How's it going fellas??

[Bill Little]

Hi Guys!
Summer is almost over....... and I have not touched a handle yet.  Barely touched any of my builds!  I need motivation!!!!!!!!  I got up this morning to go adopt a new puppy.  I could barely walk....
I know things will get better.
Thank you to ALL my friends!
Bill

[Bill Little]

Whoa, yee olde fahrt, you sound like me. I lay there saying, "I don't have to get up, I don't wanna to get up, I ain't gonna get up.. it hurts too much... But I have a huge Maine Coon cat and he gets me up. He has a cold nose and keeps butting my shoulder. Then of course old men need to pee a lot, so that precludes staying in bed. Coffee, where's my coffee? So, I get up, do my morning abolutions and drink coffee, visit Stunt Hanger, read all the BS, etc, and that is how I start each day. Could be worse, I keep reading about people no longer with us.
Take a 30 minute walk each day, not fast, just walk, it keeps the joints lubed and you will sleep better and getting up isn't so bad.  

Thanks Chief, one knee is so bad that I really can barely walk much at times.  They wouldn't fix it when I popped all the ligaments because the bones were too bad from 44 years of no cartilage and bone on bone.  The end of the bones are ruined..
I really really want to fly but I cannot physically use a stooge right now, so...
But thanks for the encouragement!!!!
Big Bear

[Will Davis]

Bill,

We went out to huntersville today for club meeting , lots of sport flying going on,  mildly hot , but nice under the tent ,  more sitting around than anything, had a couple new planes with first flights  today, kids flying , spectators, etc..

Come out and join us at the field , sometimes it is just what you need to get motivated ,   Just get out and smell the castor..

Next month is the annual 1/2 a day, fun low key 1/2 a flying , or non flying ,  we even fly free flight cox helicopters .

Guarenteed to leave  the field with a smile on your face , especially if you are not trying to get one of the 1/2 a engine running .

[Mike Griffin]

Damn Ty you sound like me, almost exactly my routine.  Bill, man hang in there cause you aint the only one hurting believe me.  I have had 3 spinal fusions, a torn cruciate ligament, torn cartlige (meniscus) and a total knee replacement.  Not to mention shots in my neck for deteriorated discs which they cannot operate on so I have the deepest empathy for you.  Getting old is not for sissies.  I do like Ty, lay there in bed and think about getting up but have been up about 3 times already in the dead of night to go pee and finally roll over and get my feet on the floor and guzzle down that first cup of Joe.  

Its kinda funny Bill when you live with chronic pain, when I go to the doctor he points to that stupid smiley chart pain scale and says what level of pain are you at today?  I say, you know Doc, I have no friggin idea.  I get up every morning and walk like I am 100 years old for the first few steps and then I just push through it and do what I have to do.  I could tell you I am at 3 on that chart and if you could take my 3 and put it in a healthy person who does not have any pain they might scream and say they were at a 15.  I don't even rate the pain anymore...I just do what I have to do.

Linda and I got the gym 3 times a week and walk a mile on the track and then work the weights for about 45 minutes.  Until you get that knee fixed, walking may be out of the question.  I played football until I was 26 and the Neurosurgeon tells me that is what did it to my back and knees.  Sometimes I wish I had never seen a football.  

I know exactly how you feel Bill.  WIsh y ou were close enough to fly with us but I have not flown but twice and that was this Spring before it got so damn hot.  We have two seasons in Southern Louisiana...HOT and GAGGING HOT.  

Take care of yourself man and do what you can do and just know you got a lot of friends on here and we know how you feel

Mike

[Lyle Spiegel]

Hi Bill, glad your having a good summer. Ive been hoping to hear from you. I watch my mail box everyday for package from you. If you lost the address I can send it in PM. I can also call you but don't have your number. Regards, Lyle

[FLOYD CARTER]

Maybe someday, when I get old, I might have to stop flying stunt.  But not yet.

My only complaint is that I have to get down on my knees to get my engine running at the field.  Getting down is no problem, but getting back up is starting to be somewhat of a chore.

I seem to be having trouble with overhead 8s if there are no clouds in the sky.  I seem to lose orientation looking straight up, with nothing up there for reference.

Floyd

p.s.  Oh yes.  I can hold my water for about 5 hours.  I see that some of our flyers head for the Porta-potty as soon as they arrive.

I once suffered from enlarged prostate.  The docs took care of that for me.  They removed it without cutting me open.  Want to know how?  Don't ask.  You might use your imagination!

[Randy Cuberly]

HI Bill. Wow, you are in a fix. Total knee replacement is what it sounds like you need.  Just a matter of money thanks to the sob in the white house.

Hey Bill,
You're 65 Medicare will give you a new knee.  I lucky and have good ones so far, but my wife just had one done and worked out fine.  Half of our club (Cholla Choppers) has at least one metal and plastic knee.  Some have two!

Git'er Done my friend!  Life is much better when you can fly!!!

Randy Cuberly

[Jim Kraft]

Hang in there Bill. It has been a bad year for us too. First my wife was sick for about three months before the doctors finally figured it out and a 25 minute operation fixed it. I have been down for a while with some type of virus that the doctors keep looking for something they have not found yet. At least my liver, kidney's, lungs, and lots of other stuff are showing negative. Every thing looks normal except for my white count is high along with my ced rate. I was aching all over an running a low grade fever off and on, but nothing seems inflamed. Going to get another echo on my heart on Wednesday to see how it is doing. Last echo was in March and it looked good then.

They think it might be some type of poly arthritic inflammation and may have to put me on steroids for a while to get over it. I have not had my hand on a handle all year either. At least we can still cause havoc on the message board and keep up on the latest lies. Helps to keep my spirits up. When you do not feel good flying is the last thing on your mind.

At least you have one of the best sparker collections around. All the best to you and hoping and praying you get better soon.

[john e. holliday]

Big Bear it is great you are still with us kid.  I made the trek to Topeka for the balloon pop and fun fly Sunday the 28th.  Yes it was hot and muggy.  Didn't realize it has been a couple of months of not flying.   Hard to go flying when you have grand daughters that think the world revolves around them.  I too have the urinal problem during the night, but I have four pup(dogs) that seem to know when I need to go.  But, I have also been getting out side and doing yard work.  Have a power mower that is not self propelled so I have to use my legs/knees plus arms while mowing.   Got rid of railroad ties that I had been wanting to get rid of.  Checked on the way home from Topeka and they are still at the circle.   My walking is going to Sams Club or WalMart Super Center or working outside.   

Anyway I broke two balloons with Ringmaster.  Got a partial pattern on the Ringmaster Twin and finally a flight on the Vagabond with out the Fox going lean until the last couple of laps.   Not enough wind to get it to hang.   Jim Lee broke 4 balloons as usual with the Gyro  and Melvin Schuette got 3 with his Flite Streak.  Dan K.couldn't keep his engine running and Bruce Reich beat the sticks to death.  Can't remember the Father's name but got his son Johnathon up on my Ringmaster.   Paul ? the kid of the club came and put up a flight.  I think he said he was 84 years young.   He's in better shape than I am.   But, for me it was a great day to get out and fly even though I had to miss Church which I think out savior allows us a day off once in a while.  Wasn't for family I would be headed to the circle after Church for Sunday afternoon flying.  Really it is more fun to have someone to fly with or just sit and BS.

Now I need to repair a plane and finish the B-25.

By the way the doctor still says I don't need knee replacement and told me I was killing my organs taking Tylenal.  Prescribed some kind of pill I can't pronounce that I take twice a day and it has helped a lot.

[Randy Powell]

Glad to hear you are still fighting the fight, man. Hang in there and get building.

[RknRusty]

Hi Bill,
Will davis is spot-on. Fly or not, I always leave Huntersville with a warm fuzzy good feeling, as you know, it's just a fun group. Howard and Sonny are up and flying, Duck is still building, David and Sarah are breeding new pilots, Watt is still sleeping in his truck, I'm gimpy as ever, and all is well at Waymer Field.

Bye the way, every time I send you the monthly newsletter, it comes back as undeliverable. I'm now including videos, flight reports and all sorts of entertainment. If you're interested, PM me your current email address and I'll get you back in the loop.
Take care,
Rusty

[Scott Richlen]

Bill:

It is very important that you don't isolate yourself.  Get to the flying fields no matter what; even if you can't, or don't feel like, flying.  There are people at the field whose lives are a little less bright when their friends don't show up.  So, you would be doing this, not just for yourself, but for your flying buddies.

In any case, this is totally up to you.  We can encourage all we want, but you have to make that decision to get out and see your buddies.  Good luck and get going.

[Chris McMillin]

Hey Big Brother...
Been a while, moved to Tucson, been flying a little though along with all of the other hobbies...
Some of the guys on here were talking about living in constant pain and it getting you down, not my position but my beautiful wife Laura's. She has been that way for many years after a bad horseback riding accident and I know how the encouragement and motivation helps. Sounds as if Randy Cuberly is onto some of the hope part too, getting the scoop on a Medicare funded repair/replace being a possibility sounds good.
Anyway, I haven't forgotten all of our plans for so many models, Berekely, Sterling, Shark, Cal Smith Shoestring, wow that list goes on. Wish I could just build one model a year to keep up with the grand plans!
Right now I'm rehabbing a stunter to fly in AMA events and finishing a Nobler for Classic.
The house is great but the re-model is slow and expensive... but worth it for Laura. I've got the cars here in AZ too now, as well as a new project a buddy gave me, a Knight Twister of all things! Funny, I hear the same plans and complaints from the car club guys... not enough time, oh I'm getting old! It's universal!
Hope you're feeling better each day, man. Puppies usually help!
Chris...
P.S. Here's a pic of my new "big" kit!

[FLOYD CARTER]

Chris.  That odd collection of parts looks like some really tough project!  Reminds me of my first restoration, a 65 HP, 1947 Aeronca 7AC.  A simple plane, but it still took nearly a year to get it all back together.  I didn't bother with an A&E to sign off on the work, but I think my building skills were better than average, so all went well.  Many years after I sold it, I saw it at the Palo Alto airport (CA), so my restoration was still holding up.

Floyd

[Jim Kraft]

Well, after every test know to man, the doctors finally did more blood cultures and found I have Q-Fever. It is a really strange bacteria that comes from animals and is in the air. Most people do not get it or when they do they have no symptoms and then become immune. There are a few of us that have had heart surgery that are more susceptible to getting it than others. It is not the same as endocarditis, but does kind of mimic it.

I am getting much better on my own, but they may put me on antibiotics to completely iradicate it for good. It is not contagious among humans. But as I have been weak with it for so long, almost 2 months, It will take me a long time to get my strength back so says the doctor.

The good thing is my liver, kidneys, thyroid, lungs, and heart, all look normal. However they did not check my brain which some call in to suspect. It is great fun to have a scope down your throat so they can look at the back side of your heart through your stomach, and at the mitral valve. I had mine repaired 4 and a half years ago so they wanted to have a look.

So basically I am getting along pretty well and will see the doctor again on Thursday. It has been ongoing for months now. Hopefully next year will be better and I can fly again. Just so all of my friends know why I am not coming to contests this year.

[De Hill]

Hope to see you next year, Jim!

[john e. holliday]

Hey Jim,  take care of yourself as I need some one to compete with that's not a young whipper snapper.

[Randy Cuberly]

Hey Chris, You're gonna need some Looonng lines for that baby!!! 

Randy Cuberly!

[John Park]

After much juggling of medication - more of this, less of that - my serum potassium level is finally back to normal, so I'm not dizzy any more when I turn around at four seconds a lap.  Time to try the "Super" Baby Flite Streak (couldn't resist giving it a thicker section and blunter LE) on 35' Spider Wire lines, then the refurbished old own-design April Witch flapped profile (looks a bit like a Force) with the early steel .25 FP-S, and finally spend the winter building NEMI 54, a sort of 112.5% scaled-up Al Rabe Mustunt 1 with a .46 LA.  I'm just hoping the ganglion in my left wrist keeps on getting better - I'm left-handed, and I've got a lot of wing ribs to cut out!