Subj : Todays Blooper To : Daryl Stout From : Barry Martin Date : Thu Jun 24 2021 08:01:00 Hi Daryl! BM> Now the robbers would be better off accepting credit and debit cards! DS> Or iPhone Gift Cards. Some guy tried to scam me into purchasing DS> them, but I've now blocked his address from my email. I think he DS> figured out I was wise to him when I didn't respond a second DS> time. I haven't seen but a few; OTOH the spam filters seem to be doing a pretty good job of redirecting that kind of message to the Junk/Spam folders. Periodically I glance through the folder to check for a valid message in there (rare) -- push the button. DS> Diet Green Tea Citrus, or Sweet Tea. Nothing else matters. :) BM> Dyslexic Waiter: Here's your diet Sweet Citrus and Green Sweat! DS> BLEAH!! :P At least the gastroenterologist said told me that I DS> could drink that when I prep for the colonoscopy. I've had to DS> postpone repairs on the bathroom...using that money for medical DS> issues, get needed groceries, and pay other unexpected bills. DS> Maybe I should try my luck at a scratch off lottery ticket?? :P I DS> could do well with a few thousand dollars right now. I've read winning at the lottery has a smaller number than being struck by lightening. ....Hmmm, maybe you should buy a few tickets! DS> I think we'll sleep on this one, debate wise. BM> Especially if they have to travel to the event by rail! DS> I've got over 47,000 Amtrak Guest Rewards Points, that will DS> expire soon. I hate to waste them, so I'm considering doing a DS> "strange trip" in August. May as well have some fun!! DS> There is a ham radio event on Saturday, August 14, in DS> Shreveport, Louisiana...but while trains go through there, they DS> have never been an actual Amtrak stop...and there's no longer a DS> depot there. However, there is a "Thruway Bus" connection from DS> Longview, Texas...a stop on the Texas Eagle route (between DS> Mineola and Marshall). The bus takes passengers to/from the train DS> to the destination stop, and it's "through ticketing". Sounds like routes some of my packges have been taking lately: one started in California, wandered in California for a couple of days, then to Atlanta, then to Indianopolis, then to Milan, IL (where it probably should have gond instead of Atlanta), then finally here. DS> But, to lengthen the ride a bit, I'm considering doing this: DS> On Friday, August 13, I take the train from Little Rock to DS> Dallas (around 8 hours). I detrain in Dallas for a 4 hour layover DS> for the northbound train. Then, I'll ride the train to Longview DS> (about 3 hours)...then take the Thruway Bus to Shreveport (about DS> an hour). They used to drop off at the Airport, but now, the DS> dropoff point is at the Intermodal Bus Depot downtown. A fellow DS> ham radio operator would pick me up at the bus depot, and take me That should be a good trip! If it was mostly business I'd be doing the direct route, but as it's more for pleasure and you love trains (and have the points) wandering the rails is the way to go! DS> to the hotel Friday night, then to the event at the Louisiana DS> State Fairgrounds on Saturday. He has family in Shreveport, but DS> he and his wife live in Denham Springs, near New Orleans. So, he DS> likes to come up there to visit family. DS> 3 hours). Then, I'd again have the 4 hour layover in Dallas, then A four hour layover isn't too much down time. Should be something to see while wandering the terminal. DS> With the amount of Guest Rewards Points, I'd likely be able to DS> have a Roomette or the Handicapped Sleeper all the way (except DS> maybe the segment from Longview to Dallas and vice versa, where DS> I'd go Coach, as it's only 3 hours))...and the rail fare would be DS> free. I'd get breakfast on the way down, and dinner on the way DS> back. It's the "Flexible Dining", complementary for Sleeping Car DS> passengers. I don't think they have a cafe car for coach DS> passengers, but I'm not sure. Bet you'll find out before the trip! ...They migh not have a diner car but probably some sort of snack. DS> Yet, Amtrak does NOT have a link to timetables anymore, and so DS> I have to call them and find out where I get them. Even if they DS> are in PDF format for download only, I really don't want to go That seems odd: "everything" is on-line now. ...There's something of scheduling at https://www.amtrak.com/home. Almost to the bottom (above the gray section) are four buttons, one is "Interactive Planning Map". ....Back near the top where select destination, etc., there's a slide button labeled "use points". OTOH sometimes it's a lot easier to talk to someone who is familiar with the system and terminology and use their expertise! DS> The bottom line though is that finances are tight, and the DS> way my legs have been giving me fits...even though I may want DS> to just get away for a weekend, it may no longer be feasible. DS> Too bad the event isn't closer, where I could just drive to it. Everything can't be local! Plus this way you get to do your train ride! ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® .... Whenever I think of the past, it brings back so many memories... --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .