Good morning!!!!

dave1949 · Mar 9, 2015

Thomas said:
Dave1949.
"There is 6-10 inches of snow lingering in the coming weekend's forecast."
.......................................................................................................
HEY...you should be ashame of yourself,enough of that.

I know. I was going on the theory that if I say it will snow--it won't. We're getting snow flurries right now, less than 1" they say. Four hours ago it was going to be sunny and low 40's.

Aborted car repair mission this morning. Got there only to be told they didn't have the new radiator even though I made the appointment last Monday, and I didn't hear the word sorry either. There was some instructive discussion about how to check for parts needed for appointments and how to use the telephone.

I also let the dealership manager know that isn't acceptable. Scratch Ford and that dealer from my list of places I will buy our next vehicle.

Country's going to hades.

Eric Salop · Mar 9, 2015

daugen said:
what an awful drive up. I decided to take Route 95 and what a nightmare. Huge accident in Virginia shut down the highway for almost two hours and I wound up being on the road for almost twelve hours. Way too long for me. Every time I take 95 I regret it, though I would not have gotten this pic of David/MFW's exit.

That's a long time to be stuck in traffic.
I've been in a few jams where everything is at a complete standstill and after a while people turn the engines off, get out and start talking to one another. Becomes quite a social event until someone finally spots the traffic moving up ahead and it's then a scramble to get back up the road into your own vehicle. Does that happen in the States ?

sodamo · Mar 9, 2015

62°F and 1.6 inches rain last 24 hours but my wx station seems to be acting up, maybe needs a new battery.

We needed the rain but I need to get some stuff done outside, grrrrr

Be safe
Have a good day

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

sodamo · Mar 9, 2015

Drew, can't say that I miss I95 at all.
Be safe

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

Eric Salop · Mar 9, 2015

txdon said:
Also - I have not told anyone one this so SHHHH - I need to finish the other side of the bridge. The pegs are sticking out and I want to cut 4"-6" diameter cedar rounds at different lengths from 4"-10" and glue them on the pegs so it will look like a wood bridge on the north side and rock bridge on the south side. It's one of those retirement project that keeps getting delayed. I will take before/during/after pics - of course.

Promise I won't tell anyone.

It's the sort of project that deserves to take a while, no sense in rushing it now. Perhaps you will get round to making a start come spring. You could even fit just a single cedar round onto a peg each season, that should stretch it out for a few more years. Maybe burn the date into each one to remind you when to do the next.

RedNeckGeek · Mar 9, 2015

dave1949 said:
Aborted car repair mission this morning. Got there only to be told they didn't have the new radiator even though I made the appointment last Monday, and I didn't hear the word sorry either. There was some instructive discussion about how to check for parts needed for appointments and how to use the telephone. I also let the dealership manager know that isn't acceptable. Scratch Ford and that dealer from my list of places I will buy our next vehicle.

Country's going to hades.

I feel your pain, Dave. You'll never get those wasted hours back in spite of any discount coupons or apologies the dealer may offer.

My newest vehicle is from 2005 and will be sold this spring because the technology it embodies isn't supportable by the dealer network. Even worse, it's now long out of warranty, so the next time it breaks the dealer will be fumbling along on my nickle. Better to get rid of it while it's still going strong. Prior to that I sold off a 4Runner because the dealer was so bad, as well as a BMW car. Now I drive an even older Ford truck, but one well supported by the aftermarket, and use independent mechanics that have a hard earned reputation for good work and service. I save money in the process because they work for lower rates than the factory prima donnas.

I think when there is only one source for something, like being the only dealer or mechanic in town, service quality suffers and prices skyrocket. On the other hand, in big cities there are so many that offer the same product or service it is difficult to weed out the bad apples. They can stay in business screwing one customer after another because it's difficult to tell good from bad before hand. Somewhere in the middle you find it easy to get word of mouth endorsements for reliable services and goods, and merchants smart enough to know their reputation figures strongly into their survival. Nearby Chico, CA, a small college town of 88,000 souls, so far seems just about right.

And I agree: the rest of the country is going to hades

dave1949 · Mar 9, 2015

RedNeckGeek said:
I feel your pain, Dave. You'll never get those wasted hours back in spite of any discount coupons or apologies the dealer may offer.

My newest vehicle is from 2005 and will be sold this spring because the technology it embodies isn't supportable by the dealer network. Even worse, it's now long out of warranty, so the next time it breaks the dealer will be fumbling along on my nickle. Better to get rid of it while it's still going strong. Prior to that I sold off a 4Runner because the dealer was so bad, as well as a BMW car. Now I drive an even older Ford truck, but one well supported by the aftermarket, and use independent mechanics that have a hard earned reputation for good work and service. I save money in the process because they work for lower rates than the factory prima donnas.

I think when there is only one source for something, like being the only dealer or mechanic in town, service quality suffers and prices skyrocket. On the other hand, in big cities there are so many that offer the same product or service it is difficult to weed out the bad apples. They can stay in business screwing one customer after another because it's difficult to tell good from bad before hand. Somewhere in the middle you find it easy to get word of mouth endorsements for reliable services and goods, and merchants smart enough to know their reputation figures strongly into their survival. Nearby Chico, CA, a small college town of 88,000 souls, so far seems just about right.

And I agree: the rest of the country is going to hades

I've thought about going the independent mechanic route. There are a couple around but I don't know much about them. I could fix that easy enough by asking folks.

This is the only Ford dealer in a town of 7,500. There are two others a bit further to drive though, 20-30 more miles. You'd think, how could a dealer screw up that advantage? The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a 2007, only 103K miles but it's probably about ready to start nickle and dime-ing me. Hasn't been bad car but not as durable as I would expect for a full-size SUV. The last two Fords I've had, 2003 F-250 with the 6.0L turbo diesel and this one, haven't been inspiring for durability.

We are thinking about a new car. A Honda CRV with AWD is in the front running at the moment. They changed the CRV's to a new CVT transmission in 2015 that I don't know anything about good or bad. Sharon goes on numerous dog show outings alone near and far and I like her to be driving something I have faith in.

The most reliable car we've had was a 2006 Honda Civic that we passed along to a son. Some friends have a 2013 CRV they like. The four of us rode around in that for a couple days and I thought is was a nice car for the price point.

ronjhall · Mar 9, 2015

dave1949 said:
Aborted car repair mission this morning. Got there only to be told they didn't have the new radiator even though I made the appointment last Monday, and I didn't hear the word sorry either. There was some instructive discussion about how to check for parts needed for appointments and how to use the telephone. I also let the dealership manager know that isn't acceptable. Scratch Ford and that dealer from my list of places I will buy our next vehicle.

Country's going to hades.

I feel your pain. As Drew found out it only gets worse if you are tying to get a RV repaired. :thumbdown:
I am sure every time I go to my local car dealer they say not him again. :irked:

Pixguy · Mar 9, 2015

dave1949 said:
I've thought about going the independent mechanic route. There are a couple around but I don't know much about them. I could fix that easy enough by asking folks. This is the only Ford dealer in a town of 7,500. There are two others a bit further to drive though, 20-30 more miles. You'd think, how could a dealer screw up that advantage? The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a 2007, only 103K miles but it's probably about ready to start nickle and dime-ing me. Hasn't been bad car but not as durable as I would expect for a full-size SUV. The last two Fords I've had, 2003 F-250 with the 6.0L turbo diesel and this one, haven't been inspiring for durability. We are thinking about a new car. A Honda CRV with AWD is in the front running at the moment. They changed the CRV's to a new CVT transmission in 2015 that I don't know anything about good or bad. Sharon goes on numerous dog show outings alone near and far and I like her to be driving something I have faith in. The most reliable car we've had was a 2006 Honda Civic that we passed along to a son. Some friends have a 2013 CRV they like. The four of us rode around in that for a couple days and I thought is was a nice car for the price point.

We've had a 2011 CRV AWD that we've loved and considered getting the '15 but because of the new tranny, they are not recommending it to tow behind the moho.

The only complaint I have is that there a little wind noise/penetration. I would hope they've addressed that.

txdon · Mar 9, 2015

Eric Salop said:
Promise I won't tell anyone.

It's the sort of project that deserves to take a while, no sense in rushing it now. Perhaps you will get round to making a start come spring. You could even fit just a single cedar round onto a peg each season, that should stretch it out for a few more years. Maybe burn the date into each one to remind you when to do the next.

That might work!

Eric, if you think bridges are scary don't watch this youtube or you may never start a fire in your fireplace again. (Don't let young children watch this.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzgavGowD_A

dave1949 · Mar 9, 2015

Pixguy said:
We've had a 2011 CRV AWD that we've loved and considered getting the '15 but because of the new tranny, they are not recommending it to tow behind the moho.

The only complaint I have is that there a little wind noise/penetration. I would hope they've addressed that.

Thanks for the report. No motor home towing to worry about. The CRV is rated #1 by Car and Driver in that class. We have good Dodge-Jeep dealer in town. The new Cherokee is interesting but has no track record yet, rated #12. The Grand Cherokee is probably a safe bet but pricey. I haven't been able to interest Sharon in a Wrangler Unlimited.

txdon · Mar 9, 2015

With 2" of rain this morning I had to utilize the AWD of the Subaru and travel through lots of water and mud and make detours to get the ingredients from town to make Sweet Potato Brownies. Eric, have you heard of her, she is from your side of the pond? Sweet Potato Brownies | Deliciously Ella

Her cookbook is #1 in the UK and #4 on US Amazon. Pretty good considering its "healthy" plant based.

Buppies · Mar 9, 2015

Eric my experience in traffic jambs and no movement those conversations among drivers take place in rural areas more than the big cities where life moves at a more leisurely pace

Larro Darro · Mar 9, 2015

dave1949 said:
Aborted car repair mission this morning. Got there only to be told they didn't have the new radiator even though I made the appointment last Monday, and I didn't hear the word sorry either. There was some instructive discussion about how to check for parts needed for appointments and how to use the telephone. I also let the dealership manager know that isn't acceptable. Scratch Ford and that dealer from my list of places I will buy our next vehicle.

We are an all Toyota family, {98 Tacoma, 05 Prius & 13 Camry} and have had real good luck with Marianna Toyota. We have had no major repairs, just the normal maintenance and tires and batteries. {the Prius does eat tires at an alarming rate} They were real good about keeping me updated on their arrival time. Margie wants a new Prius before she retires at the end of next year, and we will be buying it from them.

slow84ta · Mar 9, 2015

it's finally warming up here!

deerseeker001 · Mar 9, 2015

close to 50 here.

slow84ta said:
it's finally warming up here!

300UGUY · Mar 9, 2015

dave1949 said:
Thanks for the report. No motor home towing to worry about. The CRV is rated #1 by Car and Driver in that class. We have good Dodge-Jeep dealer in town. The new Cherokee is interesting but has no track record yet, rated #12. The Grand Cherokee is probably a safe bet but pricey. I haven't been able to interest Sharon in a Wrangler Unlimited.

I am a GM guy, but we bought a new Jeep Patriot for my wife. She loves it, and I was surprised at the features for the price. A small 4x4 for $23K.

deerseeker001 · Mar 9, 2015

41 right now,the snow is melting fast.I thinking by end of week could be seeing the grass.

Larro Darro · Mar 10, 2015

Good Morning {really late night}. 0135, clear, 60F with 91% humidity. Forecast high of 82F with 20% chance of rain, and a low of 60F tonight. Lows in the 50's for the next week, then a couple three nights in the upper 40's after that.

I'm just getting off work and heading home. Figured the odds of me sleeping in are pretty great, so I will go ahead and post now.

Hope everyone has a good day,

Larro