Happy Birthday Arnie

ps: Don't take that stairbuilder Golem to a rib place. He will eat you out of your bank account!!!!
Your words are playing right into part of my strategy Gabor. Thanks . Referring to him as a Golem will keep him busy looking up what it means. When he figures it out , the upset stomach will ruin his rib eating capacity. Shhhhh ..... Another thing I plan to do when we face off over a plate of ribs , is to casually mention my bank account is empty because of some guy in Nigeria. .

It is called a psychological brainwash against the reigning rib champion. I have a well planned strategy.

Stan has such a positive attitude toward others he will get all messed up trying to figure out his dilemma. In the meantime I will keep eating.

This is more fun than dropping eggs at Bensen days.

Speaking of Bensen days , did you notice him and John are trying to soften me up with some kind of a free offer to fly south?

A person has to get up real early in the morning to fool Arnie Madsen. I learned my lesson from the guy in Nigeria who cleaned out my bank account.

Can't fool me.
 
Arnie- We are not kidding about the airline ticket. I said John and I and if anyone else wanted to get in on it , would buy your Round trip ticket to Orlando. Serious as I have ever been! We want to meet you Arnie. Stan
 
You always brighten my day.

Thank you for being a friend, Vance

Thank you Vance.

I find I live a lot of my unfulfilled dreams through what you are doing. Thanks. I have always been a car guy , a race and speed enthusiast, I love to design and manufacturer and fabricate . Mostly I always wanted to build my own helicopter. Some day I still hope to. Another birthday just went by for me . I am still on the ground.

In the meantime I feel privileged to watch you and all your Smokey associates and your fabricator friends create a flying machine out of sparks and welding fumes and wood and glass.

Mostly I observe your planning strategy and your thought process and your management style and how you overcome obstacles and snags.. It is a talent you have and one that I do not possess. I am still learning. I have learned a tremendous amount from you Vance. Thank you. Please continue.

I achieved one of my dreams by owning my own fully equipped Auto Body Shop. I know what it takes to meet payroll. In the early years , before instant banking , I would write payroll checks late Friday , and then work all weekend to bring in the funds required. It usually worked.

In later years I could meet payroll without flinching , but I realized my life was consumed repairing everybody else's wreckage . We have a government owned auto insurance industry here. It keeps the rates low for the drivers. It is a socialist system. If a collision repair shop turns out a high quality job , it gets paid the same amount as the fellow who turns out a lower quality job. I will never be a socialist. I was most fortunate to have a younger brother and his sons who now own my shop. They manage to thrive and always meet payroll. I am greatful.

During the intervening years I have been tasked with a huge journalistic project. I am not a journalist. I sought professional help and was unable to find it. It is on my shoulders to do it all on my own. Of all the talents you have Vance, and all the things I needed to learn on my own , you have given me a glimpse of a unique writing style. I will never be able to adapt it fully , but it has been a tremendous help to me. Thanks for the lessons.

I think that is what I really wanted to say.

Once I get it done , you will receive a first edition signed copy.
Once I get it done , I want to start flying again.
I would like to ride in Predator or Mariah.
You always get the good looking girls Vance.
Tell Edna she will have to stay on the ground for only one flight :)
I have money for gas :)
Ribs too :)

Arnie.
 
Arnie, Stan is not kidding.

We spoke yesterday about starting a wayward helicopter pilot fund and your name popped right to the top.

Last year we had a wayward bicker fund and Tim AKA Animal was the recipient this year it is YOU!

Come on down to Bensen Days, the sun and fun, it's a party, it's a party and you are invited!!!
 
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Arnie- We are not kidding about the airline ticket. I said John and I and if anyone else wanted to get in on it , would buy your Round trip ticket to Orlando. Serious as I have ever been! We want to meet you Arnie. Stan

I must decline Stan. I am not ready to head south yet. It would disrupt my plans. I must keep typing and not get distracted. My life right now is such that I could not even have a friend over for coffee. Nobody should make plans to even drop by for coffee. I am surrounded by files and printers and research and there is not even a free chair except where I sit typing.

The rest of my small old cottage is like a temporary warehouse. I like to call it the only dry ground I own. When all that Canadian snow melts the water surrounds me. I have had 8 floods in 9 years. I am a slow learner , but eventually I quit unpacking everything. My home is a warehouse.

By this summer , my plans are to move into a nice compact apartment. It is all planned out. I am shopping for a good used apartment that has optional features such as an engine and wheels and a compass that points south. One of my dreams has always been to have a motorhome. That way I could be everywhere and still be at home. I love that type of freedom.

Once I finish the project I am currently working on , I will start to move around again. You will be first on my list. I guarantee it. I will call ahead. Thank you for your offer Stan (and John) I recognize the sincerity of it and your motives. Allow me to to complete my task here first.

I also want to thank you for the influence you have had on me. You have been a great friend.

You showed me how a guy can lose a few things but never lose a smile.

Or a brighter outlook.

I have never lost my smile. See below. Thanks for the encouragement Stan.

I have a good life. I have good friends. I plan to visit them all soon.

Arnie.

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Arnie that is sooooo disappointing!
I too was born under the Sagittarius Sign so I understand you are on a mission and nothing will keep you from finishing.

I just did the same thing learning and then writing a website! But take a a break come on you deserve it. The work will be there when you get back and whoever you are writing it for will not appreciate it at the same level of intensity that you are sacrificing ALL of your free time for.

Trust me I've been there and done this. The work will wait a few days, Bensen days won't! PLEASE!
 
OK Stan just called me! I understand NOT this year you are on a mission!

I really hope it is successful!!!!! If I can help let me know!
 
Arnie, Stan is not kidding.

We spoke yesterday about starting a wayward helicopter pilot fund and your name popped right to the top.

Last year we had a wayward bicker fund and Tim AKA Animal was the recipient this year it is YOU!

Come on down to Bensen Days, the sun and fun, it's a party, it's a party and you are invited!!!
Thank you John. And thank you for everything you strive to do for the Rotary Wing Forum community. I have always been able to clearly see your intentions. Thanks.

I do not receive charity very well. I feel it threatens my rugged individualism. I am not designed to receive a helping hand that cost somebody money.

But I am always willing to absorbing free advice and good influence from anyone who is willing to share it. As long as it is at no cost to them other than to type it out here.

Come to think of it , I have also carefully observed that this forum has always been provided to us for free. What a bargain. Somebody needs to be thanked for that as well.

But if you insist , John Rountree , there is nothing that would tickle my fancy more than if some people put in a few cents and bought me ticket on the Mosquito helicopter draw out of New Zealand. Christmas is coming up you know. I have always liked the fact that Christmas comes right after my birthday. When you have had as many birthdays as I have , it is always nice to have Christmas come right away. Old people like me appreciate short term planning.:)

Besides I would really like to build a Mosquito helicopter. The hard part is the painting and learning to fly. I still remember how to do a perfect paint job , and hey , the flying part is actually quite easy once you know how.

I know how.

What I am really leading up to is the fact that I am willing to set aside my rugged individualism for a moment to get a free ticket on a helicopter draw. . My thinking is that if the coffers overflow .... then heck .... give the extra tickets to all the other aspiring guys here on the forum who would also like to win a helicopter.

I have never met a man yet that would not like to have his own helicopter.

Some women too.



Arnie
 
I was afraid of that. You and I are alike. This was a hard lesson to learn for me too.
It's not charity!!!
It was a birthday present and by looking at it as charity, you deny others from receiving the joy of giving. I now accept all gifts offered but it took years for me to learn this.

Do you have a link to the drawing?
 
Arnie that is sooooo disappointing!
I too was born under the Sagittarius Sign so I understand you are on a mission and nothing will keep you from finishing.

I just did the same thing learning and then writing a website! But take a a break come on you deserve it. The work will be there when you get back and whoever you are writing it for will not appreciate it at the same level of intensity that you are sacrificing ALL of your free time for.

Trust me I've been there and done this. The work will wait a few days, Bensen days won't! PLEASE!

Another Sagittarius.

I am not into astrology but I know that Sagittarius aims too high , shoots too far , and gets tired when he finally gets caught up to his arrow.

I am Sagittarius and always catch up to myself eventually. Then I sleep for a week and shoot again. :)

Hey John , when I need a break , I set my work aside and come on the forum. I blow some steam , show some freezing pictures , and generally try my best to tell only true stories.

They say that rotary wing pilots only tell true stories.

I like the sounds of that quote :)

Now if I could just get a propeller turning over my head , then I would really be doing something.

.
 
Arnie- You are independant like a lot of us are....and I totally understand your committment to your project.

The rib off contest will just have to wait .........

Stan
 
Arnie

Mentone is later in the year and I know the restaurant serves ribs on Friday night.

Just a thought,
Russ
 
John not that I would know since I have never purchased one in my life but ..... here is the link :)!!!
http://www.promotion.mosquito.net.nz/

Hey Gabor.

The other day an email message came here saying somebody bought me a ticket on the helicopter. I had a great birthday .

The purchaser was anonymous but the words "my friend" were included.

I treasure all the friends I have made on this forum.

Thanks to all.

Arnie.
 
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