ArmyofOne

Actually it was 2 to Iraq, and 1 to Afghanistan, but close enough LOL. Seen inside one trash can, seen 'em all.

It doesn't even have plates on it yet :( Doing yard work today. Backed the ES out into the cul-de-sac so I could spray weed killer in the (gravel) side of my driveway. About 10 minutes later I am diligently spraying with my back turned to the car and I hear the neighbor lady get in her car (we are all close friends here on the circle). Not 10 seconds later, I hear "CRACK" and I swing around and see the ES settling back down after being smacked and her blue expedition pulling back forward. She gets out of her car and its all she can do to not bust into tears. She's a single mom, and shes already had a tough day. I was !Removed! as hell until I realized it was her. I quickly calmed down. I thought it was some idiot flipping a u-turn in the circle carelessly and too fast as they often do and smacked my car till I looked up and saw it was her. I looked at the car, it's the back bumper, on the side where the scrape marks already were. There is a good size scuff and crease in the bumper cover, paint is wrinkled and so is the plastic. Cover will have to be replaced and painted. No damage to metal or taillamp lenses. She felt awful. I was planning to repaint the cover anyway, but now it looks like State Farm gets to do it for me. In all honestly she was more upset about it than I was. It's just a car. I am glad she wasn't hurt, even though it was simply parking lot speeds. It sucks, but its no big deal. I see how it could happen, I am never parked there.

Yes I am doing very well, Thank you! Glad to see you are still here lenore!

Thanks bud! I am a retired CE as well! Was also a Diesel Mechanic/Heavy Equipment Recovery Operator (HERO). The Biscayne is a relic. No other word for it. I can't get it to turn over. We are in the very beginnings of the restoration. Its out back under a cover, I don't even have a plan for it just yet. Very rare. There are probably less than a hundred original examples left in the world, and probably less than 10 of them are bare bones like mine (no power brakes, no AC, 3 on the tree, inline 6, AM radio.) On the one hand I want to keep her original, but on the other hand, a big block and a turbo-400 would make her much more streetable.

Many of you may not remember me. It's been a LONG time. I first joined here back in 2004? I think? I had a 1990 ES250. That was some years ago. I had a blast with that car. Restoring it, going to meets, it was so smooth to drive. I loved it. Then, one day in 2005, I totalled it in a collision in Fort Worth TX. Shortly after that I joined the army. I still stuck around the forums, but couldn't get back in a Lexus for awhile due to monetary constraints, deployments to combat, and getting married. Fast forward to January 2014. I am Medically retiring from the US Army after 8.5 years of honorable service. I got hurt on my 3rd combat tour (IED Strike, broke L1-L5, T11, and T12, shattered my right hip, broke 3 ribs on my right side and broke my right shoulder) and after many months of rehabilitation I was retired. I returned home to Texas, and I was given a home by a wonderful organization called Military Warrior's Support Foundation. They buy, renovate and donate homes to Combat-Wounded Veterans and Gold-Star Families. Shortly after that, my wife left me. There were many reasons for that I wont get into here, but both of us were at fault, and now both of us are better off. I have since remarried and I am happier than I have ever been. And now, I am in school, completely retired, but my degree has always been a dream of mine so I am going to pursue it, even though I can't ever work again due to my issues. My Bachelor's of Applied Arts and Science in Organizational Leadership and Management is just around the corner! In my stable, I currently have a 2015 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4: My new wife has a 2014 Honda Civic EX: I recently acquired a 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne for $300 I am going to restore. It has 20,452 original miles and is all #'s matching. I found it in a barn in Gainesville TX: But, the real reason I am here...is because I finally, after nearly 15 years...have come back to my roots. We are now the proud owners of a Crystal White Tri-Coat 2002 Lexus ES300. One owner, clean carfax, all services performed on-time at Sewell Lexus-Fort Worth. Price paid was $4800+TTL ($5500 OTD): ^the night we brought her home, before I cleaned the headlights. ^That gorgeous white pearl paint was nearly flawless! ^as was the interior! ^151,260 miles when we bought it. We had to drive 3 hours to get it! ^It had new Michelins on it! ^Full service history with a timing belt/water pump/tensioner done at 89,557 miles! ^has all the keys and books, even the window sticker! ^After I polished the headlamps ^got a 5% strip on the windshield and 5% tint on the moonroof. Ever since my Traumatic Brain Injury in the IED strike my eyes are really photosensitive. ^LED Reverse Lamps and Plate Lamps ^LED Puddles ^LED Dome Light ^Replacement HID bulbs. The originals were beginning to show their age, they were almost a pinkish color? So I replaced them with some OEM type bulbs from XenonDepot.com. I also upgraded the Fogs to 55w 3000k HID, and put 5500k Philips LED's in the upper right corner of the headlamps. ^they really dont glare that bad, my phone just took a bad pic

Believe me when I say that I am not overly excited about this, but it is growing on me. We had to trade in the truck yesterday evening. When I left the service, my new job, while welcome and fun (love it), afforded me a nice 50% pay cut, but I am not getting shot at, spending years at a time away from home, or working for kindergarteners with money. That said, I always told my wife that if the truck ever became a burden, I would sell it in a heartbeat. That was the ONLY condition she had with me getting one to begin with, and of course, I agreed. With my 100 mile per day commute, I just could not justify the fuel anymore. Add that to the fact that everything here is so damned far away from everything else, and well...something had to give. We were putting 1000 miles a week on the truck between work and random other stuff, the 22 year-old escort (while fine for a back-up car/round-town runabout) cannot be a primary mode of transport for a daily commute of 100 miles round trip. So, last monday, I put the boat up for sale. It was gone on friday. I hadnt used it in a year, its been sitting, I just don't have the time to even think about fishing. Then yesterday, after work, I did one of the hardest things I have ever had to do...and gave up my Ram. It should have been easy, but it wasnt. So anyway, here I am, trying to get excited about the new purchase, and its growing on me. So without further ado, here she is!

92 Ford Escort LX hatch. I pulled the axles, dropped the trans...found this: 106,500 mi. only 12k of those are my miles. Someone couldn't drive, and it werent me. :eek2: :p Car was still moving under its own power, just required a lot of feathering off the line, and sometimes would shriek if I held the feather too long. OEM clutch, 22 years old. While im in there, I am replacing the CV driveaxles with new, not remanned units, I replaced the output seals on the tranny, I am replacing the flywheel and the throwout bearing. Master and slave cylinders are less than 6 months old so not doing those. annnnnnd.... Boom-shackalacka. All done. Drives like a new car. I need to torque the driveaxle nuts (they are at 150 ft-lbs now, biggest tq wrench I had), when I get to work on friday morning I will hit 'em with the impact we use on big-rigs and pound the retainer ring down into the axle slot. A few things i want to add. This is coming from a seasoned veteran of working on all things with wheels (and some things without wheels )... 1. Never attempt a job like this without some kind of prybar, preferably one that looks like it could kill someone. The bigger the better. Many times on this job i found myself wishing I had not left that particular item at the shop 50 miles away. 2. Grab a BFH from harbor freight. It will save you! 3. Grab a neighbor, or a buddy, or your wife to lend a hand. in this case, 4 hands are better than 2, and if you get one person working up top on the intake and that area, while you work down under the car, things tend to go faster. 3. Don't disconnect the clutch hydraulic lines unless you are replacing the fluid. There is no need. 4. Its a lot easier and less messy to pull the transmission when changing the clutch instead of the engine and trans together. Cheaper too. Less wires to mess with, you dont have to dump the coolant, and the trans is fairly easy and lightweight enough to maneuver and take out the bottom of the car. All I had to buy was 3 qts of trans fluid. 5. Before you start the job, if you dont have a MASSIVE compressor with air tools, swing by your local auto shop and have them zip the axle nuts loose and re-torque to 100ft-lbs. Its enough to get you home but loose enough you can back them off with a ratchet. I screwed around with mine for 2 hrs before I took it up to a shop down the road. Most places will do this for little or no money. 6. Never use a cheater pipe on a racthet. My knee hurts. I knew this one, but I was retarded and did it anyway. 7. While doing this job, since you have to remove the driveaxles anyway, REPLACE THE SEALS ON THE TRANSMISSION. I cant stress this enough. $10 now, will save you a ****load of heartache later. 8. Mark all of your electrical connections. 9. when you take a nut off of the bolt, or a bolt out of a hole, when possible thread it back where it goes so you dont lose it! 10. Last but not least, when doing a clutch, dont cheap out. Buy the whole damn kit. For $20 more I got the clutch, the pilot and throw-out bearing, and the alignment tool. Oh, and dont resurface your flywheel unless you are broke. They are $50 new or $25 to have them machined. Its easier to have the part on hand and just replace it than to take it out and have to take it somewhere. Seriously though, I never thought an escort could drive this good.

More Pix! ^Living Room ^Dining Room ^Galley Kitchen ^Living Room again (Front door is on your left) ^Master bedroom (HUGE walk in closet. Its the size of a 4th bedroom Beautiful Texas Door ^Garage ^And a welcome home.

Morrison family move 2.0! First mod to the house is definitely getting the fence fixed. Its coming apart in a few spots. After that, The 8ft wide gate will be cut in half and hinged at both ends to form a pair of 4 ft gates for access to the backyard with a bobcat or backhoe...just in case. After that, a 12'x12' sundeck off the back patio. From there, who knows?!

http://www.kxii.com/news/headlines/Veteran-receives-a-free-home-in-Van-Alstyne-248918591.html Video! Its all ours!! Someone parked this big ol' ram in the way.

Its official! We signed the deed today! The home is ours on 3/6!

It was completely free! Donated by Military Warrior Support Foundation's Homes4WoundedHeroes campaign. They buy, renovate and donate homes all over the country to combat wounded veterans such as myself. All I have to do is live in it for 3 years, pay my utilities, insurance and taxes, and the home is mine free and clear.

Pix of inside my wife took through the windows :p

Interior pix to come, just a drive by/look around today. My brother, his kids and part of the Ferd Taurus (company car) in the driveway. The Ram was in the cul-de-sac. The Specs: Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Garage: 2 Car end-to-end Size: 1,464 sqft Type: Single Family House Year Built: 2005 Lot Size: 10,947 sqft (.25 acre) Near as we can tell the home has: -All brand new appliances (washer and dryer included) -Brand new AC unit -Brand new carpet -Brand new ceramic tile flooring) -Brand new doors and windows -Brand new roof -Brand new ext trim paint. -Brand new garage door.

Guess who is the newest Senior Technician for Bridgestone/Firestone Auto Care LLC? <-------------- This guy. Salary isn't what I wanted but its good enough to start. They are really competitive since I didnt have the certifications they were looking for. Best part is, they pay for those. And the commute is only 30 mins I can live with that. So lets get the money rolling!

Come on out to texas lenore! we would love to have you! I wasnt born here, but i got here as fast as i could!

Sorry I have been MIA for so long LOC, I have been in the process of medically retiring from the US Army. I was medically retired on 15 January 2014 and My wife and I moved back to Fort Worth TX from up in Fort Lewis WA. We had been house hunting, and about 3 months ago, the Wounded Warrior Project told me about a Program through Military Warrior Support Foundation called Homes4WoundedHeroes. They buy, renovate, and donate houses to combat wounded veterans. I applied in november, just on the off chance... I got a call from MWSF yesterday.... After a 90 day application/selection process, the Review Committee awarded us the home we applied for in Van Alstyne, TX!! All we are required to pay for are the utilities, insurance, and applicable property taxes. ZERO move in costs, and after we live in it for 3 years, the deed becomes ours. The home is fully renovated to our specifications, and ALL brand-new appliances as well as a 10 year home warranty are included. We are SO incredibly grateful for the organization, and for Wounded Warrior Project for pointing us in this direction. Words cannot express the hearftelt gratitude we have for the 80 volunteers who helped the process. http://www.militarywarriors.org/node/778 Our new place! Pix are pre-renovation. Pix of the new place. Not the best pix, but they are the ones from the site, best i can do till next week thursday. Sunset from the other side of the street ^backyard (portion) ^View from back porch

I had my hip replacement surgery on June 20th, and am now awaiting medical retirement (100% disabled veteran). My hip was shattered in an IED strike in 2007, and it just took the stupid army medical system that long to figure out that it needed replaced. SMDH. Pix of the truck I was in: ^pile o' parts... *2000lbs of ordnance buried 6 ft down detonanted right there^ then threw the 85,000lb Buffalo RCV sideways cartwheel style 300 feet into a field. It rolled several times. This is all what was told to me by my lieutenant. I dont remember anything until I woke up in the medivac chopper. 6 people in it, me and one other survived. I had a Traumatic Brain Injury, a shattered hip and a broken tibia. The other person had a severe TBI (coma for 3wks) and other minor injuries.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8467_zpsd6c8a7d3.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8468_zps44e5db8d.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8463_zpsbd92ef2e.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8466_zps5e24818b.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8471_zps15e72711.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8502_zpse3ce610b.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/IMG_0221_zpsb063f811.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/IMG_0218_zpsa86ec5c0.jpg[/img] All in all, we had a great time and we spent about 10 hours on the road, but roughly 6 in the park (2 there and 2 back). We went 289 miles and used a little over a half of a tank of fuel in the ram. Definitely $60 worth of fun and pix. Entrance to the park was free because I get a free annual pass to all national parks through the Army. If anyone would like Hi-Res pix, I got ‘em, just shoot me a PM!

White Falls, Box Canyon, and Sunrise (The closest you can drive a car to the summit of Mt Rainier. 6,944 Feet): http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8395_zps5d5f3227.jpg?t=1373677187[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8394_zps941cd7d0.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8418_zpse4a9a3e2.jpg?t=1373677258[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8421_zps807cd5ce.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8422_zpsb342ca7f.jpg?t=1373677266[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8425_zps104dca45.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8424_zps5a3913cf.jpg[/img] Sunrise! http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8495_zps0fd0dbb1.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8442_zpsb0a9d9b7.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8406_zps0580c368.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8410_zps36624ca2.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8409_zps09601ebb.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8407_zps77c8ef3d.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8411_zps9b126b60.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8415_zps86849a30.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8429_zps3eb56c09.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8430_zps59de9c55.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8443_zps157ad322.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8438_zps4d717d5f.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8482_zps900ca5fd.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8437_zps207b4dbc.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8445_zps98b66180.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8480_zps9c5a2d07.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8475_zpsfa9c7a08.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8472_zpsb58cafa4.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8461_zpsa08b4dbc.jpg[/img]

Random Gorgeousness above 5,000 feet :p : http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8364_zps8e5e8d79.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8363_zps186140dd.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8365_zps92223b41.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8370_zps84dc9d05.jpg [/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8371_zpsab4bdfb0.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8376_zps3febcfa7.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8379_zpsabd4f67d.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8380_zps8370db02.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8403_zps63bda1fc.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8402_zps7120c0d4.jpg[/img]

Next, we hit Narada Falls, Paradise Valley and Reflection Lake. I walked the Narada Falls Trail to take the pix because it was only 1/10th of a mile. But it tested my recovery because man was it steep. http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8330_zps17cdcaca.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8336_zpsfab3bcc2.jpg[/img] But worth it: http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8360_zpsa11a328c.jpg?t=1373675827[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8334_zpsd9439e80.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8332_zps78e45e1e.jpg?t=1373675697[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8335_zpsb55b5114.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8333_zps7add05f1.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8339_zpsc2a5e06e.jpg?t=1373675755[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8340_zpsd3ae08d5.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8342_zps41e18837.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8341_zps759ce583.jpg?t=1373675784[/img] Paradise Valley: http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8348_zpsa8d6503a.jpg[/img] Reflection Lake (Mount Rainier clouded in the background. On a calm day, with no clouds, the mountain will perfectly reflect on the lake):

Next, we hit Narada Falls, Paradise Valley and Reflection Lake. I walked the Narada Falls Trail to take the pix because it was only 1/10th of a mile. But it tested my recovery because man was it steep. http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8330_zps17cdcaca.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8336_zpsfab3bcc2.jpg[/img] But worth it: http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8360_zpsa11a328c.jpg?t=1373675827[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8334_zpsd9439e80.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8332_zps78e45e1e.jpg?t=1373675697[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8335_zpsb55b5114.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8333_zps7add05f1.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8339_zpsc2a5e06e.jpg?t=1373675755[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8340_zpsd3ae08d5.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8342_zps41e18837.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8341_zps759ce583.jpg?t=1373675784[/img] Paradise Valley: http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8348_zpsa8d6503a.jpg[/img] Reflection Lake (Mount Rainier clouded in the background. On a calm day, with no clouds, the mountain will perfectly reflect on the lake):

Yesterday, the wife and I jumped in our '11 Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew 4x4 and went for a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park. The park itself is about 40 miles away from my base (Fort Lewis, Tacoma WA), but the drive we took was roughly 400 miles, we went all the way around the park. We saw everything from rivers, to waterfalls, to glaciers. It really is one of the most magnificent National Parks in the country. Top 5 I would say (and we have literally toured the country several times)...We took over 350 pictures yesterday, but I won't do that to you. Instead, I uploaded all of them to photobucket and picked out the best ones. Being that I just had my hip surgery, she did most of the walking, I did some, but not any of the trails. She took both cameras and went on her merry way snapping photos like a boss. Anywhoo, here they are... The first place we stopped was Carter Falls and the Nisqually River: Next we snapped a pic of Mt. Tahoma: And a few of the Nisqually River, Nisqually Glacier and Christine Falls: http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8297_zps4f324769.jpg[/img] Img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8300_zps8e5279ae.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8298_zps5bc1f780.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8309_zpsab34b395.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8308_zpsaaa6a845.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8306_zps0eefe457.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8307_zps146071c2.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8324_zpsd2b0f5e1.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8293_zps1eb4d5d9.jpg[/img] http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/armyof12006/DSCF8296_zps8bf37ada.jpg?t=1373674911[/img]

somehow i managed to post the above from my wifes accounrt...not entirely sure how. i think its because i switched from laptop to tablet and she was the last one logged in to facebook on the tablet and thats what i used to log in here. smh. technology so etimes, i swear.