The Neverending Story

Free Republic | 3/24/01 | The NES Crew

[malakhi]

The Neverending Story

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

After a nine month hiatus, The Neverending Story, the granddaddy of daily threads, has returned to Free Republic. Originally begun on March 24, 2001, as a religious discussion thread, the NES evolved over time into a daily thread spanning a wide variety of topics. The new and improved Neverending Story will feature conversation on religion, politics, culture, current events, business, sports, family, hobbies, general fellowship and more. We welcome you to hang your hat in our little corner of FR. We ask you to abide by the FR posting rules and, even in the midst of serious debate, to keep the discussion friendly and respectful. Those who wish to "duke it out" are asked to take it over to the Smoky Backroom. I placed this thread in "General/Chat" for a reason, so play nice and have fun! :o)

[OLD REGGIE]

What's going on? You guys all snowed in or what?

I don't know about malakhi but we didn't get hit as hard as forecasted. Still, there was a foot or so of light, fluffy snow.

On Monday I spent most of the afternoon in the Doctors office - over an hour in the waiting room & 20 minutes in the office. :-)

My HDTV set was scheduled for delivery and installation yesterday so I was up bright and early clearing the driveway. Boy am I glad I didn't take it on as a DYI project. The few hundred dollars to a professional is money well spent.

The cable company is due tomorrow to upgrade my service. At the moment I am viewing in standard mode only but it is still a great picture.

The Patriots SuperBowl DVD was released for sale yesterday and, just like a 12 year old, I rushed to the store to buy it. Wow! Poor Big Ben. It looks much worse now than it did the first time around.

Later on I'll hook my computer up to it just to see what a 43" monitor looks like. If I decide to keep it as my display I'll have to find an "elegant" soloution to the cableing situation.

Oh, we got another 2"-3" of snow last night. I may just wait to see if God will send enough sun to take care of it. :-)

[SoothingDave]

Still, there was a foot or so of light, fluffy snow.

We got about 6 inches or so from early Monday morning till this morning. Maybe another inch or so today. It's getting annoying.

Last Thursday we got about 5.5 inches in one day, but that melted over the weekend. If it snows any more, my driveway might get too narrow.

SD

[malakhi]

Sounds like fun! (Well, except for the snow.)

On Monday, I became officially fed up with winter. It had lost its charm by the end of January, but I managed to tolerate it for the past four weeks. The extra snow we got on Monday really did it for me, though. I don't mind the cold, even though we've been well below average this week -- more like January than early March. But the few inches of snow every few days really gets old. I'm ready for spring!

[SoothingDave]

On Monday, I became officially fed up with winter.

Next weekend we're taking Sarah up near Erie, to an indoor waterpark resort. It's 84 degrees all the time. Pretty good package. 2 days at the park, 1 night lodging plus some extras including tokens for the arcade and $30 for dinner at some local restaurants for under $200.

SD

[malakhi]

That sounds nice. I think there's a place in Green Bay like that. Would be a good thing to do with the kids some weekend in March.

[ET(end tyranny)]

We're all sick and tired of the snow and the cold here, too!

We heard back about the National Geographic Bee and our son made it to the state level where the top 100 students from the state compete to see who gets to go compete in Washington D.C. at the National level.

[ET(end tyranny)]

That sounds like fun and the price does seem reasonable. :)

[SoothingDave]

That sounds nice. I think there's a place in Green Bay like that. Would be a good thing to do with the kids some weekend in March.

The ironic thing is they upgraded us to a room with a Jacuzzi. At a waterpark.

SD

[OLD REGGIE]

Sounds like fun! (Well, except for the snow.)

I just got back from the "Clock Doctor". I paid him $145 to clean the movement and it only runs for 4-5 days now. He is already making excuses concerning a "tired" main spring which he may have to replace not covered under his one year warranty.

At the moment I am working with a 43" monitor @ 1024X768 resoloution. It is fun but its' location requires me to turn my head. I'll be returning to my 17" LCD @ 800X600 until I can afford a 21" monitor. End of experiment for the time being! Maybe I'll pick up an AB switch so I can switch between monitors?

[SoothingDave]

I just got back from the "Clock Doctor". I paid him $145 to clean the movement and it only runs for 4-5 days now. He is already making excuses concerning a "tired" main spring which he may have to replace not covered under his one year warranty.

I'm guessing you have some sort of mechanical clock?

There was an article in the Sunday paper about how there is a drastic shortage of watch repairmen. People spend beaucoup bucks for a fancy Swiss timepiece and there's no one around to fix it. And those who can are nearing retirement.

The Swiss are running schools here to train people so their reputation for quality doesn't go out the window.

SD

[OLD REGGIE]

I'm guessing you have some sort of mechanical clock?

Yes, it's a Howard Miller Mantle Clock. It is a beautiful clock with nice sounding chimes. I love the old fashioned mechanicals but it is very difficult to find anyone qualified to repair it.

[malakhi]

We heard back about the National Geographic Bee and our son made it to the state level where the top 100 students from the state compete to see who gets to go compete in Washington D.C. at the National level.

Outstanding. Congratulations!

[SoothingDave]

Yes, it's a Howard Miller Mantle Clock. It is a beautiful clock with nice sounding chimes. I love the old fashioned mechanicals but it is very difficult to find anyone qualified to repair it.

I've got a basic-model Bavarian cukoo clock I actually bought in Germany. I've been meaning to get it out. It never made it up when we bought the house cause it was acting up. Then we got the cat, and the baby, and...

Sarah would probably get a kick out of it, and the cat's old enough to probably not bother the chains too much. I'll have to check it out.

SD

[ET(end tyranny)]

Outstanding. Congratulations!

Thanks, I'm a little nervous, but I think I'll do pretty good. ET's son

[SoothingDave]

Thanks, I'm a little nervous, but I think I'll do pretty good.

Pretty well. Good thing it's not a Grammar Bee. ;-)

Congratulations and good luck.

SD

[malakhi]

Pednat. ;o)

[OLD REGGIE]

Pednat. ;o)

Yes, but justified in this instance. We can't let the young'uns have a free hand in changing our language usage. :-)

It still grates on my ears when I hear someone say something like "It's so fun."

That wasn't proper in my day. :-)

[SoothingDave]

Yes, but justified in this instance. We can't let the young'uns have a free hand in changing our language usage. :-)

Hopefully, people will stop starting sentences with unattached adverbs. ;-)

SD

[ET(end tyranny)]

Pretty well. Good thing it's not a Grammar Bee. ;-)

Dave, I'm going to make sure he sees your post when he gets home. I saw that and cringed. Grammar wasn't my strongest subject in school, but I did catch that 'good' which should have been 'well'.

I don't know if I should be concerned or not. Here's the deal. His school is what they call an under achieving school. It was listed as such this year. I asked about this last year because the preceding year it was also an under achieving school. The assistant principal said they weren't anymore (which would be for last year, but I don't know for sure how to verify it). Frankly I don't trust her. I found out about their poor record last year while looking at the newspaper on line and that's how I found out this year as well. (We don't get the paper)

I find quite often I have to correct his grammar at home. I sometimes catch myself using poor grammar and instantly correct it. I'm just not sure how concerned I should be about grammar problem and the 'under achieving school' bit.

He's a smart kid and in the honor society, but I have to wonder, considering this 'under achieving school' business, just where he is academically.

[SoothingDave]

He's a smart kid and in the honor society, but I have to wonder, considering this 'under achieving school' business, just where he is academically.

Most people don't exercise strict grammar online. I know I always don't. As long as he's got a grasp of formal writing as opposed to informal, I think you're ok.

SD