The little Inn by the wayside

[Maz]

oh, and I wouldn't speak about comeback. I once visited this place daily, now I probably won't. It's more that I grew to kind of know you, and felt like belonging in a group here

Now I've changed. I do not miss being in a group. However I still do like you guys So I propably occasionally lurk here looking how you're doing And occasionally tell what's going on in my life.

[Railwaymodeler]

I pop in to see new posts far more than I actually post anything. This thing, not sure if anyone has heard of it, I think they call it "real life" has been interfering.

To bring everyone up to speed on the latest:

The state has required that Maria be re-instated at Pace for not less than two weeks, as part of the investigation, to determine, in part, what she is entitled to. Thankfully, she never left the transportation industry, so driving a transit bus is not going to be a problem. She starts the evaluation period tomorrow.

For those two weeks, she is still an employee of Mega Bus, but won't receive any pay from them. Also, she'll be staying at my place. That part I like.

She's due in February to have the baby. Her lease is also up on her apartment at the end of February. Originally we were going to move to Northern Wisconsin when her lease was up. Her landlord won't let her out of it before, without major cash penalties. Mine is much easier to work with! We were intent on getting married up North after we move.

This has all changed now.

I found out today from the landlord of my shop, that he is closing the building down and abandoning it at the end of January. He only collects $300 per month for me, for a large office suite in the building, and I am the only tenant in there. It makes no sense for him to keep the place a going concern. He's losing a LOT of money on the building.

Much of downtown Waukegan is up for grabs. Lots of empty storefront buildings. Now the idea is stay in Illinois longer, and move the computer business to a larger facility with more "street appeal". Really my shop has outgrown its office space, and there is not much signage indicating that a computer shop is in the otherwise empty office building it's at now.

The plan now is to stay through at least June or July, establish the new shop, then hand over control to a good friend that works for me there. The business will legally still be mine, and I will earn money from that location, even after moving North. When I get moved, I will establish a new location. Effectively I will have two stores!

[Zyx]

I did some winter cleaning to the forums. Cleaned out some cobwebs and fixed some typos in the forum descriptions.

If you suddenly find that you're not seeing forums you used to or can't do things you think you should, well, let me know.

[Chroelle]

Always good to hear from you guys.
Raillo I follow your story with much delight. I love "seeing" you so happy. (You werent some years ago).
And Maz - I know what you mean, I just always like hearing from you as well. It seems to be so far apart these days, but still I am glad to see that you are doing good.

[Zyx]

Okay, so at least Chroelle can still post... I must not have completely screwed all the permissions. =)

[eMTe]

You can also make global announcement from my contest thread - nobody has found it as yet.

For my part, Ill send pms to all active members - maybe it will help too. ^^

[Railwaymodeler]

Maria's first day back at Pace!

She'll be home around 6:30 this evening, I got dinner ready for her.

I was on her bus briefly today, didn't want to stay aboard too long in case management had spies about.

I tell you, though, the radios were full of chatter about "David and Goliath", and other drivers reporting where they say supervisor vans - apparently all supervisors were out and about today. Most of everyone sees this as the beginning of the end for the tyranny in management!

Bought her a bottle of her favorite bubblebath bubbles, so she can relax tonight too, and also got her a new bottle of perfume to celebrate this day.

[Chroelle]

I have an idea that you might be a somewhat above average boyfriend Raillo.
Dont show this thread to my wife...!

[Railwaymodeler]

Well, C, It took long enough to find a lady like her. Got to take very good care of her!

After today, it looks like our plan to move in February is not likely to work out: I spoke with the state investigator today. She told me that pending the successful civil prosecution of Pace and the management, a criminal case will likely be filed as well, holding management directly accountable for their actions.

A criminal case likely will not involve me much, if at all, but I refuse to move North without Maria. I simply will not go, and leave her behind, even for maybe a month at most! This is partly because by then she will have had the baby. I can't leave her behind for any length of time with our child!

Then, I looked at the new shop building today. It's an old building, with an empty apartment upstairs. I do not want to move into it, but a local politician that I am friends with, suggested maybe starting a youth program up there, centering around a model railroading club. Would be an after-school program for older kids, maybe ages 12-17.

If we do that, then there are major tax incentives to do so. These tax incentives would nearly cover the cost of renting the building.

I told the fellow, that I am fixing to move out of state in 2012, but have a few ideas who could run the club after I leave.

So much up in the air right now! 2012 looks like it will be a great year!

Maria is laying down in bed. She's been tiring out easily lately. She drives the bus all day, and that seems to make her a bit of a nervous wreck by the time she comes home. Being pregnant doesn't make it any easier! I've told her, and so have the other drivers, that we're all here for her to make this trial period as easy as possible. For me this means cooking for her in the evenings, and making her very comfortable at home.

[eMTe]

I was going to go and find new winter shoes (funny how you suddenly realize that your old ones came apart 10 months ago ), but I think Ill wait a bit longer. It's getting colder and colder, but winter (meant as snow) doesnt come, so there will be some time fot this right before Christmas. I have trekking shoes which are just perfect for wintertime, but they are constantly dirty and smelly, because I use them for trips, so I need one pair for everyday walking, besides the mountain ones hardly suit the coat.

I used to have several pairs of shoes for various seasons in the past, but ended up with shoes all over the flat squeezed into every hole and cabinet theyd fit. So now I prefer situation when I dont have any and must buy one. ^^

Oh, and there's another reason why I shouldnt buy them today - I just ate 0,5kg of rice with oriental sauce, so all my body needs at the moment is sitting by the computer and watching Poirot.

[Railwaymodeler]

Got a rather, interesting, question: Does anyone here have the old Bar thread from the original OG and OGC sites?

It is something that I would love to go re-read, and have Maria read too. Main reason I want her to read it, is so she can see my accounts of before we met and started dating, then the beginning of our relationship, as relayed to the old forum members.

Would make for an interesting trip to the past!

[Zyx]

You might want to try The Wayback Machine.

edit: a certain freeware site on November 2, 2007.
edit 2: we can go even further back, to August 28, 2006!

[Chroelle]

Cant say I dont post:

2006:
Users with most posts:
Chroelle 1345

2007:
Users with most posts:
Chroelle 4008

[eMTe]

How about a Future Machine?

[Pager]

Future Machine, eh...how's this?

2011:
Users with most posts:
Chroelle 9000

[eMTe]

This means 63 posts still to make. 7 posts a day. May be a little troublesome, considering that spamming forums is strictly forbidden.

[Pater Alf]

But isn't it the administrator who can define what is spam?

[Pager]

If that were the case he should be at 9000 in no time...

I smell a re-hashing of the gibberish bot coming along, and all its garglefarking wisdomationating.

[Railwaymodeler]

Got some news regarding Maria:

She just got back home, in tears. She was crying uncontrollably and trembling. She's so far told me that someone attacked her on her bus today. She radioed dispatch and they told her to just keep driving. They ignored her emergency call.

This attacker apparently tried to grope her repeatedly, and threatened her. He then fled after a couple other passengers tried to stop him.

I am so -bleeping- mad right now!

She's having a shower right now, and I can hear her crying in there too.

Might have to go to the bus garage tomorrow with the police and dispense some justice. I would bet my last dollar that someone in management is behind this somehow!

Of course I could go WITHOUT the police, and still dispense pure justice!

[eMTe]

I would bet my last PLN that it would be better for you, Maria and everybody involved to refer to old-fashioned forms of revenge, like informing the police, for the starters.