Mauswerks

2003-07-02T12:34:00.000-07:00

I am attempting a long distance blog entry- let's see if it works.

Have been very busy out here flying airevac missions in the theatre- and it's not all Iraq.

Since the 6 june entry, we actually had a day off, and we were sent into town on what they call a "morale trip", which is kind of like regimented time off. This was accomplished by loading up the squadron's toyota hi-ace minivan with my crew, (me, Hunt, & Flarity) and my old crew (Dietrich, spires, and now Savidge), and driving into Downtown Doha for the day. Spires drove, and was adept in the middle-east high-speed roundabout method of vehicle operations. By the end of the day, I was, too.

Most of the day was spent lying outside in the sun at a swimming pool at the hotel Intercontinental, getting hopelessly sunburned. (like we couldn't do that in camp). My crew did eventually venture off to the local mall, leaving the other guys behind at the pool. The mall was huge, and complete with an indoor ice rink, bowling alley, and about 42,000 stores. It was considerably larger than the king of prussia mall, and had lots of nifty persian carpets, designer clothing, gold jewelry, and everything else the well-off Qatari desires. Needless to say, we couldn't afford very much in the place. (I did get some tea for Chy which she doesn't know about yet.) (oops-I guess she does now!)

Regarding Doha (Homer would say it D'oh!-a), it was good to see something other than runways and tents for a few hours.

We managed a coup of sorts, and manned a flight from here to Ramstein on a C-17 from McChord. It was an AE flight, picking up 60-some patients (several critical) in Kuwait, and then on to germany (about eight hours flight time). We did this with a full five person AE crew, plus a three person CCATT team for the critical patients. When we got to Ramstein and transferred our patients, we found out that there were no rooms availiable on base, because of the enhanced operations tempo- therefore we were forced to be lodged off base at a hotel outside of Kaiserslautern. The horror, the horror! Of course, since we were about 12 miles off base, we were authorized a rental car for our crew (the CCATT was on their own) to go back in forth in. We got the very last car availiable, which happened to be a mercedes benz C230 tdi, which was very fast. To make a long story short- the two days we spent in germany waiting for the first flight back to the gulf beat the pants off the "morale trip" to D'oh-a. I was designated driver (I love that), and hit 200 km/h on the autobahn. Paul, the FN we picked up in kuwait, calculated that we hit about .2 mach in the car. (this is the same guy that thought it would be a good idea to open the rear window at that speed- which was the first time I ever had a rapid decompression in a car.) Anyway, that's enough about germany.

We came back on a C-5, and got stuck overnight at Kuwait city waiting for a flight back to al-udeid the next morning. Camp wolf at kuwait has really poor overnight accomodations. It was like being in the army or something!

Over the next two weeks, we continued frequent patient evacuations out of Iraq, and also made it out to Jordan, and to Djibouti on the coast of Africa (you know, right next to Somalia). And that's it for the immediate update- more to follow soon. (let's see how long it takes for Chy to read about the tea!) :)

2003-06-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

Date: 6/6/03 8:11:47 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@*****.af.mil

Hi again- computer ate my last email-I'll try again-back on bravo 3 alert so
I gots to be quick-

We had a busy couple of days, POTUS was in town (also known as the CiC) who
came out to the Qatari desert just to visit his airmen (and soldiers,
sailors, and marines as applicable). Unfortunately, we were on alpha alert
again, so we could'nt go meet him (although several from our squadron were
able to do just that). We were too well armed, and the secret service does
not like that. Incidentally, at dinner the night before, I sat next to a
table of SS agents, and they looked really silly in their black wool suits,
ties, and wires sticking out of their ears. I bet they enjoyed the 114
degree temp yesterday. Ha! ha!

More about yesterday: there was an emergent airevac mission to Iraq- and the
crew that took it (my old crew from Scott) turned back after about 45
minutes because of a massive fuel leak. So our alpha crew was alerted to
take the mission over on the alpha bird, and the mission was upgraded (to
30+ patients, several critical) to include a CCATT team (surgeon, trauma
nurse, respiratory tech) and all their specialized equipment, and we also
picked up a two-man AF public affairs team, there to document a priority
medical airlift from "the box". Anyway, about an hour fifteen out, our
aircraft develops a fuel leak, threatening shutdown of number three engine.
(it's about three hours to Baghdad from Al-Udeid) So we turn back, and radio
ahead to have a new 130 ready and configured for us. So we touch down,
transfer all the gear into the new bird, and go through the run up, where
the flight engineer finds excessive fluid leakage from the aileron linkage
gear. So we stop, and they determine that it's safe for the duration of the
flight, and we head out to the runway, where the throttle for number three
engine starts running up by itself! Flight scrubbed, equipment offloaded,
and reloaded onto a fourth aircraft. But by this time, both the up front
crew and us (who all volunteered to go on, and were overridden) burned out
our crew duty days, so a third medcrew and third flight crew manned attempt
number four (which was ultimately successsful) . And yes, the PA guys went
all the way through. They got a real taste of how missions actually work! I
wonder if the press release will say anything about how many airplanes it
took to fly one mission?

Incidentally, on my current crew, the MCD from the bronx went home, so my
new MCD is a McChord person. I am now on an all-Washington crew! (I know
Chuck is still with the 714th at mcGuire, but he's really from the Maryhill
area and has a "5" SSN.) This makes things easier, especially
communications-wise.

Hot, windy, and sandstormy today, with that fine grit that gets everywhere.
(the kind of grit that makes good brass polish) But my Bennington '76 flag
is flying high from our tent's radio mast flagpole, so that's kind of cool.

Got an Email from Dave A. today.

Let me know what's going on that's exciting, and even things that aren't.

Love you!

Michael

2003-06-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

Date: 5/31/03 10:26:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@******.af.mil

Hi again!

Got your box yesterday, thank you! It was a good selection, but it arrived
opened on the end. Doesn't look like anything's missing (unless there was
money in it). Did you make the soap? The ginseng tea will go well for health
maintenance, and so will the vanilla flavored stuff :) . My folks sent me
some GNC mega-men vits, so I'm back on a vitamin routine again. I think
"cat" is probably my favorite Heinlein book, even if it does bog down in the
end - but the first three quarters of it can be re-read adinfinitum. There's
some mystery about rotation dates right now - some of the crewmembers who
thought their rotation out was in September have just been given a heads up
that they may leave in July. I'm not on the list in any form. I may not have
shown up on the theatre manning document yet. Today was a safety down day, so no flying- but now
my crew is now sliding into the alpha alert position- so chances are pretty
good that we'll go somewhere interesting in the next 48 hours. I'm painting
and drawing some artwork for you, hope you like desert landscapes (they're
pretty easy to do, too!). Any luck on that silver colored fountain pen or
.05mm pencil leads? Everything else is good. I'm starting to get a little
bit of an art reputation, and am starting to get some requests. (for barter,
of course.) Haven't been able to make an LDS service here on camp (We have a
real LDS chaplain who's pretty cool) because I'm either always flying on
sunday or on alert. It's called a "high ops tempo" or something like that.
Rumor is that the Commander-in-Chief will be here this week sometime... I'll
probably be flying and miss it. How's Daven doing? I haven't heard from him
on line or from you yet. Oh, yeah, and the cat? Got to go , talk to you
later!

Love,
Michael

2003-06-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

Date: 5/27/03 12:05:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@*********.af.mil

Hi!

I'm counting on getting extras. Having a hard time coordinating the jpeg files for the patches, they keep getting dumped. T-shirts haven't been ordered yet.

Awards and decs, I have been assigned as awards and decs NCOIC as an addittional additional duty (everyone has at least two extra duties), because when the command cell started to figure out squadron assignments, the 714th people said "Sgt Shaudis ran our A&D program, he'll do it!" when I was flying a mission and couldn't defend myself. But I'm good at it, so that's actually a good thing because it keeps me in the air conditioning, also.

This is as safe as it gets out here .
Only Seeb was hot and humid- here it's REALLY hot and dry, with random blowing searing sand storms. (like yesterday).

Of the 714th aircrew, I got real lucky with the two I got attached to. SSgt Chuck Hunt was an "outcast" like me, who is originally from washington state; and
Capt D'alois-Velez is goofy enough to be Okay, if you can look past the New York city (He from da bronx) attitude. (he can't help it, it's environmental).

I was planning on sending the Choctaw box to you when I refilled it with local stuff, but one of my new scott buddies needed a box really bad yesterday so I gave it to him.

More artwork is on the way.

Good news on vartec et all- I take it most of the allowances are showing up on the checks already? cool.

Tea? like the british east india company? I'll see what I can find if I ever get off base.

oops got to go

-M.

2003-05-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

Date: 5/29/03 9:31:21 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@******.af.mil

Hi!

Just got back from Khandahar, Afghanistan. ( a new line on the map - no
intermediary stops) Brought back some injured (shot up) military personnel
*********(sanatized - sorry)

Don't pay the gov't visa bill - travel pay accrural should hit next week and
take care of it- the accrual is filed every thirty days after 28 april, so
it should not be a problem. The accrual voucher gets faxed from here to
active duty pay at McChord.

No, i don't have any cash. All I need is haircut money (weekly). When ******
sends check, just send me the portion we already discussed, that should be
fine. A check is okay, it can be cashed at finance. Keep paying off
everything with the extra like you are, that's kind of what we're doing this
for. :) You asked what else is there to spend money on? There is a BX in a
big tent that has essentials, (like soap, shampoo, and DVD players), there
is an embroidery/alterations shop that repairs uniforms, a contract photo
developer, a barbershop tent, and then the stuff in the commons area "wagon
wheel" which has the pizza hut, baskin-robbins, and a bar; none of which I
have spent any money in, nor do I intend to.

I have hit my folks up for various stuff; art supplies, desert camelbak, a
bag of pretzels, etc. Haven't recv'd anything yet. Hopefully some cash from
them so I can get the photos developed. I have some cool ones of Iraq.

Tell Dave K. that maybe in PREVIOUS wars military personnel lost weight--- Not
here! Too much good Air Force food. My exercise program consists of going
outside for five minutes, getting heatstroke, then going back inside.
Seriously though, flying the missions is actually pretty exhausting. I plan
on coming home a bit fitter.

How many socks? with or without holes?

That's it for now, I just got a great quote from eastern on the patches ( 94
cents each for 500!) got to follow up.

Love,

-M.

2003-05-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

Date: 5/27/03 12:05:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@*******.af.mil

Hi!

I'm counting on getting extras. Having a hard time coordinating the jpeg files for the patches, they keep getting dumped. T-shirts haven't been ordered yet.

Awards and decs, I have been assigned as awards and decs NCOIC as an addittional additional duty (everyone has at least two extra duties), because when the command cell started to figure out squadron assignments, the 714th people said "Sgt Shaudis ran our A&D program, he'll do it!" when I was flying a mission and couldn't defend myself. But I'm good at it, so that's actually a good thing because it keeps me in the air conditioning, also.

This is as safe as it gets out here .

Only Seeb was hot and humid- here it's REALLY hot and dry, with random blowing searing sand storms. (like yesterday).

Of the 714th aircrew, I got real lucky with the two I got attached to. SSgt Chuck Hunt was an "outcast" like me, who is originally from washington state; and Capt D'alois-Velez is goofy enough to be Okay, if you can look past the New York city (He from da bronx) attitude. (he can't help it, it's environmental).

I was planning on sending the Choctaw box to you when I refilled it with local stuff, but one of my new scott buddies needed a box really bad yesterday so I gave it to him.

More artwork is on the way.

Tea? like the british east india company? I'll see what I can find if I ever get off base.

oops got to go

-M.

2003-05-27T23:49:00.000-07:00

----- From: Shaudis Michael SSgt 320 EAES
To: 'Linda Shaudis'
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2003 10:34 PM
Subject: RE: Holiday

Yes we are in tents, yes we have real showers (but are limited to 3 minutes of water, but there is no limit on the number of showers you can take.) I have a little extra personal room in my tent, since I am the official squadron art guy and have been given a drawing table - I have more personal space than the field grade in the same tent.

There WAS a big memorial day thing here, but we were on a mission (which broke enroute) and missed it, but when we got back got leftover steak, ribs, and chicken from the cook out. Each crew is flying, on average , every other day. General Shallikashvili? If that's the general, this is his name. I met him a couple of times, he's originally from Poland. Glad gram is doing well, and I am doing well as a Choctaw Spouse (official title). If you can find the photo of me outside the C-130 in winter flight gear, tell Cheryce and the Choctaws will print it in the Bishnik (tribal newspaper). We're on Bravo alert again, I have just been informed. talk to you later.

M.

2003-05-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

Date: 5/24/03 6:33:12 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@*********.af.mil

Hi!

I was out for a couple of days, we flew out to Seeb on bravo alert overnight
to pick up a patient. (no new map marks) so that was two days of flying to
log 1.7 hours. Seeb is just about shut down, (most of their operations have
moved out here) and coastal Oman has gotten really humid and hot in the last
three weeks. If it wasn't for the mountains in the background, it would be
just like New Jersey! Speaking of New Jersey, this was my first mission
with the newly assigned McGuire crew. Things haven't changed any with the
714th/514th, and I think I got really spoiled flying with the Scott guys.
Anyway, I'm back at Al-Udeid tonight, and will on the launch and recovery
crew at midnight. When I got back to the tent, the Choctaw box was there!
Inside was a nice letter from Chief Pyle, and all kinds of little useful
goodies including: disposable razors, a toothbrush, hand sanitizer, my
favorite toothpaste, baby wipes, sunflower seeds, jolly ranchers, a
mini-nerflike football (perfect size for inside a C-130) , ziploc bags of
mixed hard candies, and miniature hotel shampoos/conditioners, among other
little things I can't remember at the moment. I will have to write them to
say thank you. Have you received any of my letters yet? BTW, I saw "pet
sematary II" here on base a couple of days ago, and this may very well be
Clancy Brown's best movie! (well, okay, "shawshank" is pretty close.) If you
do a movie night with the kids this week and they want something violent,
you could do a lot worse than that one. That just about wraps up my computer
time for now, I should be able to get back on tomorrow since I'm not on
alert.

Love you!

-M.

2003-05-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

From: Shaudis Michael SSgt 320 EAES
To: 'Linda Shaudis'
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 12:16 AM
Subject: RE: Goodies

Hi again! The 3L camelbak you described is the right one. (Aren't scavenger hunts fun?) Our new crew rotations are now in place, so I may get more computer time through our squadron's office space. I am definitely looking forward to receiving some snail mail! Mess halls have real food. (and real flies). It was 120F again yesterday! And you know what? It feel like it's only 118! Ha! Ha!

M.

2003-05-23T00:11:00.000-07:00

If you would like to post an e-mail from Michael or a letter, email me and I'll get you an invite to post here. chy

2003-05-23T00:09:00.000-07:00

Date: 5/22/03 12:33:29 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@*******.af.mil

No, they didn't know the 714th would be here when I was deployed- what happened is that they consolidated all of the aeromed units scattered about the theater into our new squadron here at Al-Udeid, and that's how we got the 714th.

The Scott AFB guys I've been flying with don't like them much. (They like me, though. - I'm a chameleon.)

When not flying, I have been put to work designing the new squadron patches, t-shirts, signs, etc. Good thing about that is it keeps me in the air conditioning and gives me a little extra living space to have a (goverment issue) drawing table in the tent.

The 714th people managed to get me assigned back onto awards and decorations, knowledge of which I did NOT volunteer Oh, well

Latest word on deployment length (which is always subject to change) is between september and december, this year. , The December date means it's over 179 days, so does that mean VA bennies??? . That's it for now.

-M.

(I editted this letter for personal content)

2003-05-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Date: 5/21/03 7:59:27 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@*******.*********.af.mil

I figured the !!!! !! !!! would look like a secret spy code, but I'm silly
like that.
I have talked to M***** IN PERSON and he promises to give me the $200 IN
CASH soon...When I get it I will send you the $150.

Yes you can mail cookies, but obviously leave out things like chocolate
chips... It was 121 degrees in the shade at around 1pm today. This is just
wrong.

Anyway, the 714th guys have shaken up our entire unit structure and have
broken up our hard crews. No one is sure why, or even how they were able to
do this. I'm now finding out what the rest of airevac thinks about the 714th
and in general people from Joisey! (hint- it's not positive

I don't have any tweezers except for what's in my Swiss army knife.

Talk to you later,

love M.

2003-05-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

Hi!

Flying like crazy out here, mostly as alert crews. I'm going to try to get a
phone call in (I'm on the list) on the 22nd (for Daven's BD). Don't know
exactly when it will be in the day, but I'll try for between 0500-0800 your
time. (if I don't call it means I was alerted again.)

I Love you!!! !!! !!!!!

-M.

2003-05-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

Subj: RE: e-mail working?
Date: 5/17/03 2:56:47 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@*******.af.mil

Sure, the blog site is good.
I know you are good at sanitizing, and I have now figured out how to use the
blog on a government computer. I have been picking up some cool (free)stuff
for daven, which I will send out when I fill a box ( and after my folks send
some money -letters are free, but boxes ain't.)

My crew is on alpha alert today, so that means we have to be in the air 30
minutes after the alert call. Like bravo alert, it lasts for 48 hours, but
unlike bravo, we get a crew vehicle so we can cruise around. (I mean, so we
can get to the flightline when alerted.) I'm okay on horsey sauce-
apparently there's an Arby's at the **** mall, and services guys have been
bringing it back. We haven't gotten off base, because we're always on some
form of alert. Let me know when my letters start showing up. Do you have
Jake this weekend? woof!

If you have a box going, .05mm pencil leads, my silver fountain pen (on my
desk), a couple of little sample size squeeze bottles for liquid soap, a
black sharpie, a pair of my khaki shorts (I can't believe I forgot shorts!),
a selection of sewing thread, Heinlein's "the cat that walks through walls"
, and my Khaki "Flyers" pants (which should be hanging in the craft room
closet) would be great things to have.

other notes- Iraq is strange. Qatar is hot. Saudi Arabia is hotter. Kuwait
city is really big.

Tell Daven I love him, give Jake a hug, say "Hi" to Dave and Mary.

Love you!

-M.

2003-05-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Subj: RE: e-mail working?
Date: 5/16/03 12:15:08 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@**********.af.mil

Hi again!

I didn't get back to a computer last night, we got alerted and flew back up to Iraq to pick up injured marines. (they call that "going into the 'box' ".)You should have gotten some snail mail from me by now, I've been outlining locations for the map, and drawing pictures and stuff. These computers are a pain in the butt - the system regularly shuts down and dumps for priority traffic, so if the flow doesn't make any sense, it's because i've restarted the same sentence for the Nth time.. I've flown 4 missions in past 6 days, 2 of them into Iraq. busy busy busy. Did you know that AK tracers are green? Don't believe what the news says about the war being over, it's not. It's just smaller scale. Food is decent, but it's the only thing around here that's cold!

Anyway, physical mailing address is:

Ssgt Michael Shaudis
***** EAES
APO ** *****

Our operational name is the 320th (soon to be the 379th) Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, also known in the theater as TAMU (for Tactical Assault Medical Unit). We're located at ***** ****, **-*****Air Base, in case Shep mentions it online. I'm going to try to get a very quick message off to my folks before I get kicked off this thing again.

Love You!!!

-Michael

2003-05-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

Subj: RE: e-mail working?
Date: 5/14/03 8:55:35 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@*********.af.mil

Hi again!

Good, the e-mail works! You are the only person I have emailed yet, time on
computers is difficult to get, and phones are near impossible to to get to
use here in the fine desert state of Qatar. (all phone calls have to go thru
the dsn gov't system, get routed to mcchord, and then to you by commercial.
trouble is, the dsn lines are all tied up with official traffic.) Didja get
my letters yet? I will try to get on line again tonight, if i'm not flying.
Love you lots and lots!

2003-05-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

Date: 5/14/03 7:08:02 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MIchael.Shaudis@**********.af.mil

Hello, testing testing...

This is a test of the official e-mail system, I have about two minutes on
the computer. Hi! I'm flying all the time out here, just got back from an
Iraq mission, and that's a story and a half. got to go- email me - love
you!!!

2003-05-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

I got deployed, and just figured out to use the computers here. Here's an observation. Deserts are, like, HOT. And truth is, this is the most flying I have done (as aircrew) in years. Does anyone want some genuine Qatarian sand? There seems to be plenty to spare.

2003-05-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

So, it's been awhile.

Michael got deployed, he's in Qatar, or flying somewhere to or from Qatar.

2003-04-11T18:54:00.000-07:00

No, the only trouble is working out a floor plan around way too much stuff. I'm posting the little things over at BarterFriends. Anyone want a bread bucket?

2003-04-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

I'm hyped, too! (about the apartment I mean) Only trouble is trying to work a floor plan around baseboard heaters...

2003-04-02T19:53:00.000-08:00

We got the apartment! I'm hyped.

I'm running a big Egg hunt over at BarterFriends , it starts on Friday.

We pick up the apartment key on Friday. Did I mention I'm hyped?

2003-03-31T11:18:00.000-08:00

Daven's cat will eat anything, as long as you are eating it too.

Last night I was working (playing) on the computer and the cat starts begging for a bite of the black licorice I was eating. I gave it a nibble, it ate it and begged for more. Black licorice!

Cat's name is Caspar. It will drink mocha hot from your cup, is always trying to steal protien bars, and opens cupboard doors to drag out lunch suggestions. If you offer it a cereal piece from the Lucky Charms (generic) bag it will look at you with typical cat aloofness. If you eat the cereal from the bag it will climb all over you begging for some and then eat a piece at a time as long as you are eating.

2003-03-30T13:23:00.000-08:00

Ha! I did it! Yeah, I'm easily amused, but just consider the idea of dyslexic running code.

2003-03-30T13:21:00.000-08:00

Test

Barter Friends

2003-03-29T21:58:00.000-08:00

We should have an apartment soon. Went to the apartment office; decided on a 3 bedroom tucked way back from the road; got the paper work; and made arrangements to bring it back Monday morning. Then we get to wait to see if it passes the screening.

It's a small 3 bedroom. But I don't want to get my hopes up, I hate disappointments.

I'm working through an edit of Ian's book - "Insert Clever Title Here." Should be done this week.

2003-03-29T21:51:00.000-08:00

[3/27/2003 11:45:56 PM | M. Shaudis]
Are you looking for a good inexpensive barber in Whitehall, Pennsylvania? (that's the Allentown Whitehall, NOT the Pittsburgh Whitehall.) Here's directions:
From Highway 22, go North (towards Coplay- West Catasaqua) on Fullerton Avenue, then go just past Grape Street. Barber is in the small two story square red brick building on right, on the near side of the "Y" street, across from where the Cadillac dealer used to be . If you get to Orchard Street, you've gone way too far. Go back and try again. Look for the sign that says "barber". (that's usually a dead giveaway.) He likes to talk cars and airplanes. See if you can talk him in to playing his instrument.(that's what he calls it, all I know is that it has lots of strings, and he's pretty darned good on it.) Bring him your back issues of the "American Rifleman" for his magazine table, (his existing issues are starting to get really old.).

If you're not looking for a barber in the Whitehall area, please ignore the preceding information.
[edit]

2003-03-29T21:47:00.000-08:00

Finally started new job this week, it's a salaried management position in a non-profit 501c3 contract security company. (really! I didn't believe the non-profit part at first, either!) It's a well-equipped organization with excellent resources, and can certainly use my "special touch" to enhance operations. I will keep the blog informed as events unfold. (check it out at www.nwlp.org) Other news: Still not mobilized. (since all the aircraft are in the theatre of operations, I probably won't be anytime soon, if at all, either.) Just as well, with new job and all.

2003-03-27T23:45:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a good inexpensive barber in Whitehall, Pennsylvania? (that's the Allentown Whitehall, NOT the Pittsburgh Whitehall.) Here's directions:
From Highway 22, go North (towards Coplay- West Catasaqua) on Fullerton Avenue, then go just past Grape Street. Barber is in the small two story square red brick building on right, on the near side of the "Y" street, across from where the Cadillac dealer used to be . If you get to Orchard Street, you've gone way too far. Go back and try again. Look for the sign that says "barber". (that's usually a dead giveaway.) He likes to talk cars and airplanes. See if you can talk him in to playing his instrument.(that's what he calls it, all I know is that it has lots of strings, and he's pretty darned good on it.) Bring him your back issues of the "American Rifleman" for his magazine table, (his existing issues are starting to get really old.).

If you're not looking for a barber in the Whitehall area, please ignore the preceding information.

2003-03-27T23:21:00.000-08:00

Random notes from friends on pay to surf sites:

http://hits4pay.com/members/index.cgi?Uss_voyager
mypoints, memolink, milesource, blink, creationsrewards, millersrewards, webewebbn, clickin cash, click vault, kinglinks, harrispoll, epoll, qool, tasiaspaidlinks, prizegames, gozing, rewardtv. click vault (pays out in paypal at .25 cents) for clicking links or webeweb or click cash which pays out in paypal at .50 cents
http://www.theclickvault.com?ref=M_I_Goff@yahoo.com
http://www.1heluva.com/cgi-bin/join.cgi?refer=4045
http://hits4pay.com/members/index.cgi?Uss_voyager
http://www.theclickvault.com?ref=laura610_99@yahoo.com

If you like paid to read, this is an excellent one. I had $10.00 be paid to Pay Pal. Didn't take long either. A day or two. The gal that runs it is great and very fair. With all paid to programs it takes time to get paid.
http://www.mec-co-op-paidmail.com/pages/index.php?refid=bask@mainstreetcom.com

tasiaspaidlinks pay in paypal and they do pay... but it takes a long time.
clickincash and webewebbin pays at .50 and they pay. The click vault pays as well. There's also one called kingslinks that I just joined. It pays in paypal at $1.00 I haven't cashed out there yet but I was told they pay from other people.

I like zwallet for a paid email site.You can join free and get payed to read your email. Then there is mailforcash.com, jays-paidmail,onedollaremail.com,richmails which are all ptr sites that you send to your zwallet address if they accept that address and get payed two times each for email. But do they really pay? I don't know it takes a while to make money at pennies at a time and I haven't made enough to get the minium payout yet!

http://www.1heluva.com/cgi-bin/join.cgi?refer=4045
This is a program I use to promote my paying websites. It is definately worth taking a look at.

I love clickin cash and webewebbin and clickvault for the low payouts and they pay in paypal fast so those three are the ones I highly recommend.

http://www.MikesPaid4Email.com/pages/index.php?refid=krystalkitty
I haven't been paid yet though.

Also another way to earn cash is with a surf bar. Here is one that pays in egold ($5 / m) or paypal ($10/m). It works well.
http://www.degoo.com/index.php?refid=ssjcbs

http://www.pennypassion.net/pages/index.php?refid=ssjcbs

2003-03-27T23:04:00.000-08:00

www.promosquad.com

2003-03-27T22:52:00.000-08:00

Michael was supposed to post the directions to that barber, I'll have to gently remind him.

He started a new job this week, but he can tell you about that himself. Isn't the Museum job we were hoping for.

Me? Um, hmmm. Been keeping Michael focused. Have to find an apartment this weekend. Have lots af candle and soap supplies just waiting for said new apartment. Working on a big Easter giveaway for barterfriends.com.

I wish someone would tell me what I do wrong on the link button. I hit the button, it pops up a box, I type in the url, < a href="www.barterfriends.com"> shows up (no spaces before and after the a), I hit post/publish, and it does not show as a link. It's starting to annoy me - I might just have to read the help section.

2003-03-22T06:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Tammy, it's good to see you on our blog site. Jake says "Hi", but in his own special way... Give my regards to Ralph. (there are some REALLY good junk yards out here.) I'm not deployed yet and it's absolutely DRIVING US NUTS. Incidentally, I still don't have my Christian Springs barrel from Getz; I'm doubting if I ever want to deal with them again. Colerain barrels are almost just as good. You guys need to check out Dave Barry's Blog,
his links will keep you entertained for minutes!

2003-03-17T05:45:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am. Now what? There's nothing really going on here, other than Skip being on 'reduced hours', which basically means he works two weeks and has a week off, unpaid, but he's eligible for full unemployment benefits for those 'off' weeks, and as soon as we get the first unemployment check, we'll know what our new budget will look like.

Oh yeah, and I am *FINALLY* getting to read all the Harry Potter books! I'd read the first three and about half of the fourth one some while back, while visiting my sister in Texas, but since it was HER copy, she didn't want to let me take it home with me to Pennsylvania, so I had to leave things unfinished for the LONGEST time. Now I've re-read the first three and am looking at finishing the fourth book today or tonight, and I'm really excited!

2003-03-16T12:06:00.000-08:00

This is a turtorial for Michael, please ignore.

2003-03-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

Went out today to check out a college era (almost 20 ?!? years ago) forest campsite- it's still there, sort of. (it got logged).

2003-03-14T14:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, for those of you who tuned in late....

The purpose of a blog is to post occasionally.

That said, I haven't been here in a while myself, hard to maintain a monologue, and Michael isn't much of a step up, conversationally.

Michael is however getting in a lot of Air Force time towards hopefully getting deployed. He had a big interview for a Museum Job and we're turning blue holding our breath waiting to hear the yeah or nea. (nea? nay)

Haven't made soap yet, still waiting for a job to get an apartment, to make the mess in MY own kitchen.

Going to make Caracois Bread soon though. It's Spring here!

Doing a posting contest at www.barterfriends.com all day on the 16th.

Been spending time reading StrongBad's e-mail. Fun.

2003-02-25T23:10:00.000-08:00

I'll make the "Paper Street Soap Company Labels" for fight club soap. (But we can't tell anybody because Chuck will want royalties and licensing stuff, but he may be cool enough to not care much.)

2003-02-24T22:07:00.000-08:00

One vote for "fight club" soap. Anyone else?

http://www.pepysdiary.com/

Been reading the Pepys Diary every night. It's interesting, but don't get started if you don't want to commit to 10 years.

2003-02-24T07:43:00.000-08:00

Who needs/wants soap? I'll be making a batch this week. Speak now if you want to influence color, scent, etc.

2003-02-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

I check www.globalsecurity.org at least once a day. If it involves military or intelligence - and it's not classified - it's there.

Today, while cruising through I found http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq.htm

Scroll down the page a bit. The Persian Gulf Art of War. That's good.

2003-02-23T01:13:00.000-08:00

12:30am, waiting for a certain somebody to quit entertaining an unnamed someone else (yeah, Dave, you know who I'm talking about - but the average reader like Tammy doesn't) and was google-plexing memory lane.

It was a zen-google moment. Found Edward Martin lll's homepage. http://www.petting-zoo.org/index.html

The only thing that could be cooler would be remembering how to code the link or at least figuring out how to use the nifty auto codey button that never works right. Dyslexics shouldn't code.

Posted a quick note on the petting zoo "What's Evil" thingy. Thought I'd post a note here just in case someone seeing my post decides to check out my blog.

Mind you there are 9 members of this blog. They're just waiting for the right subject to jump in on. Yeah...

2003-02-20T20:00:00.000-08:00

Talked to a guy who has a local muzzleloader's shop. He is willing to put things in a display case for 15% commission, no rent.

Now I definitely need to get a small batch of Injun type artsy stuff together and then think about pricing.

Maybe I'll leather wrap some crystals. Get Michael to draw a few Southwestern flavored dragons. And do some beading.

Of course all my beading stuff is in a storage locker. hmm, need to think about this.

2003-02-19T21:36:00.000-08:00

Michael posted auctions for barter for sketches. (that's a bad sentence)

Michael posted auctions offering to make personalized sketches for the winners, at www.barterfriends.com.

I'm going to have to get a job. I just have no clue doing what.

2003-02-17T21:46:00.000-08:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2772975.stm

Sad story in many ways.

2003-02-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

What is a "reformed neo-luddite"? ( eight rules Excerpted from the RNL Doctrine of Natural Harmony , 2003)

1) RNL is a lifestyle, not a religion. In fact, reformed neo-luddism can peacefully co-exist with most major religions. (unlike most major religions which have problems coexisting with each other.)

2) Reformed neo-luddites do not disavow all technology out of hand, instead, they stand against superflorous technology and runaway conspicuous consumption.

3) RNL's don't trade their cars in every three years, instead, they keep them for a really long time. (and keep a dog-eared copy of Sikorsky's Drive It Forever at the bedside.)

4) RNL's don't require the latest gadget (cell phone, PDA, video game, GPS echolocating transdermal remote car starter, etc.), unless it is required on the job.

5) RNL's are not ignorant of the world. On the contrary, they are avowed geopolitical information junkies.

6) RNL's make a habit of learning old manual skills and lost arts, and sharing this knowledge with others.

7) RNL's read. A lot.

8) RNL's believe in modern medicine, but encourage investigation of hollistic medicine, reflexology, herbology, and other non-traditional approaches to preventive health care and wellness.

2003-02-14T22:32:00.000-08:00

Tammy's lurking!

2003-02-12T22:33:00.000-08:00

Michael has drawn several new dragons this week, and lined up some rifle repair work.

My Valentine's Day contest went well over at www.barterfriends.com. Now I have to order the prizes tomorrow.

I'm baking bread tomorrow morning - cherry cinnamon swirl. Figure if I start baking at 9am the Missionaries will mysteriously drop by around noon-thirty. They have a serious homing beacon for good food. I'll post the recipe tomorrow.

2003-02-10T23:47:00.000-08:00

Oh, yeah, I forgot-

I drew a new dragon yesterday that I'm very happy with, and I think we're going to have really neat ORIGINAL one of a kind dragons availiable through mauswerks, drawn, of course, by me. (Incidentally, I still do really neat labels for all kinds of things from wiccan through living history stuff -email with needs.)

I also know where to get really inexpensive oil paintings. some of the renoir and van gogh knock-offs are actually pretty good, and some of the landscapes are decent, too (I didn't paint these but I wouldn't steer you wrong.).

Boonestocker "anyone need a nice flintlock rifle?"

2003-02-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

https://webform.musiccdsettlement.com/english/forms/

That's where you go to sign up for the class action suit for anyone who bought music betwe 95 and 00. It's worth registering, they might win.

2003-02-09T23:18:00.000-08:00

Hi!

This is my first blog post--- Started getting some pacific northwest contacts and potential clients for some muzzleloading gunsmithing work- first two contracts look like one restoration job (someone did a poor job with an EXCELLENT piece of wood -a travesty, I say) and one restocking for a left handed flinter. Both are full stock flintlock rifles, and neither is a side-by-side muzzleloading shotgun. (never again, I tell you.) Both guns are good candidates for restoration as shooters. Additionally, there seems to be some interest in my "standard" pattern early pennsylvania longrifle, which at current prices will go between $1500-$2000 (depending on level of carving & engraving) with a 3-6 month lead time. More to follow as it develops.

-Boonestocker

2003-02-08T19:55:00.000-08:00

Still waiting for others to come out of hiding and post.

Started a Valentine contest at http://www.barterfriends.com and it's going pretty well.

Micheal has a lead on a State job, cross your fingers.

Checked out a Craft Consignment shop at the Mall. They want $25 up front, plus a minumum of $40 per month per 2 feet of display area. The good spots are $75 per month per 2 feet. Plus 10% on all sales AND you have to commit to 6 months in advance. So for a decent spot, big enough to do anything with it would be a $925 commitment. The real negatives are that they don't take responsibility for shoftlifted items, and we would have to have enough items to fill the space that are too big to be stolen. I'm thinking about it.

2003-02-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

Hey, that worked! Still don't know what I did, but it worked.

2003-02-06T21:09:00.000-08:00

So far, everything I've entered has posted to the archives instead of the main page.

I've been reading the help section but haven't figured it out yet.

Anyone with a clue who would like to share can e-mail me.

2003-02-05T19:54:00.000-08:00

Want Ads

Things Chy wants:

A big fruffy crochet or knitted afghan – needs to be soft and warm with tight holes so my toes don’t get tangled (don’t ask), and made with mostly natural (at least 50/50) fibers, but no wool. I like dusty rose and smokey heathers, greys and subdued antiquie purples. Doesn’t need a fancy stitch or pattern. Just something big enough for a queen sized bed. Of course machine washable. I don’t mind used as long as is in great shape ( ie not unravelling or in danger of unravelling or obviously stained)

Lots of different Egyptian spicey bath milks, like sandlewood and patchouli and ylang ylang and cedarwood. No synthetic scents. So I can pick a different scent each day but stay within the same theme.

All 3, 4 or even 8 books in any given sf or mystery series, so that I can sit down and read through without findout that a key book is missing. Would love any Laurel Hamilton or Brian Jacques book.

I have Ads:

Things Chy has:

2 half pints of sweet almond bath salts, yummy marzipan scent.

Crystals, lots of decent sized raw cut quartz crystals.

Lots of melt and pour Glycerin, goat’s milk, vanilla soap. Can make into yummy and silky bars just for you.

Nutritional and diet advice. From vitamins to herbs to “diet” bars and meal replacements, I’ll work with you on your individulal health issues and alternative medicine options.

A few bars of Ralph Lauren – Glamourous scented – brown glycerin soap with lavender. Not that pretty but smells good and large bars.

Sweet orange oil buttermilk bath milk.

2003-02-05T19:52:00.000-08:00

Well met,

We had an idea, to make a quarterly almanac, and the first one was made. Quite the adventure. Then the second one was delayed, but finally made. And the third one? By now you’ve noticed it’s absense.

It was a good idea, well conceived, well executed. But life intrudes. And we are going to a new format, a yearly almanac in a “Book of Shadows” format.

Mauswerks Co-operative is still a small-press enterprise and a place to trade talents and skills and bath salts. We will resume printing once the artist, editor, and printer are all on the same coast again, and find an apartment.

This is the first of a mostly monthly rambling.

This blog will include a running commentary on the progress of our next almanac. We are searching for a title or whether to continue with “A Book of Days.” Input is welcome.

This blog is also for want ads and I have ads. We are after all a barter co-operative.

When we get in the position to start on the new almanac, I’ll let you know here. If you think you will want to submit to the almanac, let me know.

Occassionally I will include a list of current and not so current members, their e-dress, and what they specialize in. If you would like added too or removed from this list, just tell me. Of course all transactions are between individuals.

chy

2003-02-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

I'm still learning this, give me a few days.

2003-02-04T21:59:00.000-08:00

And, of course, now I can think of nothing to say.