other dog

This is true. The law here -and I guess it's everywhere, I don't know- says that a logging crew working in the woods have to report any leak or spillage of fuel, oil, or hydraulic fluid, no matter how small. I'm sure most don't- I wouldn't. But every time they blow a hydraulic hose and lose ten drops of oil replacing it they're supposed to report it?..how much would the fine be if they got caught not reporting it?..at least in the thousands of dollars probably. I remember when you'd change oil in the equipment in the woods and drain the old oil out right on the ground. And they can't even cross a creek anymore without a bridge, can't even muddy the water. I'm not sayin' it's right to drain your oil on the ground, but enough's enough- there's just one rule and regulation after another, each one more strict than the last, just like in trucking, and it never stops.

the word "website" is blue and underlined in my original post. Says "powered by text enhance" when I put the cursor on it and a box opens up with a link to another website...dammit!

Does Freightrain still drive a school bus? Does Randy and Spot still ride one?

My opinion is that greedy unions had a lot to do with it. But i've loaded at many union steel mills over the years, so I might be a little biased. But the union workers just wanted more, and more, and more benefits and wages for doing less, and less, and less. And not just steel workers, unions put many, many trucking companies right out of business too. Where can I get one of them flak jackets?

Nice stuff! I have the Classic Macks book, but not the others. I have "Big Rigs of the '50's" and "Big Rigs of the '60's" but not the '70's- I was kinda there..sort've. All I got was this, but at least it was a Mack lump of coal.

I noticed today certain words in any post are blue instead of black, regular words like "back", "money", "loan", "truck"- and when you put the cursor on it a link to another website will open- is everybody's like this, or should I do a virus scan right now? Doesn't really bother me, just hadn't been like that until today.

Here you go James!

Wow, it did work! Gee,thanks Ed- and Merry Christmas!

Well, i'm jest gonna try that to see iffen it really works...i'll be back.

Other Dog got a new dining facility- he look impressed,eh? Looks kinda like a bulldog on the box. Got a box of sweet potatoes from Ma and Dad yesterday- they're huge, like Bollweevil's. Probably get 2 pies out of 1 potato. I do not clean them with carb. cleaner, it's just for size comparison. Got these cayenne peppers they'd been saving for me too. Might try to make a little hot sauce. They were still on the plants, hanging in the shed to dry.

Yes, thank you, one of the best cards ever! http://www.chillybeach.com/root.html There used to be downloadable e-cards here, but I didn't see any today. The Christmas downloads are pretty funny though. Click on "webisodes" at the bottom, then "pg14" when the webisode opens, you'll see the Christmas ones on the list.

Yeah, that's a good one! I look forward to getting the magazines every other month. You might want to check out www.oldtimetrucks.org , their magazine is top notch too.

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just STOP!..don't do anything! not a Christmas picture, but pretty funny,eh?

I have these ornaments that I picked up at the flea market a few years ago. Amazingly, a whole dozen of them only cost 10 cents!

Contrary to what you all think, with me being as lazy as I am, I did more than lollygag around and drink beer today. I got the old stew pot out and made a batch of stew- but I did not wear my Mack apron. Or my chef's hat. I'm gonna deliver it to people tomorrow for Christmas. And not just because i'm cheap, it's good-and it's good for you, delicious and nutritious too. Lot of work actually- we processed a 5 lb. bag of taters, a 3lb. bag of onions, and cut up a whole sirloin tip into bite size pieces last night- like kibbles and bits. Put it in gallon ziplock bags and marinated it in worcestorshire sauce. This morning I put the beast, taters, and onions in a big pot on the stove. Then I got the stew pot out and boiled it out good before I started. Didn't really take long to make the stew with the head start on the raw ingredients, besides, I didn't want to put cold stuff in the already hot cast iron stew pot. Don't want to take a chance on cracking it. Then after it cooled a while we put it in canning jars for delivery. But there's still work to be done after that. I washed the pot out with the hose, then had to put water in it and build the fire back up. Boiled it out again, dumped it, dried it out over the fire, then reseasoned it with Crisco. I repeat this process every time I use it. I haven't even tasted the stew, but Jo said it was the best i've ever made- like I haven't heard that one before! My uncle used to say there's no such thing as a bad stew, some's just better than others.

just watch where you step.

Looks like he had it fixed.

I'd like to find this under the tree. Never know when you might need a generator.

More secret spy pictures...no names named, to protect me. Here's one from central Illinois- Some from southern Illinois- "hey y'all, look at my gift basket" "I'll go put it under the tree" Moving on , to somewhere in Texas... ...and in Gladys, Va. the lights are up outside We just have a small tree this year This must be from the north pole!

you're right- that is scary!

like this?

#17 In all, more than 56,000 manufacturing facilities in the United States have shut down since 2001. This used to be U.S. Steel, Homestead works. I've loaded steel there before, in the early '80's. Now you'd never know it was ever there except for the smokestacks they left, and there's a huge gantry crane over by the river, out of the picture.

Amen brothers (bulldog man), thank you very much indeed, and hope all you and yours have a merry Christmas and happy new year!

Finally got a picture of the billboard in Beckley.