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#RetireeBreakfast

#1 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/11/2007

#RetireeBreakfast
I had breakfast yesterday with a bunch of the guys I used to work with at Cat. It was fun to get together and catch up with what they are doing. We also spend more time discussing medical procedures and ailments but I guess that comes with the territory.

MjL

#2 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/09/2008

#RetireeBreakfast with my old union buddies went well yesterday. We had a great time talking over old times and comparing new surgical scars. It is unfortunate that we do spend some time discussing who has passed, who has some new dire ailment and who is left among us. I was tickled to see Maynard showed up again. He will be ninety years old on Monday. He has some Some-Timers going on but seems to be remarkably spry and “with it” for his age.

MjL

#3 Click this link to see Blog page --> 01/24/2009

#RetireeBreakfast
I’m going to town pretty soon to have breakfast with a bunch of guys I used to work with at Cat. Most of us are retired but some are still enslaved until they finish doing their time. I will be full of more stories by the time I get home again! I will probably have heard most them already but sometimes they morph into different stories so you can tell the again!

MjL

#4 Click this link to see Blog page --> 01/25/2009

#RetireeBreakfast
The next occasion was yesterday morning when I shared breakfast with a bunch of the guys I used to work with at Caterpillar. We only get together about twice a year and each time there seem to be one or two guys who are no longer with us or have some dread medical ailment. This example of time passing is probably the worst.

MjL

#5 Click this link to see Blog page --> 12/11/2010

#RetireeBreakfast
I went to breakfast this morning with a bunch of guys I used to work with at CAT. Most of them have also retired but there are a few yet still working. It was good to catch up with them, tell and re-tell old war stories, etc. Inevitably we all had to bring up our various ailments and surgeries —— the price of growing old I guess. We probably won’t see each other for another year or so. More and more often we also update each other on those who have passed on. That can be depressing.

MjL

#6 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/11/2015

#RetireeBreakfast
I was off bright and early to the Par-A-Dice breakfast buffet in E. Peoria where I met up with about a dozen of the guys I used to work with at Caterpillar. They meet there the second Tuesday of every month. I just found out about it a few weeks ago. I guess they have been doing this for a few months now. It was fun but also sad because I found there have been quite a few of us who have passed on. It was almost 1 p.m. before I got back home as we gabbed and gossiped the entire morning away. As a result I hardly touched the Blog yesterday. Oh Well. It happens.

MjL

#7 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/08/2015

[Insert usual gripe about losing an hour of sleep here.]

#RetireeBreakfast Busy day yesterday - I started with breakfast with a bunch of guys I used to work with at CAT from Bldg. K Tech. Center. I didn’t stay too long though because I knew Tracey wanted to get some work done on the bathroom.

MjL

#8 Click this link to see Blog page --> 04/15/2015

#RetireeBreakfast
I had breakfast at the casino yesterday morning with a bunch of retirees from CAT Tech. Center. I had to recount my #GallBladder surgery, of course, but that quickly turned to #AaronSchock’s resignation. I blamed him for my gall bladder attack because it occurred shortly after I read the notice on the Internets.

I didn’t stay long at breakfast because I thought the tree service guys might show up to cut up our fallen tree. Nope. I got a call last evening and they plan to show up this afternoon around 4:00.

MjL

#9 Click this link to see Blog page --> 06/10/2015

#RetireeBreakfast
I went to breakfast with the retirees yesterday morning. Ended up sitting across from Greg Manuel. Greg was on the same machines with me for many years and followed me on second shift. We worked well together and still remain friends. A lot of guys who worked together like that for years can’t say the same.

MjL

#10 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/15/2015

It has been a long time since I haven’t made an entry of some sort on this Blog but I never got around to it yesterday.

I started the day out with #RetireeBreakfast with my retired friends from CAT. The second Tuesday of every month we do that. I started mowing grass as soon as I got home which developed a case of “mower back” so a shower and nap was in order after that. Then late in the day I got a call about our scooter. I spent some time with a guy who came by to look at it and take a test drive. He says he will be here today to buy it.

MjL

#11 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/11/2015

#RetireeBreakfast
It is the second Tuesday of the month so I will be off to eat breakfast with a bunch of CAT retirees this morning. I look forward to sharing old and new stories with them. I noticed the obituary of one of the guys we used to work with so I suspect we will remember him today.

MjL

#12 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/14/2015

I went to the #RetireeBreakfast yesterday morning. We talked of hunting, fishing, crop yields, old cars and medical bills just to mention a few things. It is always good to sit down with these guys and swap stories.

MjL

#13 Click this link to see Blog page --> 12/09/2015

Spent a couple hours yesterday at the #RetireeBreakfast with my retired friends from CAT. We cussed and discussed current events and are in agreement that this election cycle is the most insane any of us has ever encountered.

MjL

#14 Click this link to see Blog page --> 01/13/2016

#RetireeBreakfast
I had breakfast yesterday with a bunch of old geezers like me who used to work at the CAT Tech Center. The drive to the buffet at the gambling casino was a bit harrowing as there are so many people driving cars on slippery roads who should NOT have a driver license. I stayed entirely too long and it was almost 11:00 before I started home.

MjL

#15 Click this link to see Blog page --> 01/15/2016

One of the fellows at the #RetireeBreakfast last Tuesday was telling me about his new solid state computer hard drive and how unbelievably fast his computer boots up now.

#Technology I spent some time looking them over on the Internet and have decided they are still a little expensive for me. I have gotten used to having a 1 TB drive for my main drive and I don’t want to step down to save money. Eventually the bigger solid state drives will get more affordable.

MjL

#16 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/09/2016

I am off to have breakfast with my retired friends. Will get back to this Blog and policing the Internet later. #RetireeBreakfast

MjL

#17 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/10/2016

#RetireeBreakfast with the guys yesterday morning was a lot of fun. We got into all kinds of conversations about politics, health care and many war stories of years past in the factories. It was almost noon before I got back home.

MjL

#18 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/03/2016

#RetireeBreakfast
You may have heard the Par-A-Dice casino has been cutting hours and employees. One of the casualties of those cuts has been the breakfast buffet on Mondays and Tuesdays.

A bunch of us old retired CAT guys have been eating breakfast there on the second Tues. of every month. That will now move to the second Wed. At least for this month until we can get a consensus. I expect it will stay that way but stay tuned.

So if any of you guys are reading this; see you next Wed.

MjL

#19 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/09/2016

#RetireeBreakfast
I will be eating breakfast with my retired CAT friends this morning. Hope they all got the notice for the change of date!

See you later.

MjL

#20 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/10/2016

#RetireeBreakfast
I had a great time at breakfast yesterday with all the old farts I used to work with at CAT. I was surprised at the turn-out.

MjL

#21 Click this link to see Blog page --> 04/14/2016

#RetireeBreakfast
I went to breakfast with my retired buddies yesterday. There was a pretty good crowd there again this time and I stayed later than I had planned. I was going to set fire to one of my large burn piles but decided it was too windy. I spent a couple hours on the mower instead.

MjL

#22 Click this link to see Blog page --> 05/12/2016

#RetireeBreakfast
I started yesterday off at breakfast with my retired friends. At first I thought I would skip this month because I was feeling kind of blah. Glad I went after all. It is always good to catch up with the adventures (and misadventures).

MjL

#23 Click this link to see Blog page --> 06/08/2016

I just got a call from my brother to check and see if I was still alive since I hadn’t updated the Blog. I also missed a text he sent me because I was gone most of the morning at the #RetireeBreakfast with the old codgers I used to work with. It was good of him to check on me and I am a bit amazed at myself for not Blogging. I haven’t missed a day for quite a while. Thanks for the call Alan!

MjL

#24 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/14/2016

#RetireeBreakfast
I had breakfast with a bunch of other retirees from CAT yesterday. As usual we discussed our medical benefits, the cost of our medical benefits, how our medical benefits are different depending on when we retired, etc.

Also a bit of political talk. The consensus seems to be that Hillarity won and America lost. And it doesn’t matter who wins in November because American will lose.

MjL

#25 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/11/2016

#RetireeBreakfast
Yesterday was the second Wednesday of the month so I had breakfast with my fellow retirees from CAT. If you felt a tremor in the Force it was us verbally solving all the troubles of the world. I remembered to wear my hearing aid this time so I actually understood what the conversation was most of the time!

MjL

#26 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/14/2016

#RetireeBreakfast
My computer is silent this morning. I don’t know if the speakers died or if it is my sound card. Everything else seems to work fine. It is always something. I won’t get a chance to work on it this morning though. I am going to breakfast with the retirees.

MjL

#27 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/14/2016

The #RetireeBreakfast went well and we solved a lot of the world’s problems if you hadn’t noticed by now.

MjL

#28 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/12/2016

I just returned from the monthly breakfast with the ROF (Retired Old Farts). Had a smaller group this time as several were out trying to beat the rain to get their corn and beans harvested. A good time was had by all telling, retelling old war stories. #RetireeBreakfast

MjL

#29 Click this link to see Blog page --> 12/15/2016

#RetireeBreakfast
Breakfast with the old retired farts yesterday was fun but it seemed a bit constrained. There was no political talk. None. That is almost a first I think. I suspect everyone was afraid to ruin the good atmosphere by tainting it with the despair of it all.

MjL

#30 Click this link to see Blog page --> 01/12/2017

#RetireeBreakfast
I had breakfast yesterday with the old retired farts I used to work with. I had a mild case of the “Blahs” and almost didn’t go. I’m glad I did after all. More old war stories.

MjL

#31 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/09/2017

I missed the #RetireeBreakfast yesterday. I don’t know if I missed the reminder alarm or if it never went off at all. I’m thinking it never went off. Curious.

I didn’t realize I had missed it until one of the guys called me around lunch time to ask if I had overslept or what? It is embarrassing to admit my memory failed me and I have to rely on my phone to remind me what to do and when to do it.

MjL

#32 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/09/2017

#RetireeBreakfast
I missed breakfast with the retirees last month. I got a phone call yesterday from one of the fellows to remind me to show up yesterday. It was nice to be reminded even though I had managed to remember it this time.

MjL

#33 Click this link to see Blog page --> 04/12/2017

#RetireeBreakfast
I almost missed breakfast with the retired guys again this morning. I don’t know what is going on with my phone alarm but it didn’t go off again this morning. One of the guys called (again) to ask where I was so I drove over real quick before everyone left. I’m going to have to do some experimenting with this silly phone calendar and figure out what the problem is before I forget something important.

MjL

#34 Click this link to see Blog page --> 05/11/2017

#RetireeBreakfast
I managed to remember that yesterday was the day to have breakfast with my retiree friends. I still got a call from one of them to remind me. I suspect they must think I am losing it since I completely forgot to go month before last. Oh Well. It is good to be missed!

We talked a little about the current and ongoing insanity of the Twitler administration and we all wonder where this will end up.

MjL

#35 Click this link to see Blog page --> 06/15/2017

#RetireeBreakfast
I had breakfast with my retired co-workers yesterday. As usual we talked a good bit about the weather, lack of rain recently, crop conditions and the various ailments of those not attending. And, of course, lots of old war stories about Caterpillar.

One topic of discussion was the shooting at the GQP politicians at a ball field. I’m not the least surprised and it will likely get worse before it gets better. You can’t publicly sneer at people forever and not expect some kind of push back. Sadly I don’t think they will learn. #Shooting2017AlexandriaVA

MjL

#36 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/14/2017

#RetireeBreakfast
I went to breakfast with the old retired co-workers yesterday and the conversation was buzzing about the “health insurance opt-out letter”. I didn’t get a letter explaining what this was about.

So I asked a few questions and it seems to only be a concern for those who retired after 2005, so that shouldn’t be a concern for me.

I decided to call #Caterpillar anyway. What a run around? When I finally got a chance to speak to somebody I explained why I was calling and asked if I was supposed to have received one of these letters. The young lady immediately asked, “Do you mean you didn’t get the letter?”, as if I should have gotten this mysterious letter. I told her to back up a step and explained I wanted to know if I was SUPPOSED to get a letter since I retired before 2005. She put me on hold.

When she came back she gave me a phone number to call. I called the number and it was an explanation about how to get, fill out and return the opt-out letter. Nothing more. Leave a message. So I still don’t know IF I’m supposed to opt of anything or what I would be opting out of if I did.

I call the company benefits number again and the young man I get this time tries to send me to the same phone number as before. I press for answers. Specifically about me having retired in 2003, how would my benefits change. He puts me on hold.

He comes back and says he can’t help me. I have to call this number that doesn’t give you any opportunity to talk to a person, wait until the end and leave a message. They will call back in a couple days. Really?

Next I call the union hall. The lady who answers the call sounds rather harried. She quickly explains if I did not retire on or after Jan. 1, 2005 there will be no changes and I should get the annual benefit letter in November.

So I guess I hope that is correct? I would still like to have this verified by the company because, after all, they have the final say and I do NOT want to get rolled into the company plan that is the default if you don’t mail in the infamous “Opt-out Letter”. Health care shouldn’t be this complicated.

MjL

#37 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/12/2017

I went to breakfast yesterday with the old retired guys. Health insurance was once again a part of our discussions. I also talked a while with Chris Arnold. His son is in the military and is now stationed in S. Korea. I would find that very worrisome right now. #RetireeBreakfast

MjL

#38 Click this link to see Blog page --> 12/14/2017

#RetireeBreakfast
Yesterday was the second Wednesday of the month so I had breakfast with my retired co-workers. I always have a great time with the guys telling old war stories. Every now and then I even hear one I haven’t heard before.

My good friend Mike Reeser mentioned somebody ought to write a book about some of those escapades and I mentioned I had been compiling a list of some of the pranks and practical jokes. He said he saw a few of them on Facebook and proceeded to tell me about some more I hadn’t heard about. So I have more ammunition material for future submissions to the series.

MjL

#39 Click this link to see Blog page --> 01/11/2018

Yesterday was the monthly #RetireeBreakfast and I had a good time. I usually do. It was terrible foggy during the drive and, as always, I fumed at the idiots who drive with no headlights.

I stayed longer than usual and also ate more than I should.
That’s one downside of eating at a breakfast buffet.
I ended up taking a nap when I got home from the food stupor.
I enjoy it at the time but always hate myself after.

MjL

#40 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/15/2018

The #RetireeBreakfast was yesterday. I almost always learn something new. This time I learned how you can build a pier on a lake. You wait until the ice is frozen thick enough and you go out with an ice auger and drill holes and drive steel posts down into the lake bed so you can attach your pier to those.

This discussion lead to people, snow machines, cars, four-wheelers, trucks, etc. falling through the ice and then how much the state fines you per day until you get your machine off the lake or river bottom.

MjL

#41 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/15/2018

One of the topics for discussion at the #RetireeBreakfast yesterday was who to vote for in the upcoming Dimocrat primary. I couldn’t make any recommendations. Since the primary in 2016 I have so soured on the Dimocrat party I can’t see much use for any of them and I wouldn’t feel right advising anyone to vote one way or another. I kind of lean toward Bliss only because I think Pritzker is trying to buy the ballot with money and Kennedy with his dead relatives. Then again I’ve heard Bliss has voted against teacher pensions and wants to raise taxes again. Buyer Beware.

MjL

#42 Click this link to see Blog page --> 04/12/2018

#RetireeBreakfast
Another enjoyable breakfast with the guys yesterday. Lots of war stories about work, union stuff and picket duty.

MjL

#43 Click this link to see Blog page --> 05/10/2018

I had planned to miss the monthly #RetireeBreakfast yesterday but it was raining and I decided I could use a break from the sorting of household items. I’m glad I went.

Greg followed me to the #TremontHouse and checked out some of our plunder. He took the small compressor home to see how well it worked and said he would like to buy the snow blower. That was a good deal.

He seemed reluctant to take the compressor for free and said he might pay me something for it after he makes sure it will work for him. I told him whatever made him feel right about it was good for me. I certainly wouldn’t get much out an old beat up little air compressor on Craig’s List or anywhere.

MjL

#44 Click this link to see Blog page --> 06/14/2018

I went to the #RetireeBreakfast yesterday morning. That’s two days in a row that seemed to start out almost normally without having an appointment of some kind or other.

After lunch I went to the Tremont house and spent a couple hours sorting and packing again. Progress is slow but steady. We have cleared out almost all of the kitchen cabinets. I am hopeful we can get to the point of renting a dumpster in a couple weeks.

Tracey tried out her new mower last evening. It did a great job although she had to go fairly slow because the grass was so deep. The mower is so quiet it is odd to see it mowing.

MjL

#45 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/09/2018

The #RetireeBreakfast was a good time as usual. I missed last month because we were filling a dumpster that day. There was a lot of talk about Agolf Twitler and the damage he is causing.

MjL

#46 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/13/2018

I went to the monthly #RetireeBreakfast yesterday. It seems we are all reaching an age where somebody is sick or dying. I feel guilty sometimes when I realize that even with all my problems I am so much better off than some of my friends. Getting old isn’t all roses.

MjL

#47 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/11/2018

I started yesterday with a short visit to the #RetireeBreakfast. I cut it short to get home for an appointment with #TremontRoofing to check out some damaged shingles or flashing.

It was raining when I got home and shortly after I got a call to reschedule because they won’t work in the rain. So now we wait until Monday.

MjL

#48 Click this link to see Blog page --> 11/15/2018

#RetireeBreakfast
I started yesterday having breakfast with my retired co-workers. I forgot to take my wallet so I had no money. Fortunately I could use my watch to pay to get into the breakfast buffet.

It was good to visit with everyone again and there were a couple guys there I hadn’t seen in many years. Once in a while somebody will run across people and invite them to show up.

MjL

#49 Click this link to see Blog page --> 12/13/2018

I really enjoyed the #RetireeBreakfast yesterday, as I usually do. It was a smaller group than usual with a couple of the snowbirds off to warmer climates.

I discovered a text message invite to breakfast from my brother Alan after I got home. I don’t know why I didn’t hear it when it arrived. Guess I will have to get a rain check from him on that.

MjL

#50 Click this link to see Blog page --> 01/10/2019

#RetireeBreakfast
Started yesterday morning with breakfast with my retired buddies from CAT. We shared war stories from times gone by and enjoyed the company.

MjL

#51 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/14/2019

I wimped out on the #RetireeBreakfast yesterday. It was cold and windy. There was ice on the drive. I was warm and thought about the long walk from the parking lot to the buffet and decided to stay home and stay warm. I AM getting old.

MjL

#52 Click this link to see Blog page --> 04/11/2019

#RetireeBreakfast
I had breakfast with the guys. I missed the last two months so it was especially good to be there. And I had a bunch of war stories to tell about the kitchen remodel. I got a little sympathy and they all marveled that Tracey and I are still married after that. We got to talking about jobs today, education, the lack of skilled workers, etc.

They say a lot of local machine shops and businesses are having a hard time finding workers who can do the job. They aren’t drug testing or requiring college any more. I think they should try paying a decent wage.

MjL

#53 Click this link to see Blog page --> 05/09/2019

I went to the #RetireeBreakfast yesterday. There weren’t as many guys there as usual. Maybe spring cleaning or something?

The main topic of discussion was the river flooding. A lot them have been fighting water in their basements, etc. Fortunately, since our move, we haven’t had any issues with that anymore.

MjL

#54 Click this link to see Political Cartoons page --> 05/11/2019 #31

At the #RetireeBreakfast somebody commented that we had to admit Twitler was doing a great job with the economy. In his next breath he started lamenting the cost of his medical insurance, the losses on his soybean crop, etc. etc. All you can do is shake your head I guess.

MjL

#55 Click this link to see Blog page --> 06/12/2019

#RetireeBreakfast
Our usual breakfast table had been taken over by a bunch of old people on a bus tour to the casino. Damned old people spoiling our breakfast!

It is amazing how something so simple can throw you off. We are truly territorial creatures by nature.

MjL

#56 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/10/2019

#RetireeBreakfast
I will have breakfast with the retirees this morning and then later in the afternoon I will go to see the foot doctor. I don’t have anything to do most days; I should do a better job of scheduling things on separate days?

MjL

#57 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/11/2019

I had a really good time at the #RetireeBreakfast yesterday.
Stayed later than usual because the war stories were interesting.
It is amazing the number of things I had forgotten and then the memories flood back when somebody reminds me. Some good times.

MjL

#58 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/15/2019

I had a good time at the #RetireeBreakfast yesterday. There were quite a few more guys there than usual. Steve Short made it this time and I haven’t seen him in years.

I pretty much loafed the rest of the day away after I got home. Other than working a bit on this Blog and fixing supper.

MjL

#59 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/11/2019

I went to the #RetireeBreakfast this morning. (second Wednesday)

I had a great time, as usual, and probably repeated more than a couple stories I’ve told before. We are getting old enough they seem new again.

MjL

#60 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/10/2019

Yesterday was the #RetireeBreakfast. I didn’t stay as late as I usually do. I was feeling a little under the weather and I think it might have been the after effects of the vaccinations. I took a short nap after I got home and felt some better.

I made a grocery run after lunch and began to feel a bit rundown after that too. So another nap was in order. Any excuse I guess.

MjL

#61 Click this link to see Blog page --> 12/12/2019

I went to the #RetireeBreakfast yesterday. I had a lot of fun and stayed so long my butt went to sleep. TMI?

Anyway, it was a good time. Especially since I missed the last one because of my busted toe.

MjL

#62 Click this link to see Blog page --> 01/08/2020

#RetireeBreakfast
I’m a couple days late on this one but I had a great time at breakfast with the retirees. I ended up sitting across from a guy I never really worked with at CAT and we had some fresh conversation. A break from retelling the usual war stories. His only fault is that he is a die hard Hillarity fan but he wasn’t obnoxious about it. I didn’t say a word about politics because —— you know.

MjL

#63 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/13/2020

#RetireeBreakfast
I had breakfast with the retirees yesterday morning. This time around when I mention Bernie there are no snickers or rolling eyes.

What a difference four years make. They may not prefer him but they can’t deny he isn’t owned by corporations or billionaires.

MjL

#64 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/12/2020

#RetireeBreakfast
I went to breakfast with the retirees yesterday and the crowd was a bit thinner. I think this virus has spooked a lot of people.

At the same time there are people joking about it as if it is no big deal because Twitler told them it was a hoax. Go figure.

I can understand people buying up all the soap and hand cleaner, but what is the deal with buying all the toilet paper?

MjL

#65 Click this link to see Blog page --> 04/08/2020

My alarm just went off to remind me this is the day for the monthly #RetireeBreakfast. Not going to happen this month and I wonder about next month as well.

MjL

#66 Click this link to see Blog page --> 05/13/2020

My alarms just alarmed to tell me it is time to leave for the #RetireeBreakfast. Once again this event is missed due to the pandemic.

MjL

#67 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/10/2021

#RetireeBreakfast
My calendar app just reminded me I am supposed to be eating breakfast with the retirees this morning. The last time was a year ago March.

I hate to delete the reminder but I have doubts about when we will be able to do it again.

MjL

#68 Click this link to see Political Cartoons page --> 07/14/2021 #8

That’s me today. For the first time in almost 11/2
years I am going to the #RetireeBreakfast again.

MjL

#69 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/20/2021

I forgot to mention I went to the #RetireeBreakfast a week ago Wednesday and had a really good time. It had been over 18 months since the last time and we had a lot to catch up on. It was also the first time I’ve gone out to eat in a restaurant in all that time and my first time dealing with the oxygen tank.

MjL

#70 Click this link to see Blog page --> 06/14/2023

#RetireeBreakfast
My calendar just reminded me it is the second Wednesday of the month. That is when I used to have breakfast with the retirees. I haven’t done that for almost two years. I don’t even know if they still do it or how many of us are still alive. For some reason, I can’t bring myself to delete the reminder.

MjL