I'm kinda back..
-
Topic author - I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:18 am
- Location: Woodstock, Ontario
I'm kinda back..
I haven't been around the site much since around Aug07 when my wife suffered a ruptured brain anyuersm. She's slowly coming along and although it's been a long road so far we still have quite a way to go. We don't see a return to work even considerable until at the very earliest Sep08.
As some of you know, when this happened I listed both of my vans .. the 99 LS and the 94 LT for sale, deciding to keep whichever one didn't sell first. The 94 sold, it was the sexiest IMHO.. Thus ending my longterm goal of doing a V8 in it. I talked to the girl that bought it for her family hauler and she's loving it and has had no problems other than a burnt headlight since she bought it in Sep07. I was kind of hoping she decided to get rid of it and I could buy it back .. hehe
I've since used some of the money to buy my mom a mint 92 New Yorker that I got all safetied and emissions tested for a trade deal for her 1988 Delta 88 for my son to learn to drive on (he turned 16 on Dec18th). It's low mile and decent shape .. just old. After she drove the New Yorker she loved it's luxury level but decided she was uncomfortable with all the power options she called 'gadgets' (she's 75 yrs old). So, I listed it for sale and made a little money on it.
Enter Jen (my wife) saying we should get something fun. On somewhat of a lark, I ended up bidding on and winning a well cared for, low mile, never seen snow, custom lowered Mazda B2200 pickup from North Carolina. After getting it here (Ontario, Canada) and on the road within a couple of weeks we found out that my wife was going to have to wait for disability to kick in (from 4 - 6mths .. yikes!) ... I decided to list the newly aquired mazda for sale..... another 'wasn't meant to be' thing. I wasn't really disappointed, where there was one diamond there will be more. Besides, having food on the table and a roof over our heads was a tad more important.
After plenty of tire kickers I decided to replace the huge (for a mazda) 18" wheels and tires with stock 15" chrome ones.. I listed the wheels and tires for sale. SOLD! Then I dropped the asking price and within a month it found a buyer looking for just such a custom ride .. SOLD! Let me tell you, winter in Ontario is NOT the right time to sell a lowered, custom painted, never seen a winter, vehicle.. LOL [-X
I made a bit of profit on that one too. This reselling gig is kind of fun and mildly profitable to boot.
The day after I dropped the mazda off to it's new happy owner don't we get a letter saying her disability has been approved and will be on it's way soon. =D>
So, now I have the all money from the initial sale of the 94, the profits from the New Yorker and B2200 covered our regular monthly expenses from Dec 1 - now as well as all of Christmas and my sons birthday. Very cool how everything works out.
We talked about shopping around for another vehicle even though we don't need one yet and she's now kind of stuck on 98-01 Cadillac STS, DTS or DHS. They have horrible resale value which is good for me and post 96 are actually a decent, reliable (not to mention sexy) car. I'm secretly shopping around for another astro/safari though shhhhhh
I found one that I love but, the ebay seller in Mississippi won't drop his price and has relisted the thing around 10 - 15 times that I've followed it.. maybe more. ](*,)
Anyone live in or around Jackson, Mississippi that can go talk some sense into this guy?? LOL
anyhow.. it's cool to be back... I missed all you guys
As some of you know, when this happened I listed both of my vans .. the 99 LS and the 94 LT for sale, deciding to keep whichever one didn't sell first. The 94 sold, it was the sexiest IMHO.. Thus ending my longterm goal of doing a V8 in it. I talked to the girl that bought it for her family hauler and she's loving it and has had no problems other than a burnt headlight since she bought it in Sep07. I was kind of hoping she decided to get rid of it and I could buy it back .. hehe
I've since used some of the money to buy my mom a mint 92 New Yorker that I got all safetied and emissions tested for a trade deal for her 1988 Delta 88 for my son to learn to drive on (he turned 16 on Dec18th). It's low mile and decent shape .. just old. After she drove the New Yorker she loved it's luxury level but decided she was uncomfortable with all the power options she called 'gadgets' (she's 75 yrs old). So, I listed it for sale and made a little money on it.
Enter Jen (my wife) saying we should get something fun. On somewhat of a lark, I ended up bidding on and winning a well cared for, low mile, never seen snow, custom lowered Mazda B2200 pickup from North Carolina. After getting it here (Ontario, Canada) and on the road within a couple of weeks we found out that my wife was going to have to wait for disability to kick in (from 4 - 6mths .. yikes!) ... I decided to list the newly aquired mazda for sale..... another 'wasn't meant to be' thing. I wasn't really disappointed, where there was one diamond there will be more. Besides, having food on the table and a roof over our heads was a tad more important.
After plenty of tire kickers I decided to replace the huge (for a mazda) 18" wheels and tires with stock 15" chrome ones.. I listed the wheels and tires for sale. SOLD! Then I dropped the asking price and within a month it found a buyer looking for just such a custom ride .. SOLD! Let me tell you, winter in Ontario is NOT the right time to sell a lowered, custom painted, never seen a winter, vehicle.. LOL [-X
I made a bit of profit on that one too. This reselling gig is kind of fun and mildly profitable to boot.
The day after I dropped the mazda off to it's new happy owner don't we get a letter saying her disability has been approved and will be on it's way soon. =D>
So, now I have the all money from the initial sale of the 94, the profits from the New Yorker and B2200 covered our regular monthly expenses from Dec 1 - now as well as all of Christmas and my sons birthday. Very cool how everything works out.
We talked about shopping around for another vehicle even though we don't need one yet and she's now kind of stuck on 98-01 Cadillac STS, DTS or DHS. They have horrible resale value which is good for me and post 96 are actually a decent, reliable (not to mention sexy) car. I'm secretly shopping around for another astro/safari though shhhhhh
I found one that I love but, the ebay seller in Mississippi won't drop his price and has relisted the thing around 10 - 15 times that I've followed it.. maybe more. ](*,)
Anyone live in or around Jackson, Mississippi that can go talk some sense into this guy?? LOL
anyhow.. it's cool to be back... I missed all you guys
Last edited by crash on Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:23 am, edited 2 times in total.
Rob
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
Re: I kinda back..
Hey Rob good to hear from you,glad Jen is doing better hope she continues and gets her health back.Sounds like you've been a busy guy with the buyin and sellin,and just so you don't think i've forgotten about the wheels,I should be good in the next few weeks. Keith
-
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1354
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:41 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Contact:
Re: I kinda back..
Man, I had no idea that you & the wifey'd been going thru this ordeal. I'm very happy she's doing better. If there's anything I can do to help cheer her up (I can email you some nudie pics of myself in a very "compromising" position with a goat, for example), please lemme know...
"Just keep swimming..."
97' 4wd Safari
ZZ 502 Ramjet
4"L"80E/NP241C
Ford 9"
Kinky is using a feather.
Perverted is using the whole chicken.
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither
inclined nor determined to commit crimes".
- Thomas Jefferson
97' 4wd Safari
ZZ 502 Ramjet
4"L"80E/NP241C
Ford 9"
Kinky is using a feather.
Perverted is using the whole chicken.
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither
inclined nor determined to commit crimes".
- Thomas Jefferson
-
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:50 pm
- Location: Rochester,NY
Re: I kinda back..
Rob,
Good to hear your doing better.I too didn't know about the problems you where having.Hope it continues to improve for you and yours,
Gary
Good to hear your doing better.I too didn't know about the problems you where having.Hope it continues to improve for you and yours,
Gary
Call me Gary
1985 Astro-"Ole Yellar"
1994 LT Astro
1981 Winnebago-"Baby"
12'dual axle enclosed trailer
The vendor trailer
Lead with my heart & take the hits because of it like a man.
1985 Astro-"Ole Yellar"
1994 LT Astro
1981 Winnebago-"Baby"
12'dual axle enclosed trailer
The vendor trailer
Lead with my heart & take the hits because of it like a man.
-
Topic author - I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:18 am
- Location: Woodstock, Ontario
Re: I'm kinda back..
thanks guys... much appreciated. I don't really recall .. I'm burned out to an extent so my memory is patchy at best. I guess I may have only mentioned it to a couple of members in a pm or something... the last 6mths have been a blur of sorts. I do well to get up and showered for work everyday.. LOL
Rob
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
-
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 2153
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:45 pm
- Location: Selah, WA
- Contact:
Re: I kinda back..
Yeah, what it said.peter wrote:Man, I had no idea that you & the wifey'd been going thru this ordeal. I'm very happy she's doing better.
Sorry this happened to your family.
Matt
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!
No new projects until the current ones are done!
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!
No new projects until the current ones are done!
-
- I sleep in my van
- Posts: 317
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:07 am
- Location: Mississauga, On CANADA
Re: I'm kinda back..
Good to hear you guys made it threw the tough times, cant wait to see what you get next.... watch out for those Caddy's parts are redicuously expensive...
'98 Mercedes E300 Turbo Diesel
'89 4Runner SAS'ed, 38.5SX's, Mercedes OM617 Turbo Diesel
'98 Suburban K2500, Cummins 24Valve, 5spd 4x4
'03 VW Jetta TDI
'78 Vette 350 4spd
www.vehiclefleetsolutions.ca
'89 4Runner SAS'ed, 38.5SX's, Mercedes OM617 Turbo Diesel
'98 Suburban K2500, Cummins 24Valve, 5spd 4x4
'03 VW Jetta TDI
'78 Vette 350 4spd
www.vehiclefleetsolutions.ca
-
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1290
- Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:14 pm
- Location: Exeter ON
- Contact:
Re: I'm kinda back..
I didn't know you were going through this. I'm glad that your wife is getting better. I hope that things start to return to something resembling normal soon.
"I have a torque wrench and I am not afraid to use it."
Jim
1997 GMC Safari RWD, Power Windows and Locks, 7 passenger, a/c, rear heat
http://rileysowner.blogspot.com/
Jim
1997 GMC Safari RWD, Power Windows and Locks, 7 passenger, a/c, rear heat
http://rileysowner.blogspot.com/
-
Topic author - I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:18 am
- Location: Woodstock, Ontario
Re: I'm kinda back..
you forget I work at a parts store Tristan.. everything is actually pretty reasonable... .. unlike a front hub assembly on an AWD AstroSomeone wrote:.... watch out for those Caddy's parts are redicuously expensive...
toughest thing to do is a starter... need to remove the intake to do the starter ... can't be any worse than the plugs on our vans
Rob
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
Re: I'm kinda back..
Hey it's good to hear from you dude. I've been wondering what became of you as of late. I'm glad to hear Jen is doing better and that everything is starting to work out for you.
did you ever sell the 99?? I know you were putting it up and seriously considering selling it due to an offer you got.
did you ever sell the 99?? I know you were putting it up and seriously considering selling it due to an offer you got.
98 Safari RWD. Stock.
Do you smell what Barack is cookin ?!?!
Do you smell what Barack is cookin ?!?!
-
Topic author - I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:18 am
- Location: Woodstock, Ontario
Re: I'm kinda back..
hey potskie.. actually the 99 I kept. Once the 94 sold we still needed one vehicle. We'll see what plays out over the next couple of weeks. If I can get that seller of the one in Mississippi to flex some on their price I'll probably be listing my 99 and flying south to get that one.
Let me tell y'all .. this is one experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone. The amount of stress has been huge at times. The first month when Jen was in the hospital working all day and driving back and forth to spend time at her bedside was very difficult. I thought it would only get better from there. Once she got home was when the real work began though. Not having a fulltime nursing staff around to watch her and tend to her needs was really hard. Having to buy a cane and a rent a bathchair from Red Cross, having to be there to help her bathe and get dressed was pretty hard. Man, she's only 40.
Thankfully, she's able to do that for the most part on her own now. She is just very tired all the time and like I mentioned.. the short term memory is non-exsistent. She jokes about the memory loss saying "OMG .. I've become a man".. LOL .. ain't that the truth?
We just take it one day at a time and if we get through that one, we're doing well. 2008 is going to be a far better year than the end of 2007
again guys, thanks for all your kind words.
Let me tell y'all .. this is one experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone. The amount of stress has been huge at times. The first month when Jen was in the hospital working all day and driving back and forth to spend time at her bedside was very difficult. I thought it would only get better from there. Once she got home was when the real work began though. Not having a fulltime nursing staff around to watch her and tend to her needs was really hard. Having to buy a cane and a rent a bathchair from Red Cross, having to be there to help her bathe and get dressed was pretty hard. Man, she's only 40.
Thankfully, she's able to do that for the most part on her own now. She is just very tired all the time and like I mentioned.. the short term memory is non-exsistent. She jokes about the memory loss saying "OMG .. I've become a man".. LOL .. ain't that the truth?
We just take it one day at a time and if we get through that one, we're doing well. 2008 is going to be a far better year than the end of 2007
again guys, thanks for all your kind words.
Rob
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
-
- Retired
-
I finally get the smurf thing
- Posts: 193
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:53 pm
- Location: Cleveland,Ohio
Re: I'm kinda back..
Glad to hear your wife is doing better and hope and pray she continues on a very fast and sucessfull 110% recovery.
ISN'T HE SO SEXY IN HIS PRETTY WHITE DRESS???LOL
-
- I sleep in my van
- Posts: 314
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:53 pm
- Location: The Swamplands of FL
Re: I'm kinda back..
Hi Mr Crash,
Holy cow, you guys have been through a very difficult time. You're a good guy Mr Crash. You did what you had to do. Glad to hear the wife's getting better. Prayers go out for a speedy recovery.
Holy cow, you guys have been through a very difficult time. You're a good guy Mr Crash. You did what you had to do. Glad to hear the wife's getting better. Prayers go out for a speedy recovery.
The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.
~Ayn Rand
'96 RWD Astro. 155K
~Ayn Rand
'96 RWD Astro. 155K
Re: I'm kinda back..
Man, I had no idea that you & the wife had been going thru this. I'm very happy she's doing better.
1991 Chevy Astro Extended- Stock 4.3
Re: I'm kinda back..
Hi Crash!
You probably do not know me but that is OK. Just read your post - Thank you for sharing. I am glad the things happening are keeping you and your wife happy and busy Keep at it, and I vote for the Cadillac!
God Bless - keeping you wife and family in my prayers.
97' Safari AWD SLT - Nicknamed "Princess" cause of all the TLC she begs from me!
Location: West Coast, B.C., Canada eh?
Photos and Specs of "Princess"
Location: West Coast, B.C., Canada eh?
Photos and Specs of "Princess"