So this is my life...OT, and On Topic too...

Well, good to be back, and I apologize for those who have contacted me.

Things have been incredibly hellish over the last few months. The New Orleans thing turned into a huge fiasco, with non-desired results.

My business has taken a lump in the form of a non-working partner. He has not worked in eight months, and has still continued to draw a fat pay check. All kinds of problems have been caused by this. Before anyone asks, no, I can't fire him or remove him. I have been through all the lawyers and tax attorney's and had to go a completely different route. Within the next few weeks, I will have resigned from the company and the new company will be off and rolling. Let's just say that I am glad there was a lack of a "non-compete" clause in our bylaws.

So anyways, life has been extremely busy. Ball season is in full swing. 2 boys playing again, and I am the head coach for the 7y/o. Of course, we are the Mustangs, so now this damned post is on topic. Next year we will have 3 in ball. Good news there is that I have a sponsor, and that is Joe Cooper Ford in Midwest City.

We have moved up a bit in the world. Our second failed attempt at buying a house pissed me off so much that I bought a new vehicle. I actually had the credit this time to buy, but because I am technically self-employed I had to provide 2 years of tax returns. While my income shows that I made a nice chunk of money last year, I didn't make crap the year before. Not after my write-offs.

Oh yeah, so we bought a new "vehicle". My first new car ever. Went looking for a used one, and got talked onto the new car lot where pretty much the last one anywhere in the greater OKC area was sitting. Since it is now out of production, I thought it would be nice to get one of the last new ones out there. I was stuck on options since I couldn't order one, but since it was the Eddie Bauer edition, it wasn't like I would be on the base model end of the deal. Of course we fell in love with it. What kept me from immediately throwing it on the ground and having sex with it was the $42k price tag. So, the salesman reminds me that it is truck month, that I have a trade-in, and that it has been sitting on the lot for a while so they are anxious to get rid of it. This was a Saturday, late evening. Monday afternoon, I drove off in my brand new 2005 Excursion. We have had it for a month now and absolutely love it. My actual purchase price was $31k.

Start the flames...gas mileage. I know, believe me. Last fill up was $107 I think. However, we really don't drive that much. We filled up 2 weeks ago and are sitting at just under a half tank. As for our ability to safely and legally transport our children, there was no other choice. I guess we could have got a Econoline van or a small bus, but then gas is an issue again. The Suburban does not offer the same amount of interior room. Figure we have the five boys right now, with two of them in car seats. We needed room for six kids, with three being in car seats. Why six you ask? Well, we are expecting another child. This one is due in October, and we will not know the sex until Thursday of this week. No question or ass'ish remarks about "having a girl this time?".

So my driveway has been restored to a solid Ford family. The Mustang, the Crown Vic, and the Excursion. The Vic might very well be going bye-bye soon, but that is ties in with the company issues and I might have to give it up. I could get lucky though and get to keep it, but if it does leave it will be replaced by another one. The Mustang is for sell. I think it has been driven about 4 or 5 times in the last 6 months. It needs a battery and an oil change and it is ready to roll. I just haven't been motivated to do it. I am asking $4000 if anyone is interested. 1989 GT, 308, Windsor Jr. spec heads, rebuilt tranny, sfc's, 3G alt, Steeda STB, brand new tires (size eludes me right now), Steeda Tri-Ax, some Steeda billet goodies on the inside. The motor and tranny have less than 5K miles on it. New clutch setup as well.

I lost my paternal grandparents over the holidays. Grandfather passed in October, and Grandmother followed 3 months to the day after him. I am sick of funerals. I have had far to many people in my family or very close to me die in the last 9 years. I am running out of family. And friends. My great-grandmother passed on Christmas day. Normally, you might think it is a sad thing. When you live 98 years, there is absolutely nothing that can be taken away from that and you can only rejoice in the life that was lived. She arrived in Oklahoma on a covered wagon. Very few people left living can say that.

I guess that is about it. I am only going to acknowledge that I missed one person. Kate, when you read this, give me a call. All of my numbers are still the same. I have something I need to send to you, and I am also going to be a rat bastard and ask you for some help again.

Good to be back...

Don Manning

Reply to
Don Manning
Loading thread data ...

hey 2.3 Nice to hear your still around. If you by chance end up parting out the stang, let me know. I might be interested in the heads and tranny. Those parts would help complete my 331. Sounds like you could use a beer. Let me know. My 7 week old (girl) is about to kill me. I could use one too.

Reply to
Scott Van Nest

"Don Manning" wrote

*** snipped *** Dang Don, you've been a busy man! MORE children? ***OUCH*** Is my tongue bleeding yet?

: I guess that is about it. I am only going to acknowledge that I missed one : person. Kate, when you read this, give me a call. All of my numbers are : still the same. I have something I need to send to you, and I am also going : to be a rat bastard and ask you for some help again.

You're always gonna be my favorite little rat bastard, I'll give you a call. I only like ya cause of Tina and the boys you know... you're so mean to me all the time that she has to stick up for me.

Glad to see ya kid.

Kate

Reply to
Kate

---- snip ----

Holy cow! An Excursion? I thought I was being a little piggy when I bought my Expy last year... I don't feel so bad now, lol. I needed something to pull a Mustang-laden trailer but your excuse is equally valid. }:-)

---- snip ----

Sorry to hear of your loss, Don. I've been through a similar experience over the last year or so. My father's health suffered tremendously starting in January of 05 resulting in dialysis 3 times a week. He took a fall this February that fractured his neck (4th spinal fracture in a year). He was not a good candidate for surgery due to his age, multitude of infirmities, and severe osteoporosis. This all prompted him to make the decision to discontinue dialysis and take hospice care. He lasted 8 days and passed on February. 25th.

Thanks, Bro... I missed you too. [;-)

It's been many moons since I posted here but do check in occasionally to see what's what. Oddly enough I just thought about you yesterday and wondered what had happened since you ventured off to New Orleans. I tried to call you shortly after you posted about heading down there and hoped everything worked out. Give me a call sometime.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Okie Tom - TS #62

1998 GT Coupe 5-spd. 2005 Expy XLT
Reply to
bluestang98

Hi Don I dont post to much but I certainly remember you. First I am sorry to hear about your losses and glad to hear about all your new bundles of joy! Let us know on Thursday if you find out about the sex of your expecting child. Its hard as we get older to see our loved ones pass on and in a strange way we see the circle of life with newer generations coming and old ones going. Hope everything continues to go well with the business. The Excursion is beautiful best of luck with it. Who cares what tree huggers think you can afford it, have a large family, and what a nice price you got too. BTW they say decaying plant life does more damage to the ozone then our polution anyway. You should post a link to pics of your Mustang for sale maybe with the summer coming you can sell it right away. Take care.

Nicholas

Reply to
Nicholas Anthony

Sorry to hear about your loss as well.

Nicholas

Reply to
Nicholas Anthony

My maternal great grandmother was born in the Oklahoma Territory, in a sod hut no less, and departed there in a covered wagon en route to California. She passed a few years back. Since there were no birth certificates or other records outside of what families generally wrote in the family Bible, we can only guess her age in the neighborhood of

105 if the date in the Bible is correct. We do think the covered wagon was made by Ford and was called a MustangPPE (Mustang Pre Piston Engine :0)

Good to see you back, no matter what you bought.... :0)

Reply to
Spike

Side note: The MPPE = What Spikie just spent upwards of 30k restoring and he promised to leave it to me in his will.

*poke*

*snikker*

lub lub

K.

Reply to
Kate

So how about the gory details. I did email you trying to get a number to you in case you passed through Baton Rouge, I am about 6 blocks from the I-10. Glad you're back though.

Reply to
WindsorFox

You know, when I was posting often I never saw you anymore. Not even in the big-block group. I had been wondering what happened to YOU! Good to know you are around. Be nice to have another OKC get together sometime soon. Get Scott over here too. I can cookout and we can drink some beers and tell Mustand stories.

Don Manning

Reply to
Don Manning

Somebody is gonna have fun watching you fight my daughter over it... and it's only $26K... so far.... nyuk nyuk nyuk!

Reply to
Spike

and I will bring mine this time. It is actually respectable now.

Scott

Reply to
Scott Van Nest

I'll buy a ticket to watch :-P

Dave

Reply to
Deputy Dog

: > >

: > Somebody is gonna have fun watching you fight my daughter over it : : : I'll buy a ticket to watch :-P : : Dave :

I'm old and crafty, those youngins aint got NUTHIN on me - that and Spike already promised me.

Kate

Reply to
Kate

So how much are those tickets, anyway?

Oh, and Kate, are you going to demonstrate your fur cleaning technique?

Arlie

Reply to
Blue Gator

"Blue Gator" wrote : Oh, and Kate, are you going to demonstrate your fur cleaning technique? : : : Arlie

You betcha - cmon over. I'm sure I still have some lighter fluid, a toothpick and a razor around here somewhere... I promise you, it won't hurt a bit *WEG*

Reply to
Kate

Uhhhh.....Doesn't sound so sexy now that you put it that way!

Arlie

Reply to
Blue Gator

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.