Tone Parsons

By popular demand (ok… only one person asked for it), here’s an update on the restoration of my son’s ’68 beetle!

Things have gone pretty slow, as my son has been broke, and with my income turned off for several months, there’s just been no cash to work with.

But now that my income has been turned back on, combined with the fact that my son got some high paying temp work, we’re back on it!

We’ve been having problems finding parts for the beetle that actually work.  The local import parts store has been a little less than helpful (they keep selling us the wrong parts).  But… we found a great source online, Mid America Motorworks.  They have good prices, are providing the correct parts, and the shipping is very reasonable!

Here’s a list of things that didn’t work when we got it, but do work now: Read more

It’s been one calendar year since I left work and joined the wonderful world that is disability.

It sucks!

October 29, 2007 was the first day I wasn’t at work.  Not a day has gone by since where I wish I was.  I’m not sure what my drive is… my midwest work ethic or the fact that I believe that everyone should pull their own weight.  Regardless, I hate sitting at home, taking meds, and doing little.

I miss the people I worked with, the job itself (it was my dream job after all), and the feeling that I was contributing to something greater.  Trust me, when you’re a social creature like I am, being cooped up in a house all by yourself every day is a hard thing to deal with.

One way I’ve been passing the time is by playing RF Online.  It’s a MMORG, it’s free, and it doesn’t require the hand to eye coordination that first person shooters do (which I don’t have because of the meds).  I first started playing on the official site, but since they announced that they are closing on November 10th, I moved to a private server, Novus Sector.  It’s entertaining and it fills my day (when I’m not sleeping), so it’s a good thing.

If you decide to join in, I play an Accretian named Bioland and I’m in the Lumenariesâ„¢ guild (a fantastic bunch of people).  The game is free to download and free to play (no monthly charge).  Of course, you have to download the 1.73GB installer (I recommend using the bit torrent option, as it’s faster than downloading directly from the site).

And finally…. I voted yesterday.  In Spokane, all ballots for elections are done by mail-in only (there are no polls to go to).  While I won’t go into all the details of my vote, I can say that I canceled out every vote my sister made (which irritated her to no end!).  I’m an independent, but have a tendency to vote more Democrat than Republican.

And no… I didn’t waste my time by voting for Ralph Nader.  While he’s popular by people in Seattle who think that they’re free thinkers, unchained by the machine, and who want a change…. the reality is this: Voting for Nader is the same as voting for McCain.  All you do is subtract one vote that could have gone to the Democrat party (Republicans NEVER vote for Nader).

With that said…. if you live in Washington in an area what has mail in ballots only, get them done today and mail them in…. or you forfit all rights to bitch for the next 4 years.  For the rest of you, November 4th is next week… don’t miss it!

I got a call from my private disability insurance company today.  The reinstated my claim and will begin paying me again.  I am also getting all the back pay that they owe me since they denyed my claim.

Yay!

I was warned, however, that they may still fight it, and to be prepared.

But for the moment… I’m a very happy monkey!

On a side note, for those of you who said you’d send me a letter about your impressions of what I went through at work, I still need them.  The letters are for my Social Security Disability hearing.

Dear Door to Door Salesperson:

I understand that you’re trying to make a living, win a trip to Europe, or just get credit for showing me your offerings, but I’m not interested.

I do not want to buy your magazines, security system, satellite system, lawn care (did you not notice that I don’t have a lawn?!?), vacuum cleaners, or other various cleaning products.  If I wanted them, I would have already purchased them.

Why do you think that by ringing my doorbell while I’m trying to take a nap would make me suddenly reach for my checkbook?  It didn’t.  Instead, it made me reach for my size 13 Dr. Martins.

Did you not read the sign on my door? (shown above) Was the wording too complex?  Were you not able to decipher my cryptic meaning from the image??  Perhaps you are just so eager to sell your fine product that you either didn’t see my sign, or you thought I was joking.

I assure you, I was not joking.

I am more than willing to kick your junk so hard that you’ll be coughing up chunks of it for the next two weeks.  My Dr. Martins will leave a criss-crossed pattern so deeply entrenched in your groin that it’ll look like a swollen and purple billboard for Der Waffle Haus!

Choose life!

Sincerely,

Tone Parsons