I took the old strings off, cleaned it up, treated the fretboard with fretboard oil, waxed the body and neck and new strings on it today. Played it a bit but see I need to do a little work to lower the action. As AC stated it does have a very nice tone so I think it will be a keeper!
I got a surprise yesterday evening, my nephew gifted me a mandolin! A Kentucky KM140. Here is a pic as received, it needs a good cleaning, new strings and is missing the tailpiece cover but is in good shape otherwise.
I just finished "Conquistador" by S.M.Sterling. Great read about a WW II vet accidentally opening a gate in 1946 to an alternate Earth where Europeans never made it to the Americas. I'm now starting "Way Station" by Clifford D. Simak. Looks, so far, to be another good read.
He's one of my favorite authors. Cryptonomicon is my favorite of his novels, but Seven Eves is very good too. I agree with you on Snow Crash. Stephenson just keeps getting better and better.