Baymule
Herd Master
The VA..... 
Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.
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Mini Horses
Herd Master
My mom has "Tricare for Life" and they actually mail her meds, 90dy supply. Nice....if renewal needed, they contact Dr, etc. May be the time her husbands were in service but, you may want to see if that is available.
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Tricare is primarily for dependents. I have full coverage through the VA. I get 90 day supplies of meds with refills to cover a year. The meds associated with my disability are free. The others are a minor copay. They mail them out to me and I typically do an annual visit to make sure all is copacetic. Speaking of the VA, I received the call back from them today... while sitting at the Chevy dealership waiting to hear how much lighter my wallet is about to become. That in a bit... I have an appt set for December 14th that they will send me a notice/reminder and that will be my "welcome aboard" appointment with my primary care provider. I had a choice of going with the "quick stop/urgent care clinic" in Texarkana, which is about 30 minutes closer, or staying with Shreveport. Since the Texarkana location is only a clinic, they'd have to order out any tests to Shreveport in any case, so I decided to just stick with Shreveport. I asked what I was supposed to do with any immediate issues I might have and was told to just come in and go through their urgent care or ER. SO I guess that's what I'll do, but THIS time I'll start heading that direction MUCH earlier!
So, now for the truck sit... Something in the drive train has been going for a while now. I've put off doing anything about it for as long as I could. It was at the point the past few days that it sounded like a can full of gravel rattling around under the truck any time it was in motion. I couldn't tell where exactly the noise was coming from when driving, but knew by the sound that it wasn't going to be good. I couldn't take the chance of a break down out in the middle of nowhere between here and Shreveport so around lunch time, while out running errands I swung in to the Chevy dealership to see what it looked like for scheduling for service. The workers were at lunch so the service dept manager took care of everything and they got started this afternoon. They gave me a loaner vehicle to keep me mobile until it's fixed. All their existing loaners were out, so they took a brand new 2017 Chevy Colorado pick up truck and transferred it over to be a demo/loaner and that's what I'm driving right now. It had like 20 miles on it when I took it off the lot.
So the service dept called me late this afternoon and it appears my front transfer case has decided to self destruct internally. One of the potential joys of owning a 4x4. They didn't know if the drive shaft had been damaged or anything else downstream of the transfer case. So right as it stands I'm looking at ~$3 grand in repairs and labor, and that could go up depending on what they find when they take it all apart. They said they were going to try to get it completely stripped out today so if they needed additional parts they could get them ordered to do the repair tomorrow. I never heard back from them so I'm hoping that means the drive shaft was OK... I guess I'll find out for sure some time tomorrow.
What a difference driving around in a new vehicle... XM Sirius radio, back up video camera, all the dash gauges and lights work, including a working speedometer. More buttons and knobs and dials you'd think you were in a space ship, and a nice tablet sized dash display. Didn't try out onstar or the GPS functions. Feeling kinda like my parents with the VCR flashing 12:00 continuously...
Anyway, while there waiting I got a bit crazy and went and chatted with a salesperson about buying a 2010 or newer 3/4 ton 4x4 with diesel and an Allison transmission... He said he'd take down my info and let me know if anything comes along. I told him I'd like to stay at/below $25K and that mechanical was more important to me than appearance. Doubt I'll see anything in that price range newer than 2000-2005 or so.
He did refer me to the guy he bought his tractor from up at the Kubota dealership. Shared the good deal he got and said I should go chat with the guy. I also finally got to meet the neighbor who lives up in front of me. Turns out he's a life long local and his cousin lives "around the block" and does dirt/dozer work. When I mentioned that I really wanted to put in a pond, he said I should go talk with him about what I want. Said the best way to get things done around here was by word of mouth. So lots of "stuff" is floating in the wind, but being addressed... I don't know if it's my imagination because it's already so apparent or really happening but it looks to me like the lean on the shed is getting larger. SO that has to be my #1 priority. Problem is just winching the walls back vertical won't fix it as the floor isn't level and the roof is "falling in" spreading the walls further apart as well. That's gonna be a fun job to tackle
OK, life moves on. Still not sleeping well. Couldn't sleep last night so went to bed ~4am and was up and moving again at 8:30 or so. Hope to get a decent sleep tonight.
So, now for the truck sit... Something in the drive train has been going for a while now. I've put off doing anything about it for as long as I could. It was at the point the past few days that it sounded like a can full of gravel rattling around under the truck any time it was in motion. I couldn't tell where exactly the noise was coming from when driving, but knew by the sound that it wasn't going to be good. I couldn't take the chance of a break down out in the middle of nowhere between here and Shreveport so around lunch time, while out running errands I swung in to the Chevy dealership to see what it looked like for scheduling for service. The workers were at lunch so the service dept manager took care of everything and they got started this afternoon. They gave me a loaner vehicle to keep me mobile until it's fixed. All their existing loaners were out, so they took a brand new 2017 Chevy Colorado pick up truck and transferred it over to be a demo/loaner and that's what I'm driving right now. It had like 20 miles on it when I took it off the lot.
So the service dept called me late this afternoon and it appears my front transfer case has decided to self destruct internally. One of the potential joys of owning a 4x4. They didn't know if the drive shaft had been damaged or anything else downstream of the transfer case. So right as it stands I'm looking at ~$3 grand in repairs and labor, and that could go up depending on what they find when they take it all apart. They said they were going to try to get it completely stripped out today so if they needed additional parts they could get them ordered to do the repair tomorrow. I never heard back from them so I'm hoping that means the drive shaft was OK... I guess I'll find out for sure some time tomorrow.
What a difference driving around in a new vehicle... XM Sirius radio, back up video camera, all the dash gauges and lights work, including a working speedometer. More buttons and knobs and dials you'd think you were in a space ship, and a nice tablet sized dash display. Didn't try out onstar or the GPS functions. Feeling kinda like my parents with the VCR flashing 12:00 continuously...
Anyway, while there waiting I got a bit crazy and went and chatted with a salesperson about buying a 2010 or newer 3/4 ton 4x4 with diesel and an Allison transmission... He said he'd take down my info and let me know if anything comes along. I told him I'd like to stay at/below $25K and that mechanical was more important to me than appearance. Doubt I'll see anything in that price range newer than 2000-2005 or so.He did refer me to the guy he bought his tractor from up at the Kubota dealership. Shared the good deal he got and said I should go chat with the guy. I also finally got to meet the neighbor who lives up in front of me. Turns out he's a life long local and his cousin lives "around the block" and does dirt/dozer work. When I mentioned that I really wanted to put in a pond, he said I should go talk with him about what I want. Said the best way to get things done around here was by word of mouth. So lots of "stuff" is floating in the wind, but being addressed... I don't know if it's my imagination because it's already so apparent or really happening but it looks to me like the lean on the shed is getting larger. SO that has to be my #1 priority. Problem is just winching the walls back vertical won't fix it as the floor isn't level and the roof is "falling in" spreading the walls further apart as well. That's gonna be a fun job to tackle
OK, life moves on.
Still not sleeping well. Couldn't sleep last night so went to bed ~4am and was up and moving again at 8:30 or so. Hope to get a decent sleep tonight.
CntryBoy777
Herd Master
Ya have been in a 'Whirlwind' before, during and after your 'Big Step' in Life....and your mind is still trying to 'Process' it all....while ya continue to 'Push' to get things started....take ya a few days and allow things to Slow down just a bit...Relax and just Soak it in....catch your 'Breath' and ya will Find that Sleep and Rest ya are searching for...that move 'Lag' is catching ya...along with the running ya have done since ya got there....your not a young 'Whipper-Snapper' anymore...and too much on your Mind....just spend some time with Mel and Relax!!
Bruce
Herd Master
Wow, trucks are expensive if you have to go with an 11 to 16 year old one to not break $25K! And with that you likely won't be getting the XM radio, backup camera and tablet "infotainment" screen. They basically didn't commonly exist that long ago.
With regard to the shed, sounds like you need to winch the walls in 4 directions, top and bottom, to get it squared up. Then figure out what needs to be done to keep it that way. One fairly common method is a large diameter threaded rod with a turnbuckle in it. But I really think that is meant as a stopgap if you can't fix all the broken parts soon(though there is one in my smaller barn that has been there who knows how long and it has serious issues that are probably many decades old in some of the hand hewn beams). My GUESS is that the sills or top plates on your shed aren't structurally intact. If they are, the foundation is likely bad (or both). If none of this is true, then maybe you can get away with using cable and turnbuckles diagonally from top corner to bottom corner as you would a corner fence post. Or even a long diagonal 2x screwed to the studs after winching it square.
With regard to the shed, sounds like you need to winch the walls in 4 directions, top and bottom, to get it squared up. Then figure out what needs to be done to keep it that way. One fairly common method is a large diameter threaded rod with a turnbuckle in it. But I really think that is meant as a stopgap if you can't fix all the broken parts soon(though there is one in my smaller barn that has been there who knows how long and it has serious issues that are probably many decades old in some of the hand hewn beams). My GUESS is that the sills or top plates on your shed aren't structurally intact. If they are, the foundation is likely bad (or both). If none of this is true, then maybe you can get away with using cable and turnbuckles diagonally from top corner to bottom corner as you would a corner fence post. Or even a long diagonal 2x screwed to the studs after winching it square.
Mini Horses
Herd Master
OK -- Good, you get meds mailed auto...same as Tricare.
Ahhhhh, those dang new vehicles. Smell good but WOW, too many options. My Jeep destroyed it's trsfr case. Still sits. One day will get fixed. Have another truck & a car, so no rush.
They started my guestimate @ $5K.
As to sleep -- that relax sure sounds good BUT just doesn't happen easily -- not when you have so much to accomplish. Same here. Older you get, slower you go, harder to get done & until then, no relaxing. Worth a try -- just don't expect instant gratification.
Good look with the building repairs. I've had some jacked and winched & added footing. Job for sure but, sometimes less expensive than some options, esp if building is worth the effort. Mine were. Hope you can get it fixed.
Ahhhhh, those dang new vehicles. Smell good but WOW, too many options. My Jeep destroyed it's trsfr case. Still sits. One day will get fixed. Have another truck & a car, so no rush.
They started my guestimate @ $5K. As to sleep -- that relax sure sounds good BUT just doesn't happen easily -- not when you have so much to accomplish. Same here. Older you get, slower you go, harder to get done & until then, no relaxing. Worth a try -- just don't expect instant gratification.
Good look with the building repairs. I've had some jacked and winched & added footing. Job for sure but, sometimes less expensive than some options, esp if building is worth the effort. Mine were. Hope you can get it fixed.
greybeard
Herd Master
I suppose 4wd are nice, but I've never had the 'need' for one, even tho I live in a very wet region.
I did put 250k miles on a 4wd Jeep Cherokee out in the Concho Valley back in the 90s, but only used 4wd a couple times going up Twin Buttes--bought it used and it just happened to have 4wd.
$50,000 4wd diesel duallys have become the new status symbol in Harris and Tarrant counties (Houston/Dallas). Replaced Suburbans and Beamers--if you drive in to Houston, you will see drs, dentists, lawyers and other white collars driving them by the hundreds from suburbia to downtown and back every day. On the rare occasion I need a big load of calves hauled, I hire it done for less than a single monthly truck note.
4wd is only good measured from ground to the frame of the truck--after that, they're stuck just like everyone else--and that measurement is only in a few more inches if even that much.
I did put 250k miles on a 4wd Jeep Cherokee out in the Concho Valley back in the 90s, but only used 4wd a couple times going up Twin Buttes--bought it used and it just happened to have 4wd.
$50,000 4wd diesel duallys have become the new status symbol in Harris and Tarrant counties (Houston/Dallas). Replaced Suburbans and Beamers--if you drive in to Houston, you will see drs, dentists, lawyers and other white collars driving them by the hundreds from suburbia to downtown and back every day. On the rare occasion I need a big load of calves hauled, I hire it done for less than a single monthly truck note.
4wd is only good measured from ground to the frame of the truck--after that, they're stuck just like everyone else--and that measurement is only in a few more inches if even that much.
babsbag
Herd Master
I have a 4WD Tundra and it goes into 4 wheel drive every time I come home from town, our road is a beast. I have a steep gravel driveway to my house and another steep gravel driveway to my barn. When moving a 1200 lb bale of hay the 4wd is a necessity in the gravel and my driveway stays so much nicer when I use 4wd. I also travel to OR where my mom lives and it snows on the pass so my car is a 4WD too. I have had a 4WD in my life since 1983, can't live without them.
About the beef prices...I buy 1/4 of a steer from a friend of my sister and it comes to about $5.00 a lb after cutting and wrapping. It is great grass fed beef and I don't feel bad at all paying those prices. I think I am getting a bargain.
About the beef prices...I buy 1/4 of a steer from a friend of my sister and it comes to about $5.00 a lb after cutting and wrapping. It is great grass fed beef and I don't feel bad at all paying those prices. I think I am getting a bargain.
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greybeard
Herd Master
$5/lb cut and wrapped is indeed a bargain. I think ground beef retails close to $4/lb--I on't pay much attention to what it is in the stores.
Baymule
Herd Master
Hope you get some sleep, it's hard to work on the Leaning Shed Of Texas when you are bleary eyed from no sleep. 
It makes it difficult to get it straight when you aren't seeing straight.
Truck troubles.
But the good news is.....it's still better than buying a new one.
It makes it difficult to get it straight when you aren't seeing straight. Truck troubles.
But the good news is.....it's still better than buying a new one.- Status
