Reality thread...continued.
- Thread starter BO TIE SS
- Start date
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.
BrianF
Member
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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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.
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!
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.
BrianF
Member
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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So this has been a trying and emotional week even though we were on vacation, which sorta turned into a blessing in disguise.
For our vacation, we were supposed to pick up our granddaughter but that plan went south, which also turned into a blessing in disguise. Our dog, 12 year old Riley, a Lab/Great Pyrenees mix, had not been well since last weekend. Not eating much and very lethargic. She would go for her daily walks but was very slow. She was also having slight nose bleeds. Took her to the vet on Monday and found that she had an abscessed tooth causing the bleeding into the nose. The vet also got some blood work done. Got some antibiotics for her to take twice a day with food. That proved to be challenging as she barely ate anything and only once a day. She also had a fever probably from the infection. Getting her to take the pills was next to impossible.
This continued all week until Friday when we got the lab results that afternoon. High white blood cell count from the infection and high creatinine levels indicating failing kidneys. We then took her to the Vet hospital and she stayed there overnight with an IV antibiotic and more blood tests. Results came in Saturday morning that the kidneys had failed. It was decided to have her euthanized that afternoon. This hospital has a nice setup where there is an outdoor gazebo so you can take your pet for one last walk and not have be in a clinic room.
She passed away peacefully surrounded by myself, my wife and our eldest son. We put her in the back of the Sierra on her bed and blanket and took her home. Finn, the other dog that's living with us (our daughter-in-law's) had been confused why Riley wasn't home and probably knew that she was sick. We took her out of the truck and laid her on the ground. He sniffed her body a couple of times, nudged her nose a little and went on his way. We then loaded her back up, did a slow drive around the neighbourhood where we usually walked, and headed to the family farm to bury her on her bed and blanket with her food and water bowl. She'll be happy here as it was her favourite place as she could run around freely.
She was mostly my wife's dog, constantly coddling her and walking her. She was first the boys' dog but my wife basically took over. She's an emotional wreck right now but she knows that her suffering is over. She didn't even want to walk Finn this morning, letting our son do it. She was also a companion to me and also made me walk more, especially after I had my pulmonary embolism almost 5 years ago. She was an extremely affectionate dog and would still perk up whenever we said the word "walk". She also loved to go camping with us, discovering new places and keeping us company next to the fire. She knew we were going whenever the trailer was hitched up and I opened the door to the truck.
We've already decided to not get another dog. My wife gets too emotionally attached and said she can't go through this again.
This is the last picture of her on her last walk.
Goodbye Riley, forever walking in our hearts
For our vacation, we were supposed to pick up our granddaughter but that plan went south, which also turned into a blessing in disguise. Our dog, 12 year old Riley, a Lab/Great Pyrenees mix, had not been well since last weekend. Not eating much and very lethargic. She would go for her daily walks but was very slow. She was also having slight nose bleeds. Took her to the vet on Monday and found that she had an abscessed tooth causing the bleeding into the nose. The vet also got some blood work done. Got some antibiotics for her to take twice a day with food. That proved to be challenging as she barely ate anything and only once a day. She also had a fever probably from the infection. Getting her to take the pills was next to impossible.
This continued all week until Friday when we got the lab results that afternoon. High white blood cell count from the infection and high creatinine levels indicating failing kidneys. We then took her to the Vet hospital and she stayed there overnight with an IV antibiotic and more blood tests. Results came in Saturday morning that the kidneys had failed. It was decided to have her euthanized that afternoon. This hospital has a nice setup where there is an outdoor gazebo so you can take your pet for one last walk and not have be in a clinic room.
She passed away peacefully surrounded by myself, my wife and our eldest son. We put her in the back of the Sierra on her bed and blanket and took her home. Finn, the other dog that's living with us (our daughter-in-law's) had been confused why Riley wasn't home and probably knew that she was sick. We took her out of the truck and laid her on the ground. He sniffed her body a couple of times, nudged her nose a little and went on his way. We then loaded her back up, did a slow drive around the neighbourhood where we usually walked, and headed to the family farm to bury her on her bed and blanket with her food and water bowl. She'll be happy here as it was her favourite place as she could run around freely.
She was mostly my wife's dog, constantly coddling her and walking her. She was first the boys' dog but my wife basically took over. She's an emotional wreck right now but she knows that her suffering is over. She didn't even want to walk Finn this morning, letting our son do it. She was also a companion to me and also made me walk more, especially after I had my pulmonary embolism almost 5 years ago. She was an extremely affectionate dog and would still perk up whenever we said the word "walk". She also loved to go camping with us, discovering new places and keeping us company next to the fire. She knew we were going whenever the trailer was hitched up and I opened the door to the truck.
We've already decided to not get another dog. My wife gets too emotionally attached and said she can't go through this again.
This is the last picture of her on her last walk.
Goodbye Riley, forever walking in our hearts
I feel your pain bro... I am trying to get all the time I can with my little furrball right now. She is 22, and although she is still spry, I can tell something is amiss.
My condolences...
My condolences...
Thanks bro. I'm OK but my wife is having a hard time. They were very close, even to the point I thought she liked the dog more than me 
. We took a day off today to process it some more.
We know it's part of the deal when they come into our lives that it's just for a short time but it still hurts when they do leave us. My wife has already decided to not get another dog as she is too much of an emotional person and can't go through this again.
. We took a day off today to process it some more.We know it's part of the deal when they come into our lives that it's just for a short time but it still hurts when they do leave us. My wife has already decided to not get another dog as she is too much of an emotional person and can't go through this again.
I have told my wife that when the 2 pups, and 1 kitty pass on.. No more critters. I love em... But I would like to have some time where I dont have to say "what about the critters".
I have had a critter of some variety in my homes since I was born, there has always been a cat, but the last 11 years now we have had a pup, and 2 pups for the last 7. I can even remember all their names. It will be hard not having a kitty to curl up in my lap.. But I will survive!
I have had a critter of some variety in my homes since I was born, there has always been a cat, but the last 11 years now we have had a pup, and 2 pups for the last 7. I can even remember all their names. It will be hard not having a kitty to curl up in my lap.. But I will survive!
Same here. It was worse than having kids because kids eventually grow up and can take care of themselves, but not pets. Even though we started camping so we can bring the pup with us, it was still a PITA even then when we wanted to go somewhere and leave her in the trailer with the A/C on. Always had a little worry and guilt in the back of our minds.
Speaking of which, we're booked for a camping weekend in Aug. This will be the first time by ourselves. Will be strange, just like I wake up every morning at home to see that she and her bed aren't there anymore.
My lady is heavily involved in travelling low cost spay neuter clinics.
We have no pups.
We have 16 cats !!!
Consequently one of us must be here at all times.
