Just dropped in to say hello, been a while!

EarlsflyinCobra · #1 (**permalink**) 02-09-2013, 09:31 AM

Hi all, I just dropped in to say hello since its been a while. I still haven't completed the Twin Turbo Cobra, its only been 10 1/2 years

. Was hoping to finish it year before last, but I dropped 500 pounds on my foot (first broken bone in 59 years)and that put a damper on the project, then I was hoping to finish it last year but then I had to have a tumor removed from my head in January and back surgery in August, so it kind of shot the hell out of the whole year. Oh well, maybe this year.........

I'd like to say a special Hello to Ron61, heylittlecobra, and all the other folks I have missed talking with.

Have a nice day, Earl

littlewave · #2 (**permalink**) 02-09-2013, 10:43 AM

What's up buddy? I WILL be finished this spring..... even if it kills me!!!!!

vector1 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-2013, 04:43 PM

hang in there and keep us updated!

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-10-2013, 05:01 AM

Hey Earl,

It is really nice to hear from you, but I am sorry to hear about all of your problems. I really hope that you get the Cobra going this summer. And for crying out loud, stop dropping things on your feet.

Ron

Seagull81 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2013, 05:46 PM

Welcome back. I hope all your issues are in the past now and you can finally finish your car.

Wes Tausend · #6 (**permalink**) 02-28-2013, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Hi all, I just dropped in to say hello since its been a while. I still haven't completed the Twin Turbo Cobra, its only been 10 1/2 years. Was hoping to finish it year before last, but I dropped 500 pounds on my foot (first broken bone in 59 years)and that put a damper on the project, then I was hoping to finish it last year but then I had to have a tumor removed from my head in January and back surgery in August, so it kind of shot the hell out of the whole year. Oh well, maybe this year.........

I'd like to say a special Hello to Ron61, heylittlecobra, and all the other folks I have missed talking with.

Have a nice day, Earl

Hello, Earl. And all the other folks I've known here. I know we didn't talk a lot, Earl, but I've read, and enjoyed, many of your posts in the past.

It seems we have something in common. I haven't finished my Cobra for over 10 years either, and I am delighted to have company here. Actually, it's been begging to be done ever since my brother and I hauled the darn thing back from Massachusetts way back in the bitter winter of 1999. Geez.

I never dropped anything serious on my foot, but I've had a couple of blood clots in my leg, perhaps from sitting too long in a locomotive. The first one was the worst and set me back pretty good. After learning to recognize the symptoms, I caught on to the second one early enough that it did little harm. I took aspirin since the first, and I've been taking Warfarin "rat poison" since the 2nd. Guess I'll have to watch the "bloody knuckle" thing a little closer now.

But the worst delay was that, all of a sudden, after I bought the kit, the railroad got busy. Real busy. One of their cardinal rules is that I can never refuse service. They call, I go... for 23 odd years. For quite a few years there, we were forced to work over 100 hours a week. It seemed like I was tired all the time.

Keeping employee count down saved the railroad a lot of benefit package costs, but eventually burn-out forced a pretty strong labor back-lash and we negociated days off instead of the 24/7 plan. So for a number of years now, when we worked 7, we got 3 off if we wanted them (and happened to be home when they started). I could have done some work on the car, but didn't, shame on me.

By the time I finally had more time off, my Cobra was also buried. It seemed I never had time to clean the shop, just pile stuff in there and run again.

But today is different. Today, on Thursday February 28th, 2013, I am working my last day because I am retiring. And I'm not even working now, but got permission to take some of my built up Leave Days that I could not get for years due to manpower shortage. Tomorrow will be the first time I didn't have a job and/or school since I was 10 years old. Whee. Also scary.

So this spring (if it ever comes) I'm going to go get my flatbed back from the pasture, and clean the shop. Then I'm going to find my Cobra and try to figure out where the Hell I was on it and where my parts are. Then finish it. Then drive it. The dear wife sold her Corvette last year, leaving a hollow spot in my soul.

At the rate I've been going, I'll be damned lucky to finish my Cobra before "I go horizontal" (like I've heard Carroll Shelby say it during an interview). Bless that man's sense of humor.

Thanks for coming on here and admitting you are not done yet. I desperately needed the company.
So I wish us both luck and good health, Earl.

Wes
...

mrmustang · #7 (**permalink**) 02-28-2013, 07:53 AM

Earl,

Nice to hear you are still alive and kicking. Sorry I have not been down your way in several years or I would have stopped by to lend a hand.

Bill S.

EarlsflyinCobra · #8 (**permalink**) 02-28-2013, 10:46 AM

Thanks Wes and Bill, good to hear from both of you. Wes, I know what you mean about the retirement being scairy, when I retired from the police dept. I was petrified, fortunately it didn't last too long and neither did the retirement. LOL. I still hold part time status with the PD (35 years of service now) and I've been at Embry Riddle now going on my 15th year. Hopefully I will be able to retire from here bfore I go Horizontal....LOL! I am desperately trying to finish the Cobra this year, so, good luck to BOTH of Us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VRM · #9 (**permalink**) 02-28-2013, 12:20 PM

Earl, I always got a kick out of your little avatar jumping back and forth - ouch ouch - hot sand! Good luck on finishing the Cobra!

Wes, congrats on the retirement! A friend of mine recently retired and he said it took him a couple of months to 'settle in' - then he was off and running to all kinds of projects. You probably timed it just right to ramp up and have all kinds of fun in the spring.

I stopped posting a lot when the political stuff really started turning to just name calling. That does not make for a fun argument, and the two Ronnies shut the whole thing down shortly afterwards anyway. I still lurk and occasionally post. That said - get off the bloody interweb and go work on your cars!!

Steve