Reality thread...continued.
- Thread starter BO TIE SS
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Mooseman
Moderator
With the current melt going on, it's getting harder and harder to keep the faith of the sport I love. The weather isn't cooperating, my body isn't cooperating, the sled sometimes doesn't cooperate, it's getting more expensive, idiots who don't follow the rules get trails closed and we're left with a bunch of road runs. It's getting tiring to keep seeing red on the map and saying "it'll be better next year" when it isn't. My son is also seriously considering selling his sled. My wife can't ride anymore since her sledding accident a few years ago and it's sometimes difficult to find riding partners so I wind up riding alone. Trailering and doing the hotel thing has become very expensive even if I could find someone to go.
It's the ONLY thing I used to look forward to every year and now I just have this sense of dread before each season. This season started late and is finishing early after barely 3 weeks. It's an expensive sport but I love it to death and is the only thing that gets me outside during winter. Even in the more northern regions they are having a hard time.
Then of course I have this fear that if I sell my sled, it will be the year of epic snow and will regret my decision. However, selling the sled, trailer and suit, I could probably clear most of my debts.
Sorry for laying this out here. Just need to contemplate my future in snowmobiling.
It's the ONLY thing I used to look forward to every year and now I just have this sense of dread before each season. This season started late and is finishing early after barely 3 weeks. It's an expensive sport but I love it to death and is the only thing that gets me outside during winter. Even in the more northern regions they are having a hard time.
Then of course I have this fear that if I sell my sled, it will be the year of epic snow and will regret my decision. However, selling the sled, trailer and suit, I could probably clear most of my debts.
Sorry for laying this out here. Just need to contemplate my future in snowmobiling.
Well Moose, I feel for you. The winters are far too long and far too cold out here not to have a fun hobby to get a guy through. Luckily we have enough snow currently and me having the ability to just ride right from my yard helps.
Man... That situation SUCKS... But...if it is any consolation... Check Out these THREE Motorized Seasonal Activities (Western New York Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River Valley Areas) that Andrew Camarata manages to indulge in that don't take him too far from the Basics of "Fuel It UP, Lube It UP, Crank It UP...and then sit on it and GO" as the Basic Principal behind his Three Major Motorized Action Hobbies:
Winter...
Spring... (and later... Fall)
Summer...
Plus... Whenever They Break (and Everything that Burns Gasoline and Oil eventually DOES... He gets the Pleasure of FIXING them all because he also has "The Chops" to do so...
Andrew endured a "Low Snow" Season, too and opted to Visit The State of Montana to try out Snowmobiling there:
Winter...
Spring... (and later... Fall)
Summer...
Plus... Whenever They Break (and Everything that Burns Gasoline and Oil eventually DOES... He gets the Pleasure of FIXING them all because he also has "The Chops" to do so...
Andrew endured a "Low Snow" Season, too and opted to Visit The State of Montana to try out Snowmobiling there:
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Mooseman
Moderator
Well, the situation has since turned. We have received some snow and cold and the trails have reopened, albeit in limited status. We were at the cottage this weekend and there was tons of snow there. Lake running was fun and we also went into the back woods however realized my Yamaton is no lightweight and not for off-trail trekking. Besides, the market is absolutely flooded with sleds for sale so I'd be having a hard time selling or getting lowballed. So I'll ride this week.
Oh, and I ripped off the front bumper, which makes it unsellable, which involved a tree, chain saws, cables, chains and my son's sled. I'll leave it at that.
Oh, and I ripped off the front bumper, which makes it unsellable, which involved a tree, chain saws, cables, chains and my son's sled. I'll leave it at that.
Mooseman
Moderator
Well, my flag is at half mast this morning. My best friend, partner, supervisor and troop mate passed away yesterday after a relatively short battle with cancer at the age of 58. We were troop mates in training in 1987 and we pretty much followed each other since then. When I retired in 2018 with 31 years service, he stayed on to go all the way to 35 years. Well, he was tossed a bad curve ball with the cancer diagnosis and he wound up staying beyond that for the full medical coverage and salary. I had seen him a couple of weeks ago and he was in pretty rough shape. He turned for the worse Thur and by Friday, he stopped all treatment and went into palliative care. I saw him then and by Sunday evening, he was gone, surrounded by his family and love.
We were practically joined at the hip. Wherever he went, I went and vice-versa. At the end of my career, he was my Sgt. (I was a Cpl.) and he was also my Sgt at my previous posting. He also helped me get into computer systems in 2001 which ultimately helped me get my promotion. He had a fifth wheel trailer that they spent their summers in but was stationary at the same park. I went with our trailer to his park for a weekend just before he got the diagnosis and we had made plans for him to get his trailer out when he did retire and we would have traveled all over the continent together. Our trailer is a "Freedom Express" and theirs is a "Crusader". We would have called the trip our "Freedom Crusade".
Anyway, his pain is over but ours is just beginning. I'll be helping his widow to navigate the paperwork and bureaucracy to get the benefits and pension she deserves as well as providing emotional support.
We were practically joined at the hip. Wherever he went, I went and vice-versa. At the end of my career, he was my Sgt. (I was a Cpl.) and he was also my Sgt at my previous posting. He also helped me get into computer systems in 2001 which ultimately helped me get my promotion. He had a fifth wheel trailer that they spent their summers in but was stationary at the same park. I went with our trailer to his park for a weekend just before he got the diagnosis and we had made plans for him to get his trailer out when he did retire and we would have traveled all over the continent together. Our trailer is a "Freedom Express" and theirs is a "Crusader". We would have called the trip our "Freedom Crusade".
Anyway, his pain is over but ours is just beginning. I'll be helping his widow to navigate the paperwork and bureaucracy to get the benefits and pension she deserves as well as providing emotional support.
So my brother recently got diagnosed with Stage One Colon Cancer...
He urged me to get checked... And with my family history, specifically my parents
Mother died from Metastasized Breast Cancer
Dad had Prostate Cancer..
Its all home check stuff for indications... Negative.
But they still want me to go in for a Endoscopy and a Colonoscopy because I am in that age group.
Getting old sucks!
He urged me to get checked... And with my family history, specifically my parents
Mother died from Metastasized Breast Cancer
Dad had Prostate Cancer..
Its all home check stuff for indications... Negative.
But they still want me to go in for a Endoscopy and a Colonoscopy because I am in that age group.
Getting old sucks!
Mooseman
Moderator
Not to scare you or anything but that's what my buddy died of, which metastasized to his lungs.
Yep, getting old sucks. I have a long list of things wrong with me. Only thing good I can say is I still have a full head of hair.
Yep, getting old sucks. I have a long list of things wrong with me. Only thing good I can say is I still have a full head of hair.
Terrible news to take in, that's for sure. I lost a great friend to cancer in 2020, he made to 40 but it was too much. Met the guy in first year university and we were friends for 20 years until the end.
The past year, my dad has been going down hill, appears to be alzheimers. Sucks bad, he's the dad you would choose if you ever had the option.
But that's life. Called one of my older brothers today for his birthday. Had a great time, made fun of ourselves, some family and some old friends.
The past year, my dad has been going down hill, appears to be alzheimers. Sucks bad, he's the dad you would choose if you ever had the option.
But that's life. Called one of my older brothers today for his birthday. Had a great time, made fun of ourselves, some family and some old friends.
Kinda a vent here..
Most of this year has been going good. But there are quite a few things that are, well lets just say not going well..
Paid off my house $97000
Mostly paid off my 2024 Rivian R1S $8000 left of $85000
All Credit Cards are paid off, and being paid in full monthly
Getting paint and carpet done thru out the house too
On the other side of the coin..
About a year ago, I let the wife have her half-sister, her husband, and 2 kids move in with us. Not really using my basement, except for my Utility room/storage room. It helps me on my income, and it helps them with a much lower rent..
But... They have an autistic son with ADHD, OCD, Dyslexia, And??, and his issues are getting progressively worse. I think he has more than those, I am fairly confident he has psychosis, and psychotic tendencies. He got caught, on camera, choking a fellow student at school a couple weeks ago. Then on Friday, he got caught again, slapping a student on camera. His stealing and lying is literally getting out of control. He shows no remorse, and his self preservation is questionable.
Then on top of that, we are pretty sure my 3 year old also has Autism. He has very physically abusive (as much as a 3 year old can be anyways) to my wife, hitting her, biting her, throwing things at her. Have him in OT (Occupational Therapy) which is costing quite a bit. Hopefully we can get him diagnosed. I also see signs of Mania. His mood swings are wild!
I had to take out a additional "Personal Liability Umbrella Policy" just in case things turn legal. I hope they dont, and the policy is cheap.
Most of this year has been going good. But there are quite a few things that are, well lets just say not going well..
Paid off my house $97000
Mostly paid off my 2024 Rivian R1S $8000 left of $85000
All Credit Cards are paid off, and being paid in full monthly
Getting paint and carpet done thru out the house too
On the other side of the coin..
About a year ago, I let the wife have her half-sister, her husband, and 2 kids move in with us. Not really using my basement, except for my Utility room/storage room. It helps me on my income, and it helps them with a much lower rent..
But... They have an autistic son with ADHD, OCD, Dyslexia, And??, and his issues are getting progressively worse. I think he has more than those, I am fairly confident he has psychosis, and psychotic tendencies. He got caught, on camera, choking a fellow student at school a couple weeks ago. Then on Friday, he got caught again, slapping a student on camera. His stealing and lying is literally getting out of control. He shows no remorse, and his self preservation is questionable.
Then on top of that, we are pretty sure my 3 year old also has Autism. He has very physically abusive (as much as a 3 year old can be anyways) to my wife, hitting her, biting her, throwing things at her. Have him in OT (Occupational Therapy) which is costing quite a bit. Hopefully we can get him diagnosed. I also see signs of Mania. His mood swings are wild!
I had to take out a additional "Personal Liability Umbrella Policy" just in case things turn legal. I hope they dont, and the policy is cheap.
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