Good morning!!!!

[riptides]

25 outside this AM. Heading to mid 40's.

The job - not working out too well. I am too old for training people on stuff they should know by now. If you know what I mean. Heck, been on it for not even two weeks and am ready to slide my chair over to the recliner full time. So bad the wife noted the attitude adjustment and took me out for a sit down dinner last night. I think we are at the point where our five year plan gets tore up and we start in a new direction. That includes possibly selling the farm and properties.

Times change.

This cold snap we are in -- sure is not helping either. When it breaks, the mud season will start, gosh I miss green and warm.

Anyway, seems like I have a lot of ketchup (LOL) to do.

Buppies, you hang in there.

Got some educating to do today, probably will get frustrated and call it a day shortly thereafter.

Hope all have a good day, stay safe, and be careful out there.

 

[Buppies]

Still hanging riptides

Step back before making any decisions prayers for you and family

 

[NHBX]

8°f now high around 32° today, some sun early then cloudy. winds NNE around 5 mph. Could see flurries or mix later this afternoon.

Snow clean up Sunday was interesting. If any of you remember Joe Btfsplk the little guy with the black cloud over his head in (lil abner comic strip) that’s how the day started. The BX does not like to start in single digit temp’s which isn’t usually a problem. Went out and unlocked the shed doors and a wind gust ripped the door out of my hands and slammed it open (not the first time lol). There is a chain to keep them open, just wasn’t ready for a 30+ mph gust at that moment. Anyway turned the key to glow for a bit and unexpectedly started right up. Let it roll out the doors and left it to warm up. Unlocked the other shed to get the walk behind blower and start clearing the paths to the oil tank and the generator shed. Not so lucky with the walk behind, after 3 pulls not even a pop (usually starts on first pull).
Sat down for a sip of coffee and some contemplation. By now the tractor is warm so started with clean up. That went smoothly, helped two neighbors clear the plow berm they were struggling with. Back to the Ariens and see what’s up with that. Gas full and valve open, choke on throttle set to half speed, key on one pull and nothing. Got a work light so I can actually see what I’m looking at and noticed a wire hanging down underneath the “dashboard” I bet that plugs right into that empty spot on the key switch. One more pull and success! Got the path’s done and thought I’d clean around the loader just in case. One thing I didn’t notice when the door blew out of my hands was the padlock went flying. Guess what I found! Jammed into the impeller, bent a blade broke shear bolt and popped off drive belt. The neighbors certainly heard an ear full!
Left blower where broke, locked up and headed inside for a hot shower and an adult beverage

Yesterday was a do nothing day, today I have to pick up a grocery order and pull the blower apart and see if there was any other damage.

Stay safe and healthy
Enjoy your day everyone

 

[Popgadget]

Good Morning.
It’s 12 outside and clear skies. High of 34.

Yesterday wasn’t too grueling, spent some time with grandson while his mom ran errands, started a small project in the shop, making clamps for the welding table. A friend is bringing me a magnetic drill press to drill a matrix of 3/4” holes in the top for the clamps. The top is 3/4” thick, so it will make a lot of metal chips, even with an annular cutter.

Also time to start the inspection on the little plane, but it’s cold in the hangar until the kerosene space heater catches up. And the TSA paperwork isn’t going away without my help. Also have to prepare for the drug and alcohol program audit.

The job - not working out too well. I am too old for training people on stuff they should know by now. If you know what I mean. Heck, been on it for not even two weeks and am ready to slide my chair over to the recliner full time.

I know exactly what you are talking about. When my FAA principle operations inspector asked me how much longer I was going to do this, I told him “until you piss me off”. He laughed, and being my age, said that he was in the same boat. Except that I wouldn’t would not likely be his trigger.

 

[daugen]

hardened padlock, now that would be a real IED to a snowblower. Hope damage isn't too bad.

off to dealer with a full Kindle

 

[kenmbz]

Morning all, 14 and only up from here - looks like Thursday/Friday could be rain/ice/snow
So put on the skates!

Tractor could probably use some maintenance- wipe zerks and clean up a bit.
Sons talent show is tomorrow. Looks like he will have good competition form other students.

Buppies - hope the infection goes away quick - you need some no Dr. time to relax!
NHBX - sorry to hear about the snow blower- guess it's time for a door opener on the doors to stop them flying Another project !

Stay safe and be well,

Today we are in Xian marching with the first dynasty:

 

[txdon]

Hey Kyle, no fair...we want RNG to move to Virginia! I hope you find affordable insurance, RNG. I know you have your place fixed up so nicely.

Texas is offering incentives for RNG what is virginia offering?
1. Free alligator removal service.
2. Old kids, (very old kids) to hang around him while he mechanics and ask him questions.
3. A barn raising.
4. A red cap
5 TBN welcoming party!

 

[toppop52]

Thank you Roy I voted as well

I responded but I didn’t see a place to vote?

 

[toppop52]

I haven’t said much about latest skin cancer removal. It became infected had to go back and get three dissolvable stitches removed and now on high powered antibiotics the bathroom is new friend. Eating yogurt to replace good bacteria. Odd that it took a month for this to show up

Sorry to hear that Randy, I’ve got several more coming and that’s always a concern. My shin got infected after the first surgery but thankfully responded well to the antibiotics..

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Good Morning!!!! 47F @ 5:15AM. Abundant sunshine. High around 60F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
We're under a wind advisory through tomorrow, and temps next week are supposed to range up into the mid 70sF. Spring is coming early to the west coast. Or did fall ever leave?

A couple years before I retired, an older fellow worker retired, then came back as a contractor, doing essentially the same job. That seemed unusual, so I asked him about the new deal. He was working maybe a day or two less a week, so his weekends were longer, but he liked what he was doing and the new arrangement let him taper off a bit. But he said the real difference for him was less overhead, in that he no longer had to attend safety meetings, training classes, and other BS time wasters that seemed to occupy more and more of our time as the years marched on. I asked one day how he knew it was time to retire, and he just said "you'll know after you have three bad days in a row". And when a project I was working on neared the end, and the new assignment wasn't something I was interested in, and changes were announced decreasing benefits in the retirement plan, and another salary freeze loomed, it was my time. So if you're still working, things will eventually come to pass that will let you know when it's your time, too.

Neat photos, Ken. The ancients sure seemed to have a lot of time on their hands without all the media and computer distractions of modern life, huh?

That devil wind, RS. But how'd the padlock fare?

The bad follower came from a German company called Siebenrock, Bruce. They've been in business for a long time and have a fairly good reputation, and when I get some time I'll send them some photos and see what they have to say about the failure. But at this stage of my life, I value reliability far more than performance, especially when tow fees end up costing more than the broken parts.

On a hunch yesterday, I typed something like "high fire risk insurance" into a google search, and was rewarded with a half dozen or so links to companies that said they specialized in providing such offerings. There was also a link from the California Department of Insurance with another list of eighteen or so more. So I spent all day in front of the computer yesterday, filling out applications and talking on the phone to see if any of them had a policy they'd write on this place. Surprisingly, I got a referral from one of them for a State Farm agent, and she came back with a very reasonable quote. Now I don't believe for one minute that policy is actually available, but I'll do the dance today to see if they'll take my money. I think once their underwriters get a look at it they'll pull that offer right back, though.

Between follow ups on those calls and a physical exam this afternoon, I probably won't get much done on the bike today. I also need to get packed for another trip south, just can't see wasting more of this beautiful weather and I've still got a couple more bikes that are ready to go.

Hope everybody's February gets off to a great start!