MANY, MANY THINGS HAPPENING TODAY so this is going to be a
FYI post, and should be of interest to most people who post on this thread.
In horror a few days ago, I checked my posting numbers and I am about to be moved up to a category that I'm not yet comfortable with. But it is what it is.
So, as I'm going to be absent for a short stretch of time (except for the occasional cameo, reasons given below)
I WISH TO THANK PROFUSELY THE MEMBERS OF THIS, JIMI'S ONGOING THREAD, WHICH IS LIKE A FORUM WITHIN A FORUM. THERE ARE, AT REASONABLE COUNT, A FEW DOZEN REGULARS ON THIS EXCELLENT THREAD. YOU FOLKS HAVE ELEVATED MY KNOWLEDGE AND GROWTH EXPONENTIALLY IN COMPARISON TO WADING THE SWAMP, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
i feel more confident now in what I know, and realize that there is still a long ways to go. That being said, I'll reiterate my thanks to all.
I have a few PMs going that are important I answer and when I have the time, that'll be during my midnight cameos. And I feel as comfortable as I can in letting guys in this thread know all of this.
Reasons for the modus interruptus is not only my ongoing and posted activities such as shooting, and so forth, but the time of year (Lent), the fact that there are many people in my life relying on me and my help during their personal crises, and the fact that my canine companion Ricoh, that 22 year old totally deaf and blind Shih-tsumutt that I've written about here many times, is in the last stages of his life.
He has been totally incontinent for about 3 months, helpless literally, but otherwise healthy and pain-in-the-butt demanding. His mobility has deteriorated. The cleanup sessions each day are wearing, but bearable. But now Riks has stopped eating, just picking sometimes, and drinking too much water. That's tailing off, too. But he is in no pain. Just giving out. The wear and tear on my knees is tough indeed (have no cartilage at all in either, and several doctors in the past have recommended that I DO NOT have the replacements done and one has reiterated this diagnoses lately) and also on my hernia, a work in progress.
I'm fine otherwise, have no sickness related problems or contrainments (yet, lol), it's all coming from perpheral sources in my life which I have very little control over. I'm not disappearing, I'm just doing what I have to do and will as mentioned above, appear when I can. Lots of smoke stuff to relate.
I'm sure you've all had similar stretches to negotiate, so not asking for sympathy. Just letting you know. And, oh yes, a final request, one that I'm sure you all are aware of, we have a number of new, and excellent
lurkers and
becoming obsessed posters in this thread. They know a lot and have lots to contribute, as you know. We were all there in this forum ourselves. You all know that too, but taking this next step was probably one that many of you winced at, like me.
Cheers, Gord.
PS oh oh I see the category shift has happened . . . .
Oh
!!
️. I enjoyed the false spring here in Wisconsin the past few days but now it’s back to lousy winter lol 
