Stoplight's Account Talk

[TSP-roulette]

On the way down the view would look something like this:

 

[Stoplight]

On the way down the view would look something like this:

TSPR,

Ya, you've highlighted one of my FAVORITE "Looney Tunes" characters !...Thanks !!!

The one I remember the most ? Those flying "buzz bombs" or winged firecrackers...I remember, as a kid, sitting in our '54 Chevy at the drive-in (remember those ?), and us all laughing our butts off when they kept showing up throughout the episode !!!


Stoplight....

 

[Stoplight]

NO Investment comments...just another Family "report" !!!

So...the Grand-Niece Sonja is back in the States ! We were sworn to secrecy !!!

As you recall, it's "winter break" in that part of the world...she was originally going to travel to Columbia with other Teachers during the break, but that fell through. She and another Teacher decided they WEREN'T going to sit around Lima for 2 weeks, so they found a deal on airfares home...the Church subsidizes a portion of the cost, as a "R and R" break.

She's in VA now with her Beau... (what a surprise !)...She heads for KY this weekend, after her little Sister gets home from a mission trip to Ecuador (??).

If you've read her latest blog post, (My Peruvian Fourth of July Lesson | Grace Reaching), you know she's had some eye-opening experiences, AND that she's come to appreciate, and miss, her "home" and Family even more. She is ALSO mentally and physically exhausted, which I'm sure you Teachers can relate to...so this trip is timed perfectly !

We knew she was coming back this weekend, and Wife Susan couldn't stand it anymore, so she texted her...wrote her, in Susan's "Rosetta Stone" Spanish : "Welcome to the United States !" Sonja texted back : "Oh my word ! Never appreciated America more !"

She returns to Lima 2 Aug, so we don't expect to see her this trip...that's okay...less than two months before we show up on HER doorstep in Lima !!! She says she's SO EXCITED we are coming down !!!

Anyway...say a prayer to the God of your choice for her safe travels, and the strength she needs to finish her work in Lima !!!


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

...so the Kid is enjoying herself, back in the States...go figure ! Here's a pic she sent me yesterday...from somewhere on the Potomac River ! :smile:





Today, they were in Baltimore (my old stomping grounds !), going to the National Aquarium and checking out Downtown. She sent me several pix that brought back a lot of memories...including one of the stopped traffic on I-95, on their way back to NOVA (Northern Virginia) !

FYI...I ragged on her a little about her web site...I KNOW some here have contributed to her mission work, and/or posted "Comments" to her blogs (including me !!!), but no comments are showing up, and her "Support" page has not been updated since April ! Anyway...others are responsible for the "Support" page, but she IS responsible for reviewing Comments...said she hasn't done that in WEEKS, because she's been "super busy" ! Hope you understand...I do !!! The Kid appreciates all the prayers, moral, and financial support she's getting ! Thanks, all y'all !!!


Stoplight...

 

[Intrepid_Timer]

...so the Kid is enjoying herself, back in the States...go figure ! Here's a pic she sent me yesterday...from somewhere on the Potomac River ! :smile:



Today, they were in Baltimore (my old stomping grounds !), going to the National Aquarium and checking out Downtown. She sent me several pix that brought back a lot of memories...including one of the stopped traffic on I-95, on their way back to NOVA (Northern Virginia) !



Stoplight...

At least you didn't mention the beltway! I drove from Frederick to the other side of Baltimore for over 12 years every week day (120 miles round trip) and the worst part was sitting on the beltway or stopped at the Inner Harbor tunnel because of an accident or debris. I sure miss all the road rage idiots though. Oh wait, that "might" have been me a time or two........:cheesy:

 

[Stoplight]

WAIT !!! Was that YOU who kept flipping me the finger at the toll booths, when I cut in front of you ???

I commuted 2 hours each way (typ) from north of Baltimore (Harford Co/Bel Air) to DC for a while...tried driving down ; Orange Line metro at New Carrollton ; carpool ; until I couldn't STAND it anymore !!! Lasted only 7 months ! Are you old enough to remember the tunnel books of tickets, before the days of "EZ Pass" ??? Been there ; done that !!!

Fortunately, my Agency listened to my pleas, and transferred me in to Baltimore...a 1 hour commute !!! I'll never forget : co-workers couldn't believe I had a 1 hour commute each way, but I thought it was GREAT !!! :smile:

Stoplight...

 

[Intrepid_Timer]

WAIT !!! Was that YOU who kept flipping me the finger at the toll booths, when I cut in front of you ???

I commuted 2 hours each way (typ) from north of Baltimore (Harford Co/Bel Air) to DC for a while...tried driving down ; Orange Line metro at New Carrollton ; carpool ; until I couldn't STAND it anymore !!! Lasted only 7 months ! Are you old enough to remember the tunnel books of tickets, before the days of "EZ Pass" ??? Been there ; done that !!!

Fortunately, my Agency listened to my pleas, and transferred me in to Baltimore...a 1 hour commute !!! I'll never forget : co-workers couldn't believe I had a 1 hour commute each way, but I thought it was GREAT !!! :smile:

Stoplight...

Guess the tickets were before my time. I use to take the Metro from Shady Grove to George Washington University in DC. I would MUCH rather drive personally. :smile: The good old days. I use to drive from Maryland to Texas straight thru (30 hours). Now I'm lucky if I can make it 12...............LOL!

Oh, and yes it was me! ;swear

 

[ravensfan]

Well guys, it's been interesting reading your comments regarding the traffic on I-95, in and around Baltimore and the surrounding counties. Just all the more reason I'm happy to be retired so I don't have to deal with all that any longer. I gotta say though, the worst traffic jams for my money occur in Honolulu Hawaii. I vacationed there in 2013 and it didn't matter what time of day or night it was, there was always a traffic jam. On one occasion, I was meeting a friend for dinner. It took 2 hours to travel the 9 blocks by car. I could have walked it in about 30 minutes...

Take care and stick with them O's

 

[Stoplight]

Guess the tickets were before my time...

...The good old days. I use to drive from Maryland to Texas straight thru (30 hours). Now I'm lucky if I can make it 12...............LOL!

Yeah, the ticket books were a PITA !!! You had to stop every 30 days at the Toll Authority Office and buy the book...they stamped the date on the inside cover, so it was only good for 30 days....you ate any unused coupons !!! Dang young whipper-snapper !!!

OTOH, I can relate to your "driving tale" ! Back in the day, I'd drive the 17 hours, non-stop, from Maryland to FL to see my "Honey" for the weekend, and she'd do the same, coming up !!! Now ? 8 hours on the road, and we're BEAT !!!

Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

Well guys, it's been interesting reading your comments regarding the traffic on I-95, in and around Baltimore and the surrounding counties. Just all the more reason I'm happy to be retired so I don't have to deal with all that any longer....

Take care and stick with them O's

Hear, Hear, RF !!! Retirement IS a good thing !!!

Do you remember the Harbor Tunnel ticket books ??? Geez...you're almost as old as me, but perhaps you never had to go that far "south" in your career !!! :smile:

O's not looking good tonight...GRRRRRRR !!!

Stoplight...

 

[Intrepid_Timer]

Yeah, the ticket books were a PITA !!! You had to stop every 30 days at the Toll Authority Office and buy the book...they stamped the date on the inside cover, so it was only good for 30 days....you ate any unused coupons !!! Dang young whipper-snapper !!!

OTOH, I can relate to your "driving tale" ! Back in the day, I'd drive the 17 hours, non-stop, from Maryland to FL to see my "Honey" for the weekend, and she'd do the same, coming up !!! Now ? 8 hours on the road, and we're BEAT !!!

Stoplight...

Hang on, I actually do remember those books now! Didn't use them for long, but it was a pain to have to stop and get more. Open up the book, flip out a ticket and the toll booth would rip it off. I don't remember for sure, but I think the tickets were voided if they weren't actually attached to the book?

 

[weatherweenie]

We're getting excited about our trip south. I thought about seeing if we could arrange a meet with your niece, but I'm not sure my wife would understand wanting to meet a cute blonde in Peru. Sooooo....I will wish your niece well, and commend her for the service she is providing to humanity.

...so the Kid is enjoying herself, back in the States...go figure ! Here's a pic she sent me yesterday...from somewhere on the Potomac River ! :smile:


View attachment 34611


Today, they were in Baltimore (my old stomping grounds !), going to the National Aquarium and checking out Downtown. She sent me several pix that brought back a lot of memories...including one of the stopped traffic on I-95, on their way back to NOVA (Northern Virginia) !

FYI...I ragged on her a little about her web site...I KNOW some here have contributed to her mission work, and/or posted "Comments" to her blogs (including me !!!), but no comments are showing up, and her "Support" page has not been updated since April ! Anyway...others are responsible for the "Support" page, but she IS responsible for reviewing Comments...said she hasn't done that in WEEKS, because she's been "super busy" ! Hope you understand...I do !!! The Kid appreciates all the prayers, moral, and financial support she's getting ! Thanks, all y'all !!!


Stoplight...

 

[ravensfan]

Hear, Hear, RF !!! Retirement IS a good thing !!!

Do you remember the Harbor Tunnel ticket books ??? Geez...you're almost as old as me, but perhaps you never had to go that far "south" in your career !!! :smile:

O's not looking good tonight...GRRRRRRR !!!

Stoplight...

Yes I do remember the ticket books. Our secretary kept a book of them for squadron members use and each time I had to travel to Fort Meade, BWI, DCA or IAD I would use them. Had to remember to get a receipt so the books would balance at the end of the month.

As for personal use, I was lucky enough that I lived and worked on the same side of the tunnel, so there was no need for me to have them.

Yes O's are slowly falling from grace. Perhaps it's time to turn my attention to my Ravens. Rookies and Quarterbacks have reported to training camp with Veterans due this Thursday...Come on O's!!! I aint heard no fat lady! :smile:

 

[Stoplight]

Hang on, I actually do remember those books now! Didn't use them for long, but it was a pain to have to stop and get more. Open up the book, flip out a ticket and the toll booth would rip it off. I don't remember for sure, but I think the tickets were voided if they weren't actually attached to the book?

Spot on, I-T !!! They had to see the date stamp on the inside cover, AND the attached ticket, or they wouldn't take it...no way could you rip one off for them !!!


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

We're getting excited about our trip south. I thought about seeing if we could arrange a meet with your niece, but I'm not sure my wife would understand wanting to meet a cute blonde in Peru. Sooooo....I will wish your niece well, and commend her for the service she is providing to humanity.

LOL !!!

Yeah, it would probably be more trouble than it's worth, although she is one of the most "out-going" people I've ever met !

I will surely pass along your kind comments to her, though !


Stoplight...

 

[konakathy]

Stoplight and Weatherweenie - Watch out for this photo junkie among the ruins. He and his buddy will pop up at anytime looking for a photo op!

 

[Stoplight]

Kona,

YOWSWER !!!

That "boy" is a Southern "Piece of Work" !!!

Did a Doctor visit this week...got a prescription for high-altitude RX...not sure it'll work for me...I got a sulfa drug allergy ! We'll try a few pills before we head to Machu Piccho and see if it works !!!!


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

I'm BAAAAACCCCKKKK !!!!

My DSL internet was down, AGAIN, after a nasty thunderstorm moved through the area...

AT&T finally got it back up and running, yesterday afternoon...it must've been an area-wide problem, because when I called it in, they didn't make me jump through hoops, trying this and that ("Did you reboot your modem ?" blah blah blah), like some computer rookie ! Instead, I got a recorded message that they had "problems" in my area, and then hung up on me ! Yes, AT&T...it IS a problem with YOUR system !!!

So I have some catching up to do on various threads...


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

Stoplight and Weatherweenie - Watch out for this photo junkie among the ruins. He and his buddy will pop up at anytime looking for a photo op!

KK,

Those are pretty cool pix !!! I assume that's Machu Picchu ??? Did you do that death-defying climb to the top of the peak, where you have to sign in and out of the climb ??? We've decided it ain't for us ! If the Kid wants to do it, we'll wait for her !

We spoke with the Kid Sunday...she was on her way back to DC with the Beau, and was returning to Lima Monday...the Beau had some job interviews in the DC area, and Nashville....wishing him luck !!!

She sounded WAY different than the college Kid we knew before She's always been "mature" for her age, but we think this trip has changed her life ! She mentioned some pretty scary things that she'll be doing on her agenda the next few weeks, so all y'all continue to pray for her safety...Thanks !!!

She IS still excited we're coming down...can't wait !!!


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

Okay...back to financial "stuff" !!! :smile:

Time for a house-cleaning in my portfolio...my "buy-and-hold" stocks and mutual funds have been drifting lower and lower over the last several months...time to cull the herd !

Today I sold my SNR, NCT, and ISH for a loss...dividends not meeting my 4% goal, and ROI WAY down since my buys... Also (finally !) sold the Wife's USAA Precious Metals fund for a huge loss, %-wise...didn't have a lot of $$$ invested there anyway.

What I'm hearing is that when the Fed raises rates, the real estate REITs will get killed even more...thus, I'm out...Transports getting killed, too...big loss on ISH, and they cut their dividend big time, too...

I'll re-evaluate my various positions after the mutual funds price out tonight, and report on my actions from there...


Stoplight...