4am & so excited I can't sleep. So composed this a bit half-awake = please forgive typos/grammar/etc.
1st THANK YOU EVERYONE who have helped in the many ways you all did.
The donations, space heater deliveries, words of encouragement & hope, & well,...just all of you kept us from being as down as we might have been! YOU kept us looking toward solutions =better times ahead. I don't know what we would have done w/o all of you! We were not getting help f/anyone else, just riders.
This week we had more problems; plumbing (you don't want to know), electrical system burning (too many space heaters wide-open), & the phones/internet down, & bill collectors. I'll cut the details, too much to list. It's been a heck of a winter so far. The shivering in the cold & pain f/injuries were the icing on the cake.
The latest great news came from our own BARF'er “Acme” (Tony) & wife “Pam,” who took it upon themselves to cut a check for $1.5K to add to the “Fundraiser” account. Holy molly Captain; the wifie & I almost fainted together.
All together, between BARF & the “ZRXOA” Fundraisers, the total came up to *$2.7K. :wow: (*edit: corrected amount up $400.)
We are still astonished here; & trying to wrap our heads around this. Motorcycle riders helping others in need , well it's just unbelievable. The words of encouragement & DOLLARS raised for us have changed minds (friends/etc.) about Riders. Most can't believe it; but we insist they do. We are changing minds about us. I will tell the tale as long as I'm breathing.
All is in the "Fundraiser" account as of Sat. 1/28/2 017. Almost all of it will be used on this Monday/Tuesday. We will keep the account open just in case a donation is slow (snail mail), or trickles in later.
Yes; yesterday's visit/estimate by the 4th contractor (one of many) we've chosen has got the furnace replacement going. He says start Monday & maybe finish by Mon. or Tuesday. It's going to be ~$2.5K total dependent on how it goes. The asbestos flue removal & roof work complicates things contractor says so it could go either way slightly ($3-$500)...
I know a few of you offered deals on labor/installation of the furnace; but at this point we are too cold to wait, & the $$$ are there. It's a low rate contractor, but even w/the space heaters, it's cold in here. We gotta do it!
If luck holds, we will finally have real gas heat by early next week! Hip Hip Hooray! :thumbup
It's heaven sent & for everyone here, & we are forever in your dept. :teeth
All the best & THANK YOU, from "EBD" = Dave, Teri, Eric & Jason