the ceiling and are black as night. My servers were all on UPS's, which kept them all running during the fire... So they sucked the smoke and debris into them. It's going to be a real PITA to clean them... The three main servers are 1U IBM servers... Going to be an interesting cleanup. The bus.... I ran out of diesel for the genny, tank is bone dry, which means no power to continue cleaning it out with the grinder and wire brushes... I'll have to figure something out on that front... The genny in the bus is overkill for running a power grinder though, but it was all I had as my other gennies burned in the garage. One of them hadn't even been used a single time... Didn't have oil or gas in it even.. Literally brand new out of the box. So... We're alive, some of the animals survived and we gained a new companion in the process. We still have two more kittens that need good homes... We're not sure how we're going to do that yet though, they're still in the shed being cared for by the mother cat... We supply food & water though, so they're healthy. Anyhoo... Time to go for now. I'll hopefully be posting more pics soon on Flickr & MySpace.... -Mac | ||
| Len Silva (Lsilva)
Registered Member Username: Lsilva Post Number: 252 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 24.164.20.23 Rating: N/A |
I've got a good wire wrap gun you can have, no bits or sleeves though, let me know. Len | ||
| Kasse Weikel (More_s_than_as)
Registered Member Username: More_s_than_as Post Number: 42 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 24.205.97.163 Rating: N/A |
well thats good to hear because i just happen to be going to NY here on the 11th for five days. i think it would be a great adventure to maybe fly down there and smuggle back a kitty!! first off, you down with that? ill take you all out to dinner too eh? maybe go get some diesel. second, whats the nearest major airport from where u are at? and thirdly, u wouldnt mind at all if i unrolled a sleeping bag under one of those pretty trees i seen in hte pics woulda ya? id be willing to help ya clean up some of the heavier debris. im jsut a little guy but me back is strong and willing (for now lmao). so id like to pop in around the 16th maybe 15th if youd have me of course. im thinking just one kitty but maybe i can get some one here to take in the second. do you know how that goes with little guys on the plane? so small u should be able to take em on right? i aint sticking em under neith i rather rent a car but the plane would be a lil quicker gettin them home. ps - it sounds to me like your ready for a change of career. this is an obstacle indeed but obstacles are chances to prove yourself. can you still do the telephony jobs without your tools? maybe borrow a friends? if so i can ask around at the convention im going to...you never know what the power of asking may bring. | ||
| Dave (Virtual)
Registered Member Username: Virtual Post Number: 26 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 67.186.253.131 Rating: N/A |
It's not all that major, but SHV is about 10 minutes down the road. Cats can be carried on in an approved carrier. I haven't done it so I'm not certain, but I think they need a vet certificate to travel. I'm sure every vet is well versed in the paperwork. LA should have nice weather this time of year. JK. Try the frog legs, they taste just like chicken. The alligator chunks are nice, and you gotta love the crawfish (I think that's what they are called there). Like a bowl of shrimp. I'm not sure why a lot of the breaded food tastes like vinegar or Tabasco but it's not really my thing. Drown it in enough sauce. Try the etouffee too. Gotta love that stuff and it tastes much better than it sounds. They really should rename it something like "magic gravy" so outsiders would try it. It makes me want to go back... I don't think they have Bass Pro in NoCal so you might want to check out the one there. | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 438 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 74.193.225.243 Rating: N/A |
Frog legs. Yuk. Gator... Again, yuk. Crawfish... YUM. XD Love them little buggers.... Just be sure you DO NOT EVER eat one that's "straight". They should always be curled... The "straight" ones died before boiling them, and are poisoned. They taste just fine, but trust me... You WILL feel it later. Eat one, get sick. Eat two, have the trots for a couple of days. Eat three... Well, you get the idea. Crawfish are more like miniature lobster than anything else... Personally, I like mine with a touch of creole seasoning and drowned in clarified butter (like you would use for a lobster)... The folks around here do love their vinegar and tabasco... Not my thing.. I don't like really spicy stuff. As for the Etouffee... It's ok... It's not really my thing either though.. But you have to realize, I'm originally from MN... Louisiana is a long way from home. I prefer to have my ass buried in a snowbank than be up to my ass in a swamp any day. As for you stopping in, Kasse.. Like I said, anyone is welcome to come stay, but right now... We have no accommodations to offer you... So if you want to pitch a tent, you're welcome to do so. Just be forewarned... The mosquitoes are bad here, and malaria is more common than many might think, though easily treatable and preventable (100% deet on EVERYTHING you wear does the trick.) The "big stuff" is pretty much already out of the bus, though there is one set of original seats still in there I haven't had a chance to yank. I've also got to finish cleaning, sealing and painting the window sealing surfaces before I can put any glass in... The windshields are on the way, and I can't get the rest of the needed glass until State Farm decides to refund the money I've had to spend so far on clothing, food and replacement tools/equipment... No telling how long that's going to take. My pa says he can get a small genny... I don't need much to run the power tools I have, so when he can get that over to me, I can fiddle with it and get it back up to snuff (it's either damaged or out of adjustment and not outputting full wattage)... If my scope still works, I'll throw it on and see what kind of waveforms I'm getting... As well as my freq counter (it came after the fire)... So... There's progress, but it's slow going. Health problems are a bitch, but I'm managing, and my companions are helping to keep my spirits up a little... The kitty is fun to watch and play with... And yeah, check with the airline for pet travel... I think all of them require them to have shots and be "pest free"... right now, they're infested with fleas... We can't afford to get them treated, broke is broke. Len... I don't have a supplier right now for wire wrapping guns... But I don't use them in my line of work, unless you're talking about using it for the bus? -Mac (Message edited by 91flyer on June 07, 2009) | ||
| Craig Campbell (Craig_4104012)
Registered Member Username: Craig_4104012 Post Number: 54 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 72.60.219.71 Rating: N/A |
Kevin, I have not forgotten your computer it is sitting here in my house right at the front door. My hold up is i cant rub the pennies together to ship it. but Damn i want to get it to you. Now i never understood What you did for work until this last recent post. The company i work for is one of the nations largest Cisco Houses and we always hire engineers. just had a job fair for that market 2 months ago. this killer is it is here in va. Next stop thinking about telephony systems. if you have any VOIP skils you are qualified to do Audio Visual work these days. the av industry is one of the few inustries in desperate need of people that can think and make decisions first off and second. The field is so intertwined with the various communications networks anymore that candidates with network and ISDN certs are almost a gauretee hire. did i mention the AV field has too much work and not enough people to do it. Businesses are convinced that the econoly is too sucky for Infrastructure, network systems,and telephone system upgrades. on top of that the dont want to send their employees anywhere because of travel cost. But oh dear god do they buy AV. one local school system furloughed a major percentage of its non essential staff, eliminated it summer school programs and closed two pilot year log school academies. but they just gave us a 400k po to implement multimedia content deliver systems throughout their schools. corporate business wont the proper toner for their document machines however there bean counters will approve classroom projectors and video teleconference systems so they can have meetings without travel. they lay off people instantly but invest in technology that makes meetings more effectve in the local office and keeps the people from being so inclined to travel, get me your resume i will get it to the right places and see what i can do to get you paid well. for more AV info and such;, visit ICIA.ORG they oer the organization for av much like BICSI is for telephony and network systerm now taking the advice from the poster above. MOVE. if there is no work where you are at then go to where there is. In my region we are nearly recession proof for technical skilled people. Of course this sounds too outlandish but think this through. You and your family are feeling like you are getting screwed by the insurance companies and from the sounds of it it may be the case. so evaluate the emotional resources that will be spent in remaining at ground zero trying to get an organized crime gang to get you back to the way things used to be.Even if they were top notch that land is that you cal home is now the land of where it all went bad and the memories will only diminish after many of years so get away from there. I know that yo are thinking about your parents but weren't yo going to leave them for contract work around the country. Just get in your bus and go do what you were going to do to begin with. i have been typing on benadry so my words will come across as being a complete insensitive fool but i hoe you can read this more as a concept to help liberate you from your stress, ONE LAST PIECE; DONT' SPECIALIZE, YOU WILL WATSTE YOUR POTENTIAL> kEVIN, remeber all the stories of navy piolots saving there aircraft right into the groud. alright i am out pleadr folloe that there is love anf prayer here for you | ||
| Kasse Weikel (More_s_than_as)
Registered Member Username: More_s_than_as Post Number: 51 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 24.205.97.163 Rating: N/A |
hey mac - i been using your gmail account to send emails, is that account no longer being used by you? i dont have a paypal account and i kinda dont want one, u have a bank account or some one near you does?? as i said before, perhaps you missed it, it would really make me feel good if u would allow me to pay for the kittens health bills. i dont know how time is for you right now, if you cant get to it before i get down there its no problem at all i can jsut rent a mini car and straight smuggle that beast back here. but if you can do this soon plz find an estimate for the kittens (all four if you plan on domesticating all of them). i know it cant be more than a hundred or two for each ones complete shot/vac. set up, for i know its about 100 for dogs at clinics and about 200 at big vets, consisting of four stages. the one i shall adopt will obviously only need the first round for i do believe they are placed 2 weeks apart (with doggies anyways). if it really makes it easier or at this point u feel uneasy giving my you bacnk account # (lol ill give u mine too if it makes u feel better), i can sign up for pay pal. plz consider my offer for it really is egocentric and will make ME feel good and hopefully u too! i will check the board tomorrow or jsut email me for privacy p.s. i havte skeeters thanks for the warning. and one more last thought. considering the times we are in right now...does ANYONE have any suggestions on booking airfare as far as availablilty. i mean, should i book the flight before i even leave for NY or think ill have NP finding a flight out if i wait until i get there cause im still not sure of when ill be leaving the convention and prolly wont be till i get there. i only asked cause i havnt flown since 2000 and i have heard flights are easier and cheaper to find now?!? get me that estimate from the doc PLEASE BROTHA MAN! - oh yeah what about the doggies they still need leashes and beds? and save me some heavy work! | ||
| Craig Campbell (Craig_4104012)
Registered Member Username: Craig_4104012 Post Number: 55 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 174.147.225.44 Rating: N/A |
Hey good morning kevin, listen i did not go back and re edit the above post because my re reading it made me laugh, not at you but at the thought i had last night that i could. keep typing and making sense. you can tell that by the last sentence that i was delerious, i had a great bus day and was in no need of taking benadrylto help with sleep i was already tired. i think what i was trying to say without sounding like a heartless dick is that 1. I (man)love you and i am very empathetic to your situation. 2. your telephony experience overlaps into AV because AV is converging into all fields and there is a shortage talented people that have the capacity to understand and make decisions 3. no do not bail on your folks. when you had that plan they had a house, you a bus and all was good. 3a. do what is fair to your parents and then take care of yourselves. i am certain that they are glad to have you around but a parent always wants their child to fuflil their dreams and if you dont they may begin to feel responsible. 4. send me your resume, i will get it arround. even if you cant leave louisiana right now just hearing that people are interested in you changes your outlook on life. 5. and when i mentioned about getting in your bus and going to where the work is i meant it. rent an ozone generator, kill the smoke smell (do all this after yo scrub the interior) get in your shell and go visit other busnuts when you can. that will get you back to converted. 6 the current rate for aluminum is $.20 a pound ( i took a middle ground avg based on net find prices in your area from the web) so if you need to buy a new bus now you do the math. and figure out what the tube of the bus weighs without engine i got a quote for over 10K on my 4104 2 months ago ( i was trying to prove to a scrapping buddy that it was not worth it to scrap it. but in the end he was right, im not 10K attached to my bus. I still will not scrap it.) 7. don't save the buss all the way into the ground if you follow me. i cant believe some of the pilots had not mentioned this phenomena prior to me. ( or I Missed it when they Did) and eleventy pluss 1. god bless you, (defne as you wish) and maybe host a bus nuts rally at your house. i bet some extreeme bus makeover would happen there. | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 439 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 74.193.225.243 Rating: N/A |
Kasse, I've gone ahead and taken the kittens up to the vet and they've received a clean bill of health. They'll be contacting you tomorrow for arrangements and information for the health certificates for each kitten. They're both black, but one has white speckles throughout his fur... They're both male. In bright light, they're both striped and spotted (yes, both), but it's difficult to tell in 'normal' lighting as the colors are so similar and dark. I gave the vet your contact info as you requested... I've also brought the kittens home, but they're in need of a lot of TLC. Just the week they were left with their mum while we decided what to do, they've turned pretty wild. It'll take a little time, but they'll tame down just fine. They're not too far gone yet... I spent a couple of hours with them today. --- Craig, ^.^ A good day is a good day... Nothing to apologize for. Just wish I'd have one! lol... Yes... The telephony experience I have does overlap with A/V, since both fields are beginning to converge with IP networking... I'm certified for Interactive Intelligence telephony platforms (2.4 to 3.0)... It's just no one in this city, or even within 100 miles, is hiring for what I do. It's frustrating. Bail on my folks? Nah... It'll be at least a year now before the bus will be livable again... Probably closer to two years. I'll be here until then, and the house should be taken care of one way or another by then too. My resume is located on my main workstation... it's the only place it currently exists... Until I get that PC back up and operational, I can't send it to you... My memory for dates is terrible.. I'm also not worried about the smoke smell... I'm stripping _everything_... including the floor boards and replacing it all. The floor boards are a bit rotted in places and could use replacement... As for the rest of it, I can fix it easily enough after giving it a close look-see. It's just going to take time, a bit of green and hard work. Time I have, hard work I can provide... The green, at this point, however is another story... It'll just have to wait. I'm not even sure if there's a scrap yard around here that would accept the bus... Besides that, the bus has a bit of value to me now. We'll see how it goes in the long run... As for following the bus into the ground... Nah, there's always a quitting point. ;) -Mac | ||
| Craig Campbell (Craig_4104012)
Registered Member Username: Craig_4104012 Post Number: 57 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 72.59.204.249 Rating: N/A |
Well when the memory comes to me i will investigate my company, we are owned by Xerox and under their umbrella are 20,000 employees spread across many fields. i bet i may find one in your area. let me check with Michelle our HR goddess | ||
| Craig Campbell (Craig_4104012)
Registered Member Username: Craig_4104012 Post Number: 58 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 72.59.204.249 Rating: N/A |
just sent a request to main HR to see if we have some offices for you. | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 440 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 74.193.225.243 Rating: N/A |
Thanks, Craig. I've not been online much lately, and the whole bus project is, of course, currently on hold until some things happen... First, the insurance bullshit needs to be addressed. Second, I need to find employment. When those things will happen? Who knows. Sigh. Shreveport/Bossier is a barren wasteland when it comes to employment unless you work in the food industry at the casinos... Not something I'm suited for. It simply isn't possible for me to stay on my feet for any length of time with my back/neck problems. -Mac | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 441 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 74.193.225.243 Rating: N/A |
Well, Kasse doesn't seem to have been on to tell ya'll himself, so I'll post it now... He was here and picked up the kittens. He's quite happy with them and looks forward to giving them a 'new lease on life'. Personally, I'm happy that he was able to swing by to pick them up... They deserved a good home. ^.^ I retained one of the 4 kittens, a friend of the family took one... So Kasse ended up with two of 'em, though I think he really wanted to take Kit with him too. hehe... I know some of you have a low opinion of him based on other threads, but, I'll tell you right now... He's a cool guy and he's fun to hang with. He's also up for an adventure any time, anywhere. He says he'll be heading to Burning Man again this year, so those of you who are going (REALLY wish I could go)... Might want to hook up with him and hang out with him, get to know him. I picked up the windshields on Friday from where I had them shipped. I can't believe just how light the box was... The box was damaged, but the glass was OK. No breaks/cracks. So... One step closer to the rebuild. Temps have been murder here lately though, so I can't touch the bus again until it comes back down to at least the mid 80's. The last time I tried to work in this heat, I ended up having a heat-stroke induced heart attack with other complications... The doc thinks I might have actually had a minor stroke in addition to heat stroke and the heart attack.... So, I'll be avoiding that again. It wasn't fun the first time, and I certainly ain't going to press my luck. I survived it the first time... I probably wouldn't survive it a 2nd time. Luke's going to be sending some additional parts soon, once his guys get some time to get into the shop and remove parts from the parts bus. Yay! I still need to solve the on-site power problems though.... I can't proceed until I have power to run the grinder and drill to strip paint, burned surfaces and soot. I need to bug-bomb the bus too, it's filling up with wasp nests rather quickly, despite being plastic-wrapped. I couldn't wrap the door, since I needed to leave access to get inside. Oh well. Craig! Any luck with your HR dept? -Mac |