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Post by 9idrr on Sept 19, 2018 20:59:24 GMT -6
Just curious, sir, if this was planned when you chose to have that particular truck "donated" or were the Kubota engines added to the story and are now bein' put to use?
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 20, 2018 0:56:26 GMT -6
The Kubota-powered farm truck was an idea from many months back. I was just looking for a place to use it. Bobby's other actions put him in a "redneck" truck so it became the target vehicle. The rest was some research and a little math to see if it could be done.
I think "shade tree engineer" (one step up from "shade tree mechanic") might be a good description of my designs ;-)
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Post by bluefox2 on Sept 22, 2018 8:02:13 GMT -6
I was thinking yesterday about how one of those Kubota motors would work in something like a Suzuki samuri for an off road rig. We also have accompany here in the KC area that makes aircraft tugs. They have a whole bunch of smaller diesel engines on their shelves that would maybe come in handy for high torque low speed applications.
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Post by texican on Sept 22, 2018 8:54:26 GMT -6
I think "shade tree engineer" (one step up from "shade tree mechanic") might be a good description of my designs ;-) PP2, Kind of like the difference between being a writer and and author.... And PP2, you fit in the category of author.... Texican....
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Post by texican on Sept 22, 2018 9:01:25 GMT -6
Double post....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 22, 2018 19:55:34 GMT -6
I was thinking yesterday about how one of those Kubota motors would work in something like a Suzuki samuri for an off road rig. We also have accompany here in the KC area that makes aircraft tugs. They have a whole bunch of smaller diesel engines on their shelves that would maybe come in handy for high torque low speed applications. The little diesels - especially the small multi-cylinder ones - should have excellent torque and the power levels I've been looking at (less than 20HP) are well within the ratings of V belts. My 17.5HP riding mower uses a thick 1/2 or 3/4 inch belt (I don't remember which) for ground drive and a similar belt to drive the blades. One of the V belt companies probably has a catalog online of their available belts by size and HP limits. To transfer more power, you can add more belts or change to the serpentine belts used in more recent vehicles. Remember that tractors often don't have a lot of HP but the amount of gearing down allows them to break up hard ground. My favorite tractor video is one of an old steam "traction engine" at a tractor pull. It's not fast but it has iron wheels with "cleats" and as the weight transfers forward on the sled the steam tractor doesn't even change speed - it just drags the sled well past the end of the track and then the driver hits the clutch to stop the tractor. Makes me wonder how big a plow that thing could pull... In "Homestead", there's mention of a forge and a small "metal shop" so the possibility of casting some aluminum and turning a pulley or two with multiple belt grooves to match their needs does exist. Who knows? There might be something in the shop building that Jack's never really explored in depth ;-)
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Post by supermag on Sept 22, 2018 22:16:50 GMT -6
A real popular diesel conversion in the samurai is the volkswagen diesel. Top speed isn't great but they get 40mpg and are great offroad.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 23, 2018 2:26:17 GMT -6
Only 1,268 words but maybe enough to keep the MOAR monsters at bay for a few days.
Chapter 12 - Saturday, 19 June
"We're going to our old house but no chore clothes?"
"Your Momma and I will be bringing back the generators that I may be able to use an engine from to get Bobby's old truck running well enough to use it as a motorized wheelbarrow."
"We can't help?"
"Not today. Once I have the engines swapped, I'll need some help with wiring and other things. Sarah and Marie are both big enough and small enough to help. Lisa and Alice aren't big enough."
"Daddy! We're either big enough or we're not! We can't be big enough and small enough!"
"Sarah, for the work that's to be done your hands must be big enough and strong enough to use the tools but your bodies must be small enough to fit in the places where the work is to be done. Ergo - big enough and small enough."
"Like moving stuff in the sheds at our old house. We could get between or behind things you and Momma couldn't."
"Exactly, Marie. Some of these things I could reach if I'm on my back under the truck or lying across the top of the engine but you could stand beside the small engine that will be in that truck while you're doing the work."
"We hear some strange things from you, Daddy, but we sure do learn a lot!"
"Sarah, I'm confident there will be more learning as we go through this process."
"Marie, I think he just said we'll be working hard and getting dirty."
"Me too."
---
"I really wanted to help with the loading but I saw the dent the generator left in the truck's bed when the chain slipped. I'm glad I was inside the truck!"
"Me too, grease monkey. I think I mentioned things like that when I told you that none of you would get to help with certain parts of the work."
"I understand a lot better now! I still wanna watch."
"Watching we can find safe places for."
---
"Girls?"
"Yes, Daddy?"
"The trip to the hospital tomorrow will take about three hours. You have four choices for going there."
"We can fly?"
"Lisa, I don't think you can flap your arms that long."
"Daddy! I meant in an airplane."
"That's not an option. Your choices are all of you ride with your Momma and me in the truck, all of you ride with Grandma Leanne in her van, two ride in the truck and two ride in the van or we do two and two and you swap rides when we do the usual bathroom stop about halfway there."
"Truck!"
"Van!"
"Both!"
"What about on the way back?"
"I'll respond to the last one first. The doctor might want Alice to travel lying down on the way back. That would mean there will only be room for one of you in the truck. We may need to stop more than once on the way back for Alice to rest, so Lisa, Marie and Sarah could each get time in the truck. We won't know the answer to that until after the surgery. For now, the four of you need to work out where each of you will be on the way there."
"You're not gonna tell us what to do?"
"I think my daughters can work out something that they can all agree to. When we know what's needed for Alice on the way back, you can work out where each of you will be then."
"How do we do that?"
"Lisa, there's a whiteboard on the basement wall and some markers are by it. Sarah can draw an outline of the truck and the van on that board and then put your choices in the outlines so all of you can see whether those choices will work."
"We're doing it?"
"I think my smart daughters can do this. Go try."
"Yes, Daddy."
"Jack, did they all just grow another inch?"
"No, Sally. They're just rising to the challenge. I've been with these kids long enough to know that they're smart enough to work out something like this. And we don't get any 'But I wanna ride with…' tears when loading up for the trip."
"What if they have second thoughts at breakfast?"
"We can make adjustments then and not while standing in the rain loading."
"Rain again?"
"Forecast is 80% chance of rain for about three hours. With the usual west to east weather movement, we could be in rain much of the trip tomorrow."
"So morning chores followed by breakfast followed by leaving and all that interspersed with loading luggage, pillows and snacks in the breaks between showers?"
"Sounds like a plan."
---
Bzzt!Bzzt!
"What's that, Jack?"
"Text from George. It starts with 'Good news' so I should read all of it."
"I agree."
[Good news, Jack. All but one of the PSC members were arrested today, along with most of the McClellan Co-op management. The Governor has appointed an interim PSC board with full powers. Their first act was to rescind McClellan's franchise in your county and give that franchise to the Thompson Co-op. Thompson needs money to handle the expansion so I invested the $15 million you had earmarked for that a month or so ago. How'd you know? It's probably something as obvious to you as your reasons for buying this bank when you did but I didn't see it and neither did my analysts. Anyway, M. Jackson Enterprises is now a major investor in that Co-op. Isn't that an expensive way to get power for your farm? Seems to me that you could have a lot of solar power or liquid fuel for that much money.]
[This county is now home for me and my family. Having Thompson as the power utility is a good thing for me and the large, mostly powerless, area at this end of the county. It's an investment in my family's future.]
[Can't argue that. Details in the emails I sent and a copy of the transaction documents.]
"So the local Co-op office will know who you are when you go in to get service?"
"Perhaps; perhaps not. I'll give them a week or two to get the details of the franchise transfer worked out before I ask."
"But we will have reasonable access to commercial power?"
"Yes, as will all the other properties from County 217 to the county line."
"Everything you're working on purchasing."
"And all the other people in the area who want commercial power."
"Funded initially by your investment."
"Correct, but that includes Tim Gurley's farm and the one Pete and Molly bought - plus several dozen other families we know."
"Darcy lives on this side of the road."
"Among others."
"Good choice of investments, Mr. Jackson."
"Thank you, Mrs. Jackson. I hear little feet in the hall."
"Bringing you books to read. All of them love being in your lap for a book at bedtime. As many times as I've read some of those books, I enjoy listening when you read them - especially when you swap the set of voices with those from another book, they tell you 'That's wrong!' and you say 'Then you read it.' and Lisa or Alice takes off reading in their preferred set of voices."
"And they're mostly reading and not just doing it from memory as I have multiple copies of some of their favorite stories with slightly different wording. Remember Lisa sounding out 'victorious' a day or two ago?"
"You're sneaky!"
"They're learning and having fun doing it."
"That's even better."
---
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Post by gipsy on Sept 23, 2018 8:23:19 GMT -6
Good update but just a tidbit for us Moar hounds
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 23, 2018 15:03:19 GMT -6
Good update but just a tidbit for us Moar hounds MOAR is coming but today I'm collecting leaves and cutting grass. That was to be a Monday project but the thunderstorms previously forecast for Tuesday are now forecast to begin Monday at 8AM. I'm taking my planned 20 minutes for an electrolyte beverage and a bit of cooling off between part 1 and part 2 of the yard work. I had planned for today to be the "Add solar lighting to the equipment shed" day but I don't know whether I'll have the energy left to get all the pieces out - the chipper/shredder and the Generac 5500 watt gen are hard to get back up the ramp by myself. If the solar-charged lighting does work as planned, I might consider a Harbor Freight 2500lb ATV winch ($50 on sale), a bigger battery and a bigger solar panel - be nice to have that much "moving power" in my hand (winch has a remote control).
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Post by texican on Sept 24, 2018 18:17:42 GMT -6
PP2,
With sufficient $$'s a person can work wonders....
Texican....
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Post by 9idrr on Sept 25, 2018 20:38:41 GMT -6
PP2, With sufficient $$'s a person can work wonders.... Texican.... ...or, can pay others to work the wonders.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 25, 2018 23:21:51 GMT -6
Not sure where we'll be in the next week of story (story calendar time). The laptop's power connector got bumped and the screen turned off but the lights indicated the laptop was still running. I've been using laptops since the days of the Toshiba portable with two 3.5 inch diskette drives and this failure is a truly weird happening. I tried doing a couple of saves but I'm reasonably sure I lost at least part of a day's events. Not sure whether Word can recover that - sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. Anyway, when we get out 7 or 8 days (story calendar days), there may be a day that's skipped.
Although I save frequently and I do keep offsite backups, the backups done at the end of the day, not while I'm writing so the ephemeral copy of a given day's events in computer RAM was the only one at that point in time. Just a heads up if there's a missing day somewhere along the line.
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Post by udwe on Sept 26, 2018 21:12:20 GMT -6
I have a love/hate relationship with computers!
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 30, 2018 17:36:37 GMT -6
I have a love/hate relationship with computers! I do sometimes ;-) My preferred writing platform is an older laptop with a 14" or 15" screen (closer to 4x3 format than 16x9 because I want to see most of a page of text) running Windows XP and Microsoft Word 2003 (I've written a lot of utilities for XP and would rather be writing new stories than rewriting working software for Windows 10). The laptops that seem to be the best fit are the Dell D620 (introduced in March 2006) and the D630 (introduced in May 2007). That makes my preferred writing platforms 12 and 11 years old - which makes them relatively inexpensive ($95 on ebay with 4GB RAM, 80GB hard drive, Windows 10 and free shipping). That also makes them well used when they get to me so they occasionally die quickly - one just a few days after the short warranty the seller provided. Because of that, I try to keep a backup laptop and I'm currently waiting for a much faster SSD to replace the painfully slow hard drive that the most recent D630 came with. I'll basically clone the drive in the D620 I'm using and then replace all the drivers (audio, video, network) with the correct drivers for the D630 hardware. Cloning the drive may take a couple of hours but that's a "start and forget" process that doesn't need constant attention. The drivers require some detailed work to remove the D620 drivers from the newly cloned drive and then install the drivers for the D630 hardware. Because Dell tracks most of their PCs with a "service code", you can go to their "support" page and enter the service code to get the factory-equipped options for that machine and download the drivers you need for it. I've already done that, so I have a thumb drive already filled with drivers just waiting to be installed. Does it show that I was a PC support guy and a programmer along the way? And you might've guessed that I built the last 3 or 4 desktop PC's I've used - most recently one with a quad core 3GHz processor when those were almost the faster thing available. Not state of the art now, but still the fastest PC in the house and probably none but a serious gamer would find fault with its speed.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 30, 2018 18:35:08 GMT -6
Chapter 13 - Sunday, 20 June
Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep! Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!
"The alarm this early on Sunday, Jack?"
"Yes, Mrs. Jackson. We have two- and four-legged animal chores to do and somewhat larger two-legged animals to prepare for transit."
"I was trying to avoid the fact that we are headed for Little Rock today."
"Scary to have your 'baby' getting serious surgery?"
"Exactly. Your shrink background is not helping."
"Then how about a long hug?"
"That helps."
"Enjoy it quickly as I hear movement in the girls' room."
"You think Alice is scared?"
"Probably not as she hasn't seen either of us scared and there's the possibly contagious excitement from the other girls about going somewhere they've never been."
"I may need more hugs later."
"Whatever you need."
"I'm hungry!"
"Me too!"
"Me!"
"And me!"
"Go potty and wash your hands. Jack, was any of the gazpacho left from yesterday?"
"Yes. I put the leftover soup in bowls so Sarah can get the bowls out of the fridge, Marie can get glasses, Lisa can get spoons, Alice can get napkins for all and Sarah can pour the milk. They can get breakfast by themselves."
"Daddy!"
"No!"
"Momma, please do eggs?"
"Me too!"
"What would you do if we weren't here to cook breakfast?"
"Beg Sarah to do eggs and oatmeal 'cause she's the only one Momma lets do hot stuff. We can do cereal and milk and fruit."
"What if we weren't here for a week?"
"Sarah would milk the goats, Marie would feed the goats and Lisa would collect eggs. I'd feed the chickens. Or we could go to Grandma Leanne's house."
"She lives 12 miles away. That would be several hours of walking for each of you."
"Sarah knows how to hitch Maybelle to the cart. We could ride in it."
"Do you know the way?"
"You go down that way then you turn left then you go some more and you turn right."
"Do any of you know the names of the roads?"
"Un uh."
"No."
"Un uh."
"Me too."
"Do you remember any buildings where you turn?"
"There's a barn with horses!"
"Which side of the road?"
"Left."
"Right."
"I dunno."
"Me too."
"Maybe you need a map that has names for the roads and places and some arrows to show you which way to turn?"
"You can make that?"
"I think that might be a project while we're waiting for Alice to be released from the hospital. I have a good map in the truck and I'll copy the pages of interest so we can talk about maps and how to make your own."
"Can we start now?"
"I thought you were hungry."
"Maps after we eat?"
"We'll be packing the truck after we eat. I'll give each of you a little notebook and a pencil so you can write down what you see as we leave. That can be part of your information for making a map later."
---
'So one more thing for the "I'm bored" we're likely to hear?'
'Correct. Map making and reading are life skills that everyone should have. The GPS is a marvelous device but a solar flare could knock out one or more of the satellites in an instant and with very little warning. Having mental maps and an unerring sense of direction are great, but paper maps work well for almost everyone else.'
"What are you two whispering about?"
"Alice, we're deciding who will tickle which one of you since none of you went to potty when you were told to. I'll bet that all of you are ready to leak…"
"I'm going!"
"Me!"
"Me too!"
"I can wait a little longer than they can."
"Thank you, Sarah."
"For what?"
"No running over your little sisters."
"Maybe I like them a little bit or maybe I don't wanna hafta help them change wet underwear."
"Maybe both?"
"You're awful smart to have only been a Daddy for a week."
"I may need to tickle you for being a snarky little girl."
"No! I'm OK if I stand still or move slowly but I'll leak if I try to run."
"The others are out. Go now."
"I'm going."
'Good that you could distract them that quickly.'
'It's easy when they don't listen to their bodies.'
'What will we do with the leftover soup?'
'Leave a note for Pete and Molly - their meal is in the fridge. If things warm up as much as predicted, having a cool meal might be welcome.'
'True.'
---
"Momma, come look at the whiteboard and see if we got it right."
"On my way, Marie."
"Well, Momma?"
"You tell me if I'm reading this correctly. Marie and Lisa in the van and Sarah and Alice in the truck when we leave and you swap places when we make our first stop. Why those choices?"
"If we're gonna make maps, Sarah can help Alice see out and read names on signs for her and I can read stuff for Lisa."
"Very good. I'll get a picture of this with my phone so we can refer back to it later if anyone has questions."
---
"I hear a vehicle slowing."
"It's Grandma!"
"Girls, stop! You don't run to a vehicle until it has stopped and someone has opened a door."
"Sorry, Daddy."
"Me too."
"Me."
"And me."
"The driver's door is open. Go tell her 'Hi' and then we'll load some of the drinks and snacks in each vehicle and the blankets and bears to match the girls in that vehicle."
"Hi, Sarah, Jack. I love the greeting I get from the girls! I think I might like to have a dozen more grandkids if I didn't have to deal with diapers again. Oops! That's not a request for you to breed, just me being excited each time I get surrounded with hugs."
"We rather like that when it happens to us so you get a free pass this time."
"And I'll try not to have a next time. Who's riding where?"
"The girls worked that out. It looks like this."
"Two in each vehicle and they switch at the first stop. They did this on their own?"
"Jack told them they could all be in one vehicle or they could do two and two for the trip or two and two with the swap. They chose swapping and they decided the pairing."
"I heard one of them say 'map' so they're drawing a map?"
"Jack offered them gazpacho for breakfast and they said they'd go to your house so he asked them how they'd get there and they didn't know any road or place names."
"So they're mapping as they leave and another time they can complete the path from the first turnoff on County 217 when they go to my house again. Glad you're thinking about their practical education, Jack. We sometimes get too focused on other areas of learning."
"If they're thinking far enough ahead to tell me that Sarah can harness the goat to the wagon then they should know how to get to family if needed."
"I like it. I'll be Marie's backup if there's a name she can't pronounce or it's too long for her to remember."
"Thanks. Sally, I know the luggage is loaded. Does each girl have her blanket and bear?"
"And their notebooks and pencils. The drinks and snacks are split between the vehicles. Leanne, we'll have the CB on channel 17 if you need us."
"I'll be there also."
"Sally, I'll check that all the doors are locked and be at the truck in a couple of minutes."
"We'll be waiting."
---
"Locking up took you long enough."
"One bag was missed when the truck was loaded."
"Which bag?"
"The green one in the door pocket."
"Oh! I don't remember buying those."
"You didn't. I did. A few of them make a very satisfying treat. I would have had them out sooner but the girls baked brownies."
"And they got their dose of dark chocolate there. Then the purple bag inside the green bag can wait until it's needed."
"That's what Leanne said when I told her what was in the green bag I handed her."
'Wagon One to Wagon Two. Wagons, Ho!'
'Well, you have the two here in giggles. Have you been showing them old 'Wagon Train' videos?'
'No comment.'
'Your two are also in giggles so I think they answered for you. Wagon Two out.'
'Wagon One out.'
"We're doing well on time, Jack. It's 8:30. You said three hours to Little Rock?"
"Plus time for one potty break about halfway there. We should be there around noon and have time to check in and get lunch before going to the hospital at 2:00."
"Do we all go?"
"Might as well. Leanne will know where the hospital is and the hospital will know that their patient has family of all ages who will want to see her."
"You're being scary logical again."
"That's what makes me attractive - there are so few logical people."
"You goof!"
---
"Where did we start, Sarah?"
"Alice, the address on the mailbox is 14236 County 217."
"What's that mean?"
"The road is County highway number 217 and the house is number 14236."
"OK. We turned right out of the driveway. Which way are we going now?"
"Look at the black and white thing on the dash. It's a compass. The 'E' says we are going east."
"Like the 'east' when daddy took us around to all the windows to show us that a tree couldn't fall on the house?"
"Yes. Here's the map of the state. We're about here. Little Rock is in Arkansas which is over here. We go east until we get to a road that goes north to this big highway and then we go east again until we get there."
"You're smart!"
"No, I'm educated. I looked it up yesterday in the old atlas in the rack at the end of the sofa. It has 1998 on it but the big roads probably don't change much."
"You're smart to figure it out."
"She's right, grease monkey."
"If you say so, Daddy."
---
"Now that Sarah and Alice are asleep, explain to me how a soldier with what appears to be years of combat experience in the Middle East is a millionaire with two Doctorates?"
"The money is easy. If Uncle Sam provides food and lodging, you have very little to spend money on in a combat zone. The extra dollars for combat zone pay aren't taxable. My first wife married an older and richer man in a matter of months so there was no alimony."
"That explains some of the money but you got instant access to the chairman of the board when he heard your name. And it doesn't explain the degrees."
"Combat zones can be continuous fighting or they can be boring days interspersed with direct attacks, IEDs and almost anything else. My assignment included a lot of boring days so I did online classes and some independent study - having internet access at the front lines is very useful. When I left the military, I had two degrees, some on-the-job experience and a very nice investment account that had received most of my pay while I was overseas and was managed by someone willing to follow my directions on investments. Among other things, I had watched for small banks, such as PRBT, that looked to be targets for acquisition by major banks. My research was good and 11 of the 12 banks I invested in were acquired by bigger banks. Number 12 grew enough to become an acquirer of smaller banks and that's how I became a major shareholder in PRBT's parent company. I could have sat and moaned about the woman who did me wrong but I wanted more out of life than hearing myself whine."
"So are you richer than the man she left you for?"
"Some three or four times richer before I met you. Now I'm rich beyond his dreams."
"You say the nicest things!"
"And I mean them."
"I know. You always say what you mean and mean what you say. I have a family question for you."
"I saw that glance at the back seat. Wait until we're at the rest stop up ahead and ask Leanne to take the girls in while we discuss something they shouldn't hear."
"How do you do that? It's like you were reading my mind!"
"Just your actions and expressions. Remember that those things were a major part of my job at one point and that many lives depended on me getting it right."
"Interrogations where the truth was life or death."
"Correct. I think the person you want to ask about is mature enough to accept what you plan to say and to keep silent on that subject except with selected people. Have a couple of the dark chocolate M&Ms from the purple bag inside the green bag to put at least a little smile back on your face before we wake the girls. "
---
'Wagon One to Wagon Two.'
'Wagon Two. The rest stop two miles ahead, Sally?'
'Yes. Could you take all the girls in so Jack and I can have a short private discussion?'
'Certainly. Wagon Two out.'
'Wagon One out.'
---
"OK, Sally. Leanne has the girls and we have maybe five minutes. Your question?"
"Should I tell Sarah that Pete is her biological father?"
"At some point, yes. This week? No. There will be too much emotion about Alice being in the hospital, the other girls not seeing us much, them not seeing Alice and whatever else makes this a difficult week for them."
"When should I tell her?"
"I think you should ask Pete if he's OK with that. He might not want her to know but her hair and eyes make it obvious that she's not Jimmy's child and when she notices that - or maybe when she works up the courage to ask about what she's noticed - she should get a truthful answer. Remember that Alice understands that Sarah is smart because she taught herself enough about the maps in that atlas to find her way across parts of two states. I think Sarah can also compare herself to the other people in the area and decide Pete is more like her than anyone else."
"And she's always gotten to at least talk with him every week if she didn't see him."
"Now you're seeing what I see."
"My red haired, blue eyed daughter is nine going on 25?"
"Maybe not quite that drastic but I think she knows more than she's ever mentioned. You probably want to do some calendar work so you don't bring it up just as her mood swings. I realize that may take a while because early menarche can be very irregular at two weeks or two months or whatever. When she has some semblance of regularity, we should talk again - if she hasn't already brought it up."
"I guess that is a possibility."
"I'd say more of a probablility. She's smart and she pays attention to more than she ever mentions. For example, she saw how much I enjoyed reading the Sherlock Holmes anthology and she's made good progress through it."
"How do you know that?"
"Two things. My bookmark kept getting moved and she responded to something I said with 'Brilliant deduction'. She just needs time for all the pieces to fit together and she'll have her own 'Brilliant deduction'."
"I guess she will. I should ask Pete when we get back?"
"You could text him right now that you're thinking of telling her before she comments on the obvious."
"I'll do that when we get to the hotel."
"Go ahead and do it while you have the privacy of a stall. Leanne's coming out with them now. I'll waste some time moving things between vehicles and it might be a good time for the M&Ms so I can also 'go potty'."
"You goof!"
"I love you too, Mrs. Jackson."
---
"Are we there yet, Grandma?"
"No, Alice. Ask Sarah when we'll be there."
"She knows?"
"I think she can figure it out."
"Figure? Oh - that sign says 30 miles and the speedometer shows 60 miles an hour so half an hour."
"Is she right, Grandma?"
"She is, Alice."
"How'd you do that?"
"After you've been in school for a while, you'll learn to do arithmetic like that."
"Really, Sarah?"
"Yes, 'really'. Ask Momma or Daddy about it. Grandma's busy driving."
"Read me a book?"
"A short one."
"Cat in the Hat?"
"OK."
---
'Wagon One to Wagon Two.'
'Wagon Two.'
'We take the next exit. Then turn right. It's about three blocks.'
'I'll be right behind you. Wagon Two out.'
'Wagon One out.'
"Your time estimate was good, Jack. It's 12:05. We stop at the hotel to check in and leave bags and then lunch at the place the girls chose - which is in the next block - and then to the hospital. Walk or drive there?"
"Walk to eat. Drive to the hospital because it's over a mile and I don't relish carrying Alice that far when there are other options."
"Agreed. You'll get two key cards now and set up both phones later?"
"Correct."
"Then get us signed in."
"On my way."
---
"Who sleeps where, Momma?"
"Alice gets the little sofa. The rest of you girls get the bed closest to the bathroom. Lisa, don't start undressing. We're not at home and clothes are not optional."
"But…"
"If the door is open, anyone in the hall can see where you're standing."
"Yes, Momma."
"All of you go potty."
"But I don't hafta."
"Do you want to go eat?"
"Yes, Momma. I'm going."
"Out the door girls. We'll walk to lunch."
"Walk, Daddy?"
"Alice, it's the red, white and blue sign in the next block."
"I can do that. Hold my hand?"
"Yes."
"Me!"
"Me too!"
"And me!"
"I have one free hand. Who gets it?"
"Lisa. Me and Marie can walk with Momma."
"Or your Grandma."
"Yes!"
"That worked better than I expected."
"Sally, it's rare that we walk far enough together for all of them to want to hold a hand. They might make other choices on the way back. We should find more walking to do here."
"I'm sure you'll make good use of their free wi-fi."
"I will."
---
"I liked that pizza burger!"
"Me too!"
"And the sweet potato fries!"
"Un huh!"
"Jack, it's a good thing we planned to go back to the hotel before going to the hospital. All of them need faces washed, two of them need fresh clothes and Alice should be in a sun dress so she can shed it easily if needed."
"The need for fresh clothes often happens with juicy burgers and lots of ketchup."
"We have time?"
"Yes. The Burger Doodle gets people through the line very quickly. Get them clean to your public standards and we'll load up and go."
"Jack, seven of us will fit in the van so I'll drive to the hospital."
"Thanks, Leanne."
"I'll go crank the van and turn on the air. It's been sitting in the sun for a while."
"Then we run them through washing faces and changing clothes and we'll be ready to go in ten minutes or less."
---
"What's a 'creamery'?"
"Sarah, the Loblolly Creamery is an ice cream palace."
"Palace?"
"They do things with ice cream you've probably never thought of."
"Can we go there?"
"Not now. Maybe after supper."
---
"Do we hafta go in?"
"Yes, Alice. We go in and the nurses will check you over and let us know anything special we should do before you have surgery tomorrow."
"But I don't wanna have surgery!"
"In my lap, Alice. Do you not want to get better or are you just scared?"
"Scared!"
"Then I'll hold your hand as long as they'll let me. If they need both your hands, I'll hold your big toe."
"You're silly!"
"You're smiling."
"And you, sir, are the most reassuring parent I've seen in weeks. I'm Nurse Barton and I think Alice is here so Dr. Woodruff can make her better tomorrow."
"That's why we're here."
"Alice, your Daddy can stay with you for all we do today. He can only stay with you in the morning until the medicine puts you to sleep."
"If I'm asleep, I won't know if he's there or not."
"Very good, smart girl. If you'll follow me back to the test area?"
"Carry me, Daddy?"
"I think you can walk that far. I will hold your hand."
"OK."
---
"Momma, I got a pink princess bandage!"
"You didn't cry when they took the blood?"
"Daddy was holding my hand."
"That usually helps. Her status, Jack?"
"Everything is fine. Here's the list of Do and Don't before surgery. The biggest thing is no food after midnight and only water or apple juice until two hours before surgery. She's to be at surgery check in at 5:30AM."
"Leanne can stay with the others while we bring Alice here and we'll call Leanne with updates as we get them."
"That will work."
"What about sibling visitation?"
"No one under ten the day of surgery. All ages the next day but with whatever time limits the surgeon orders. The nurse said Dr. Woodruff usually limits it to two siblings at a time, no more than 15 minutes per visit and only with an adult in the room."
"That's reasonable. Alice may not feel up to company the first day."
"True. We should bring a favorite book or two in case she wants some familiar reassurance."
"And her bear."
"Absolutely."
---
"Can we get ice cream now?"
"Yes. I will limit all of you to a small serving as this is very rich ice cream and that may be all you can manage."
"They got sprinkles!"
"And M&Ms!"
"And peanuts!"
"And cherries!"
"Not to mention 23 flavors and more than 1,000 combinations. Jack, limit them to flavors they've had before and no more than two toppings."
"And you want mint chocolate chip with sprinkles?"
"How'd you know that?"
"You showed me some pictures of you out with friends and that's what your bowl looks like in the picture."
"You're good!"
"I've had a lot of practice."
---
"Here, Momma. You can finish it. I'm full."
"Me too!"
"Only Alice and Lisa?"
"I listened to what Daddy got and I did the same - simple ice cream and one topping. It's really good and I only got two bites to go."
"Me too, Sarah. I got three bites left."
"How was your rum raisin, Jack?"
"Excellent. Just enough peanuts for the salty to give some flavor contrast."
"I'm done!"
"Me too!"
"Then back to where we're staying and plan on an early bedtime because your Momma, Alice and I will be getting up very early to get Alice to the hospital by 5:30AM."
"So no watching the late movie tonight?"
"And probably not any other night while we're here."
---
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Post by 9idrr on Sept 30, 2018 20:18:07 GMT -6
Thanks, sir, and please feel free to continue.
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Post by udwe on Sept 30, 2018 20:37:53 GMT -6
This is SUCH a good story, thank you!
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Post by texican on Sept 30, 2018 20:39:18 GMT -6
PP2,
Thanks for the Sunday chapter....
Texican....
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Post by gipsy on Oct 1, 2018 9:01:58 GMT -6
A great update
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 7, 2018 16:05:52 GMT -6
Chapter 14 - Monday, 21 June. 5:00AM
"Momma, I'm hungry!"
"Sorry, Alice. The doctor said no food after 10PM last night and only water and apple juice until two hours before surgery. You had the apple juice an hour ago and now you must wait."
"Why?"
"Because the medicine they use to put you to sleep so it won't hurt when surgeon cuts out the tumor can also make you nauseated."
"I'll puke like when we all had the flu?"
"Exactly."
"OK, but they better have PB&J or chicken noodle soup with grilled cheese for lunch!"
"We can ask what they'll bring you when it's OK for you to eat."
---
"I'm looking for Miss Alice Jenkins."
"I'm Alice."
"Then this wrist band and this little cup are for you."
"I get finally something to drink?"
"Yes. This will make you a little sleepy and you won't notice much when I put this needle in your arm so we can put you to sleep for surgery."
"Does it taste bad?"
"I've never tasted it because it's just for kids. You try it and tell me how it tastes."
"OK."
[Slurp.]
"Mostly sweet. I'm gettin' slee..."
"That fast?"
"Yes, but it only lasts a few minutes. Just long enough to get the IV port in her arm and taped securely. She's already beginning to stir."
"You did good! I didn't feel anything when you stuck my arm."
"How do you know I stuck you?"
"There an ivy thing like Grandpa Walter had when he got shot. But that kinda ivy isn't green."
"Shot?"
"He's the Sheriff and was shot when he interrupted an armed robbery and attempted kidnapping..."
"And Daddy chased the bad guy 'cause his truck is really fast!"
"Chasing bad guys?"
"I'm a Deputy."
"That makes more sense and I'll guess Grandpa has been shot before because Alice sounded concerned about him but not terrified."
"The girls got to see him as soon as he was up to having company so they could get hugs and know that he would be OK."
"No wonder she's more curious than scared today. Most kids her age don't have a grandfather getting shot in the line of duty. The IV sedative has taken effect as Alice doesn't respond when I pinch her fingernail. Do you know where the Neurosurgery Waiting Room is located?"
"We do."
"I'll be out with status reports as the surgery progresses. Should be less than an hour until the first report."
"We'll be there."
---
"Mrs. Jackson?"
"Yes, Dr. Woodruff?"
"The surgery went very well. We were able to remove the tumor exactly as I explained to you earlier with the CAT scan images. Be aware that Alice may have some short term memory loss. It could involve missing hours or days but probably not weeks. She may or may not recover those memories."
"Thank you, Dr. Woodruff. We're glad that Alice was in such capable hands."
Ring!
'This is Leanne. Is Alice OK?'
'We just spoke with the doctor. She said surgery went exactly as planned and Alice should be out of Recovery in an hour or two. I'll let you know when we hear something more.'
'I'll tell the girls.'
'Bye.'
'Bye.'
"Tell us what, Grandma?"
"Girls, the surgery went as planned and Alice is in Recovery. Your Momma will call again when they hear more."
"Can we see her?"
"They don't allow kids to visit the day of surgery but you can get a short visit tomorrow. Their rule is no more than two kids at a time so two and then one unless you all visit one at a time."
"Can we make 'Get Well' cards for her and a 'Thank You' card for the doctor for fixing Alice?"
"Yes, Marie. Let me get that tote out of the van and you can use the table here."
"Yes!"
---
"Momma. he sounds nice but who is he?"
"Alice, you said that about him the first time you met him."
"I met him before?"
"Yes. The doctor said you might not remember some things. Do you remember this picture?"
"We're all in dresses that zip in the back. We only do that for special stuff."
"And this time you got a neck kiss to go with the zip up."
"Zipper… Neck ki... Hi, new Daddy!"
"Hello, daughter."
"I like 'daughter'!"
---
"Explain this to me again, Mrs. Jackson?"
"Alice didn't recognize Jack. I showed her the picture from the day he married me and adopted them."
"And?"
"Alice recognized the 'dressy' dresses that zipped in the back and I told her that she got a neck kiss to go with that zip up. She connected the neck kiss to her new Daddy."
"Most unusual speed of memory recovery but she was also clear of the anesthesia's effects in Recovery much faster than usual. Perhaps she's a genius just looking for her niche?"
"Perhaps."
"I've mentioned all the things you should watch for during healing and this is the paper copy of possible problems with the proper response to each problem. Other than keeping her in bed the recommended time, I don't foresee any problems."
"Maybe if Jack sits on her?"
"That might be an option."
---
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Post by 9idrr on Oct 7, 2018 19:48:31 GMT -6
Nice treat to find on a Sunday, sir. Now, with tomorrow bein' a holiday 'n' all, can we expect another one?
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Post by texican on Oct 7, 2018 21:01:41 GMT -6
PP2,
Thanks for the chapter...
Alice will be fine and growing like a weed....
Now, will her mental capabilities start to emerge?.?.?.?
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 7, 2018 21:55:30 GMT -6
Having gone to bed the other night and had my muse visit and keep me awake for hours, I finally got up and spent a couple hours at the keyboard - but her contribution is more than a week out in story time :-( But I do have another chapter finished in current story time. However, the next time the "MOAR" hounds are released in less than 4 hours, I'll give serious consideration to sending the Rottweilers after them...
Chapter 15 - Tuesday, 22 June
"There ain't nothing on TV and we can't be on the swings in the rain. I'm bored!"
"Sarah, your Momma said you wanted something embroidered on your denim shirt…"
"'Grease Monkey', 'cause that's what Daddy calls me when I work on the truck with him."
"Your Momma also packed some sample fabric, some embroidery thread, scissors, needles and thimbles. I'll teach you some stitches that might work for putting a name on cloth and you can practice on the sample fabric. When you've learned to do cross stitch and satin stitch, I'll have you draw what you want on paper and then we can work out the best stitches and colors for what you want to do…"
"Me too!"
"And me!"
"All of you can have material to work with. Remember that the needles are sharp. The scissors don't have points because you'll only be cutting thread and maybe some material. The thimbles are something you've seen me using before but I have no idea where Sally found these little ones…"
"She said her Grandma gave them to her."
"We'll start with the basics of threading a needle. First, we cut off a length of thread…"
"How long?"
"Only as long as the distance from your wrist to your elbow for learning. Much longer than that and you'll have difficulty with it getting caught and kinked."
---
"Does this look OK, Grandma?"
"Sarah, the questions are 'Does it look OK to you?' and 'Do you want to share it with everyone when you're wearing it?'"
"So the letters should be a different color than the fabric and they should look more like letters than chicken feet?"
"Good answer."
---
"Grandma, can we see Alice today?"
"After lunch, Lisa."
"Can we eat now?"
"Would you like PB&J with a glass of milk?"
"I didn't see that on any of the menus in the book by the TV."
"Not on a menu, Sarah. In the small fridge. They were in the cooler in the van."
"Your PB&J with raspberry jelly and Nutella! Yummy!"
"Me too!"
"Me!"
---
"Let me wash faces and get the jelly off Lisa's chest…"
"That's what Momma said the last time we had PB&J!"
"Maybe we should cut the sandwiches in half for Lisa so she doesn't try to bite through the middle all the way across the sandwich?"
"Catty-cornered?"
"Marie, the proper word is 'diagonal', spelled d-i-a-g-o-n-a-l…"
"Like 'Diagon Alley' in 'Harry Potter'?"
"Sarah, I think that's where J. K. Rowling got the idea."
"Who?"
"The author of that series."
"Oh. I should remember that."
"Yes, you should. You're all clean. Clothes on for visiting."
"Yes, Grandma. What's in the bag?"
"The cards you made for Alice. And the other PB&J in case they didn't bring her the one she asked for yesterday."
"We walk?"
"No, Sarah. We take the van. We might walk another time when it's not raining."
"Duh!"
"I agree with your 'Duh'. You were the first to notice the rain today."
---
"We can't all go in together?"
"No, Lisa. The doctor set limits on visits so we do what she said…"
"The doctor's a girl?"
"A girl who's all grown up, Sarah."
"Daddy really meant it when he told me I could be anything I was willing to work for?"
"Yes. Dr. Woodruff is an example that girls can do just about anything. Back to the visits. Each of you gets ten minutes. Take your card in with you. Your Daddy can pick you up if Alice wants a hug. Remember that she has an IV line and some wires to machines that monitor how she's doing so you will need help to give her a hug. I'll be out here. When all of you have visited with Alice, I'll get ten minutes and your Momma or Daddy will stay with you here in the sun room. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Grandma."
"Yes, Grandma."
"Yes, Grandma."
"Sarah, Marie. The room is just two doors down. You stay here while I walk Lisa there. I don't think she can open the door by herself or knock hard enough to be heard so I'll help her with that. Remember, no 'Ride 'em, Cowboy!' in the hallway."
"I remember."
"I thought you would, Sarah."
---
"Is she really OK, Momma? She's the same color as the sheet!"
"Look closer, Lisa. The sheets have little pink princesses on them."
"They really do treat you good here!"
"Huh? What?"
"I come to visit and you just snore at me. Hi, little sister."
"Little by two minutes! You say that again and I'll…"
"Alice!"
"Yes, Momma?"
"Lisa was checking that you remembered her. Remember what your Daddy told you this morning?"
"That I didn't remember him until you showed me the picture."
"Correct."
"I forgive her this time."
"I made you a Get Well card."
"Daddy, it has princesses and buttercups and puppies and roses!"
"Lots of your favorite things."
"Un huh! Thank you, Lisa."
"You're welcome. Can I hug you?"
"Daddy, can you help her with the wires?"
"Yes. Lisa in this arm. The other arm holds back wires and tubing. Get your hug."
"Got it. Marie and Sarah and Grandma Leanne are waiting in the room at the end of the hall. It's Marie's turn. I'll go tell her."
"Bye, Lisa."
"Bye, little sister."
"I'm gonna get you!"
---
knock! knock!
"Enter."
"How's my patient today?"
"I'm tired."
"I'm not surprised, Alice. You enjoyed having your sisters and your Grandma here but you burned a lot of energy just sitting up to look at cards and get hugs. However, you did eat a lot more of your Grandma's special PB&J than you have of any hospital food so I think the visits were good for you. Mrs. Jackson, could I get the recipe for that PB&J? I'd like to have the kitchen add it to the kids' menu. Any food that a kid finds that good on the day after surgery means they'll actually eat enough that we won't need to continue the glucose IV."
"I'll ask Leanne. Although you may have difficulty in reproducing her homemade raspberry jelly because she uses fresh honey for the sweetener."
"Now I'm hungry for one of her PB&J's! We'll have to see what the kitchen can come up with. I'll also have to ask whether I can be one of their test subjects."
"You're silly!"
"No, Alice. I just like PB&J."
"Me too!"
"I can tell. Your family loves you very much and is taking very good care of you. You might - remember that I said 'might' - get to go home as early as Friday if you can travel lying down."
"The seats in Daddy's truck make a bed."
"I'll keep that in mind."
---
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Post by texican on Oct 8, 2018 16:10:06 GMT -6
Alice is healing....
Texican....
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