what did you do today? (2008-2015) (closed)

[W2R]

Where I live it's really, really cold in winter. I had to replace my Honda battery after 12 years.

Wow!!! That's wonderful.

I don't think the weather in NO is much different than that here in Texas and I have never had to replace a battery in my Toyotas early. They last a good four years. I don't think its the climate. You just got a bad battery or something else with your car. By the way, I thought it wasn't in the recall?

I guess that depends on where in Texas - - I love having an average 60"/year of rain, whereas in College Station we only had about half that, for example. I never heard of anybody in College Station having trouble with Toyota stock batteries either when I lived there. So far, I am 2/2 with Toyota batteries dying young here and 2/2 with high quality batteries lasting over 5 years here. But then, hey, what would I know about any of this? Message boards are for people to disagree and wrangle (with civility, naturally) about even the simplest things.

You're right, it wasn't in the first recall, and in fact even the Toyota service rep I spoke with today (the paperwork guy, not the mechanic) thought it wasn't in the recall either until I told him I got the notice. It was in a later recall which I guess included fewer fixes. I took it in at 11:45, and they called me saying it was done at around 2:00 or so, and I guess that's why they were able to do all that so fast.

Thank goodness they didn't have to replace the carpet, since it was upgraded and already firmly bonded to the floor. There was a software update I think, and supposedly they re-shaped the accelerator pedal (which if my recollection is correct doesn't come closer than 3"-4" or so from the carpet anyway, but ok). The pedal felt the same to me so it must have been a subtle change.

 

[Nords]

Sixth surf session in 12 days, this one in eight-footers.

I did the first 90 minutes with my 9'0", and in retrospect I should've just left it in the car. I did another hour with my kid's 7'9" epoxy (just making sure it doesn't dry out while she's at college) and wow-- what a difference.

That was an 800 mg ibuprofen surfing session, but I'll try more with the epoxy board on Monday.

 

[freebird5825]

It reads like there are a few, or at least one other Bostonian who are not in favor. Oh, never mind. NMB.

You're a real character. I may have to grant you Honorary Noo Yawker rights.

 

[NW-Bound]

I have only visited the state on brief occasions, nor have had friends from there.

But Noo Yawkers have a reputation to be "neurotic and unfriendly" according to a Cambridge University research. I guess my tendency to taunt people is a trait shared with Noo Yawkers then. Uh Oh!

So, how about this to make amend to a "fellow Noo Yawker"?

 

[freebird5825]

I have only visited the state on brief occasions, nor have had friends from there.

But Noo Yawkers have a reputation to be "neurotic and unfriendly" according to a Cambridge University research. I guess my tendency to taunt people is a trait shared with Noo Yawkers then. Uh Oh!

So, how about this to make amend to a "fellow Noo Yawker"?

Make it chocolate and you gotta deal !

"Neurotic and unfriendly"...hmmmmm. I'll take Neurotic for $200, Alex.

 

[Nords]

In one of those ironic Navy twists of fate (of which I'm sure there will be many more), today I had to sign as parent for our kid's NROTC scholarship. She's under 18 years old (for a few more months) and considered too young to enter into legal contracts.

The reason she's signing it now, over a week after being indoctrinated into NROTC, is because the naval officer's obligation has changed to five years' commissioned service (instead of four) and the program obligation now starts after just one year (instead of two). This was all announced many months ago but the latest & greatest version of NSTC1533/135 just hit the streets-- two weeks too late. Apparently some naval traditions never change.

Of all the things that I've had to sign away to the Navy over the last 32 years, I always thought "and your first-born child, too" was just a figure of speech...

 

[REWahoo]

Of all the things that I've had to sign away to the Navy over the last 32 years, I always thought "and your first-born child, too" was just a figure of speech...

Hey, you "bought" an annuity from them so whaddya expect?

 

[NW-Bound]

Make it chocolate and you gotta deal !

"Neurotic and unfriendly"...hmmmmm. I'll take Neurotic for $200, Alex.

Sorry for the late delivery, but I have been shopping for this.

About "neurotic", what does it really mean, I wonder?

Could it be simply an euphemism for crazy?

A bit of Web research is in order. So, a quick look on Wikipedia yielded the following.

...effects of neurosis can involve anxiety, sadness or depression, anger, irritability, mental confusion, low sense of self-worth, etc., behavioral symptoms such as phobic avoidance, vigilance, impulsive and compulsive acts, lethargy, etc., cognitive problems such as unpleasant or disturbing thoughts, repetition of thoughts and obsession, habitual fantasizing, negativity and cynicism, etc. Interpersonally, neurosis involves dependency, aggressiveness, perfectionism, schizoid isolation, socio-culturally inappropriate behaviors, etc
​

Ah, I feel so much better now. I am neurotic, you are neurotic, they are neurotic... We are all a bunch of neurotics here as far as I have seen. And that is even after the political forum has been closed.

 

[Meadbh]

I test drove a Toyota Venza (I'll report on the Which Car? thread). Then a light lunch with friends at a local diner, followed by grocery shopping. After this, a bike ride in the park is planned, followed by (groan) laundry.

 

[Leonidas]

The reason she's signing it now, over a week after being indoctrinated into NROTC, is because the naval officer's obligation has changed to five years' commissioned service (instead of four) and the program obligation now starts after just one year (instead of two).

Getting them younger and keeping them longer, eh? And the Navy didn't have the decency to send the press gang to the house to save you the cost of the airline ticket! The Marine Corps at least paid for my bus fare to Parris Island.

So, if she makes it a year and a half in the program and decides to chuck Rice and engineering aside - does it mean she has to spend time as BMSR Nords at Chinhae NB before she can go on to live her real dream of being a pro-surfer?

 

[Nords]

Getting them younger and keeping them longer, eh?

It's technically five active and three Reserve, although the latter three can be served out in IRR.

Here's more irony-- the obligation for the NROTC Marine Corps option is only four years. I guess that means they learn faster? Or wear out sooner?

BTW our tenant's teen (http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/joining-the-marine-corps-50045.html) starts MCRD San Diego on 7 Sep. He's spent the last month working out 3x/week with all the nice local gunny sergeants and he doesn't think recruit training is going to be very nasty after all. He signed up for four active/four Reserve in order to be guaranteed combat engineer, assuming he satisfactorily completes infantry school first.

And the Navy didn't have the decency to send the press gang to the house to save you the cost of the airline ticket! The Marine Corps at least paid for my bus fare to Parris Island.

We've been told that a travel claim is going to be filed. (I can't wait to get our kid's e-mail titled "My first travel claim".) But I bet we lose money on this one-- the Navy itinerary would route through LAX, Phoenix, Denver, and Atlanta instead of going non-stop to Houston.

The money ain't quite the same as a service academy, either, although those guys "pay" plenty for it. The NROTC stipend is only given out for 10 months a year. (Freshman year it's $250/month.) During the other two months the mids are either on cruise (and being paid a regular midshipman pay of $960/month) or on unpaid leave. I'd be surprised if summer training is more than 4-6 weeks.

ROTC doesn't exactly jump right into the money after graduation, either. A taekwondo friend was commissioned from AFROTC to 2LT last May. They handed him a diploma & a commission and said "See you in November for flight school. We'll start paying you then!" So now he's spending his 40 hours/week as a delivery driver for a medical-supply company.

So, if she makes it a year and a half in the program and decides to chuck Rice and engineering aside - does it mean she has to spend time as BMSR Nords at Chinhae NB before she can go on to live her real dream of being a pro-surfer?

It's either that or pay back the cost of the resources they've consumed, plus interest. The contract doesn't precisely spell out the gory details, no doubt to leave room for negotiation if it turns out that they're mutually disgusted. If she went past the "free" period and later tried to ditch NROTC while staying at Rice then there'd definitely be some shortages in the college fund. Not my problem!

Of course she loves college right now because freshman Orientation Week just ended. I'm sure she'll be singing another tune by Families Weekend.

I've been to Chinhae, although hopefully things have improved since 1991. That's the only liberty brief I ever heard where the corpsman was more concerned about hepatitis than venereal diseases. The hepatitis wasn't just coming from the food, either...

 

[freebird5825]

I have doors on the brain...I stained the 3rd door of my project to redo all the faded stain on the interior cheapo fake "woodcore" doors that are original from construction in 1977. I am using a regular dark walnut stain right over the original stain. Give it 10 minutes and it starts to thicken and spreads beautifully without running. I am using a standard 2 inch brush to make a simulated wood grain look.

I still have 4 folding closet doors to do, and the back side of the 3 doors done this week.

The results are just fabulous.

I think some new doorknobs are in order. I may go with a faux antique look. I have too many doors to try an antique place for some genuine ones.

 

[RonBoyd]

I think some new doorknobs are in order. I may go with a faux antique look. I have too many doors to try an antique place for some genuine ones.

Antique Restoration Hardware for Home Renovators. Supply Yourself With Quality Restoration Hardware for Period Home Renovation Projects.

Van Dykes Restorers - restoration hardware, glass, furniture and restoration supplies

Craftsman bungalow restoration decor and home furnishings

Ed Donaldson Hardware Restorations

Ian Evans's World of Old Houses

http://www.victorianhardware.com/misc.html

Woodworker's Hardware® - Kitchen Cabinet hardware, clamps, cabinet drawer slides, knobs, pulls, hinges, abrasives, adhesives, cabinet organizers.

etc., etc., etc.

 

[Nords]

I think some new doorknobs are in order. I may go with a faux antique look. I have too many doors to try an antique place for some genuine ones.

Home Depot & Lowes carry Schlage interior antique bronze lever handles.

Schlage Camelot Handleset with Flair Interior Lever (Antique Brass) - Left Hand - F360 CAM 609 FLA LH at The Home Depot

We just put new lever handles on a half-dozen interior doors in our 1989 home... thinking ahead to the days when our arthritis-clawed digits will no longer wish to clasp & turn. Makes it easier for grandkids and pets, too.

The nicest thing about this hardware is that it's adjustable to either type of knob inset. No new holes or adapters required.

 

[W2R]

Got an estimate on tree removal and some other major landscaping work in preparation for selling the house. The estimate was about 1/3 what I expected so I am jubilant. On the other hand, they are not in any rush to get started in this heat.

We had a nice lunch.

After lunch, we traveled 45 miles to Tanger outlet mall and walked around (spending nothing but it was fun anyway and good exercise). There were some great sales going on. It was hot and we walked pretty far, and eventually I just had to sit down and cool off. So, while he shopped at Cabela's I read on my Kindle in the air conditioned car.

When we got back we took a huge load of my kitchen things to Good Will.

Then, the grocery store.

Yep! Nothing to do in retirement but sit and stare at the wall.... (not!)

 

[Walt34]

Yesterday was "Bike Night" in Martinsburg, WV. I was too late for the ride (DW was coming back from a week in SC yesterday and I wanted to see her). But I did get in to see many of the bikes and the ride through town.

Lots of touristy kitschy stuff for sale in trailers set up on the street and an appearance by Miss Berkeley County, WV (I didn't know there was one) riding on the back of someone's bike.

Even though the sky was overcast it was still 91 F and humid so I didn't stay for more than a hour and half or so. Rain threatened so I headed home.

 

[bbbamI]

Love the pics Walt.

DH and his buddy are on a multi-state bike adventure and are enjoying much cooler temps than TX.

As for me, I went to bed at 2 a.m. and got up a little after 11 this morning. Sucked down some caffeine and am getting ready to run some errands.

Wallpaper stripping is scheduled for the afternoon...doesn't mean I'm gonna do it, but it's scheduled.

 

[ls99]

Early kayaking on the lake. This morning's find: A hint of Fall on the way.

 

[Nords]

Our kid posted a college freshman-orientation photo on FaceBook that I'm pretty sure she's going to regret someday. I won't post it here but let me just sear this visual image into your retinas: "shaving cream fight".

The good news is that classes start tomorrow.

We empty nesters resumed our 10-day grocery-shopping schedule (we could only store seven days when we had a teen in the house). Later this morning we emptied a vermipost tray and harvested a two-gallon bucket of [-]worm poop[/-] rich, fertile, organic soil.

It'll be nap time as soon as I finish lunch.

This afternoon I'll get back to drafting the 64-page "pocket guide" version of The Military Guide. I'm a quarter of the way through but it's more about what gets left out than what gets put in.

Impact Publications says they'll have the book manuscript edited within the next week or so, and concluded with "this may go faster than anticipated". I'm going to try to curb my optimism until I see how many changes I'm asked to make...

 

[Stevewc]

As for me, I went to bed at 2 a.m. and got up a little after 11 this morning. Sucked down some caffeine and am getting ready to run some errands.

You know I would never want to contribute to any one's delinquency but:
Have you ever tried a shot of Brandy in that?
I've found it really improves the taste and morning enjoyment.
Such a warm fuzzy additive,
Steve

 

[bbbamI]

You know I would never want to contribute to any one's delinquency but:
Have you ever tried a shot of Brandy in that?
I've found it really improves the taste and morning enjoyment.
Such a warm fuzzy additive,
Steve

Brandy?....haaaarumphhhhh...I've never heard of such a thing.

(but I do use Jack Daniels)

mmmm, hmmmm...a little fuzz is good every once in a while...

 

[RonBoyd]

"The beer I had for breakfast tasted good so I had one more for dessert." Kris Kristopherson

 

[Dimsumkid]

I helped a family friend with a plumbing leak, they were up until 3am worried about the problem. I went over around 5pm, discovered they had old galvanized pipes, leading to copper, so there was no pressure to check the leaking sink. Just about to cut the copper pipe just after the shutoff valve when we discovered the hot water pipe was pretty hot (meaning water flowing through). So we stopped cutting, lo and behold water pressure! Bad news, the shower turns on, but won't turn off, but I got the leak in the sink fixed. Hate to say it, but 40-50 yr old galvanized supply lines lead to clogged up fixtures. Now they have to go shopping for a new shower faucet, it was over 15 years old. Then they wanted to pay me after feeding me dinner....the original issue, the leak took me 1 minute to fix.

 

[freebird5825]

Home Depot & Lowes carry Schlage interior antique bronze lever handles.

Schlage Camelot Handleset with Flair Interior Lever (Antique Brass) - Left Hand - F360 CAM 609 FLA LH at The Home Depot

We just put new lever handles on a half-dozen interior doors in our 1989 home... thinking ahead to the days when our arthritis-clawed digits will no longer wish to clasp & turn. Makes it easier for grandkids and pets, too.

The nicest thing about this hardware is that it's adjustable to either type of knob inset. No new holes or adapters required.

Antique Restoration Hardware for Home Renovators. Supply Yourself With Quality Restoration Hardware for Period Home Renovation Projects.

Van Dykes Restorers - restoration hardware, glass, furniture and restoration supplies

Craftsman bungalow restoration decor and home furnishings

Ed Donaldson Hardware Restorations

Ian Evans's World of Old Houses

http://www.victorianhardware.com/misc.html

Woodworker's Hardware® - Kitchen Cabinet hardware, clamps, cabinet drawer slides, knobs, pulls, hinges, abrasives, adhesives, cabinet organizers.

etc., etc., etc.

Wow, thanks guys! I copied and pasted all those links into a calendar reminder for myself. It's fun doing little things like this around the house. The best part is I can do a door when I feel like it, not trying to cram it all into spare time on a weekend.

Last night I had some excitement. I got a frantic phone call from the waterfront guy at the little boating club where I dock my powerboat. The wind was coming from the east in gusts and creating havoc with the row of boats where mine is docked. My bow line had snapped, and one of the guys had temporarily re-tied it.
I had to semi-crawl out on a "bucking bronco" finger slip and redo the bow line and added another spring line for good measure. The good news is my back up system of lines had kept the boat from smashing into the dock at the bow and the two stern lines (also with backups) had held fast. I got soaked to the skin in driving rain.
It took about an hour for my adrenalin level to return to normal.
No damage to the boat. Phew!

 

[Stevewc]

Last night my group played a wonderful gig in this building (mouse over it to see what it really looks like). It was at a posh members-only club, and they really loved our singer. Unfortunately, I couldn't get pictures while we were playing; I took these while setting up.

T-Al,
This gives me insight into what you do.
Even if it was about a year ago.
Nice classy place.
Steve