I wrote to Doug today to see why he had not visited for a while. Here's why guys.
Re: Where's Waldo?
From: Doug Parker (beastranger2@yahoo.com)
Sent: December 21, 2007 1:24:29 PM
To: peter catalano (ginzokid@hotmail.com)
Hi Pete
Pretty much spent the fall working on and off, we'd work for a week or two then get laid off for a week or two. Supposedly after the 1st of the year there won't be any more lay offs but it still doesn't look good.
In October I came down with a degenrative muscle diesease called Polymyositis that has mainly affected my hands and legs so that I can't make a fist and getting in and out of chairs is hard, pretty hard to lift my leg enough to hit the brake pedal while driving. As long as I can climb stairs I can still work even though I'm on light duty. They are still doing a bunch of testing, had a CT scan yesterday and have to go for electro stimulation and a biopsy on my thighs the 3rd. There's a slim chance it could be tied to a cancer but they don't think so and feel they can cure cure it with heavy doses of Prednizone. Have to quit drinking and smoking so that sucks.
Most of the time I get around ok and spend a lot of time down in the dungeon building tether cars to sell on e-bay. I've gotten a pretty good reputation for them so collectors are snapping them up as soon as I finish them. I haven't touched the trains in months but should probably auction some more stuff off sometime. I can't get under the duckunder anymore so I haven't touched the layout, MB expressed some interest in taking it over for awhile but may have just been blowing smoke.
Anyway, I'm surviving and as long as things don't get any worse I'll be ok. Sitting at the computer makes my head feel like it's going to fall off so I can't spend a lot of time on it. If you want to pass this along to the group it's ok and give everyone my best wishs.
Merry Christmas
Doug
I looked this disease up on web MD and it seems to be tied to arthritis. In any case, we should all send Doug a greeting. That's what this group is all about.
Pete
