What are you doing today? [Part II]

[northcreek]

Watched the eclipse and even though mostly cloudy (WNY..!) we got a good view,
Nice to sit on the deck for the 1st time this year and down a few ales ….

 

[Mooseman]

Left work early so I could pick up Mrs. Moose and head south so we would be in the path of totality. Tons of traffic heading down there and even more heading back home! We did get to a spot however it got cloudy but not heavy enough to completely obscure the eclipse. After making it back to town, went to our favourite B&G for some discounted appies and beer.



Was really weird as it got dark, the frogs started croaking and all around was dark and looked like a sunrise or sunset. Waiting for it was like watching paint dry though.

 

[Matt]

We all stood in the car park like dorks to see it at work.

 

[Blckshdw]

No eclipse for me. Took the week off to celebrate being old, so I spent most of the day at the beach yesterday. Today will run a few errands, and then check out a restaurant in the area I've been meaning to try. Tomorrow will be another beach day, and lunch with a friend. Gotta enjoy the weather while it's perfect to be outside, cuz in a couple of months...

 

[azswiss]

Repaired the shifter mechanism on our 2006 Volvo XC70. A couple of Swedish engineers got a little too clever when they added a manual up/down shift mode to the standard auto shifter. When the shifter is placed into "D" the driver has the option to shift manually ("Geartronic" mode) by pulling the shifter towards the driver's side and then pushing forward to up-shift or backwards to down-shift. There is a so-called "claw" mechanism that clamps around the shifter shaft that is used to hold it either in Auto mode or Manual mode. The claw is comprised of two plastic halves that are spring loaded to maintain a grip on the shifter. It is a common failure for the lower half-claw to break and to then subsequently get wedged into the shift mechanism thereby stranding you in either Park or Drive. In my case it was Drive. Fortunately, I was in my driveway so no major crisis there. Getting access to the claw mechanism is a royal PITA entailing removing plastic panels (all plastic snaps, no fasteners !@#$), removing the entire center console, and then partially disassembling the shifter assembly. Replacement of the claw is straightforward once you finally reach it! BTW, typical dealership charge is $600-$800!! (Edit: the OE part costs less than $20.)

 

[Blckshdw]

Another ho-hum day in the office. Put out a few fires, helped people crunch some numbers for their boss' reports, and a bunch of the usual day to day activities.

Needed to call the solar company, as one of my panels is not making any power. Looking back through my history, it started having issues last summer, under-reporting here and there. Then finally in December it stopped making power altogether.




I had emailed them last month, but there were some issues. The company I originally bought them from, SunPro Solar, got bought out by ADT Solar. On the ADT website they said they are no longer doing any new installations, just servicing existing customers. It took almost 2 weeks for them to reply to me that a case was being opened. And then nothing happened for another week after that. A service manager called my work number while I was on staycation last Thursday, so I never got the voicemail that they were sending a tech out on Friday, until this week, Tuesday.

I was actually home when the tech showed up Friday morning, but I decided to take advantage of the cool morning temps to check the fence at the back of the property and drive screws into any of the loose boards. The tech called the number on file, but that rings to my work office, not my cell, so he ended up leaving.

Got ahold of someone, and had them update the contact number. He had all the case info in front of him, he said he'd contact the service dept and a manager, so they can reschedule another tech to come out. My panels produce more juice than I need, so it's not adversely effecting anything, but that's juice I'm not selling back to the utility company for my annual credit which was much lower this month, than it had been in previous years. Lesson learned, I need to monitor my system more frequently to catch stuff like this as soon as it happens, and not 8 months later.

 

[BrianF]

Got my Trailblazer plated and back in action. I sure missed driving it. We had been throwing miles on the rez van, which works but it sure doesn't drive as nice. Still need to sort out the ac and abs issues but I'll just pay a shop as I am always short on time for lengthy projects.

The other morning, Im about to hop in the Tb for work. I notice a coyote milling around the foals. Thinking I wont have time to grab a rifle, I half ass scare it off. Piss on it, I still grab the rifle. My 15 year old comes out and spots a second one. The first disappears into the tree line but the second stops to give me one last fck you! 100m standing supported and the .308 made quick work.

Last night I grilled up some ribeyes. Started on the Traeger, then seared on the gas grill and finished on the flame. Cant complain.

Caveat: these are clearly staged after the fact. Although one could ask questions on how I sequentially loaded the pictures....

 

[Blckshdw]

Yesterday, took advantage of a cold front pushing through to get a lil yard work done. A bunch of leaves had accumulated along parts of my fence under the larger trees, and cats and possums would make too much noise walking/rummaging through them, since it's still nice enough to have the windows open at night.

Managed to fill 2 of my 72 gallon yard bags. Pulled out the leaf shredder and it continues to amaze me how much volume reduction you get when the leaves get chewed up and all the air is removed. Probably gets down to 1/3 of the original volume. Wheeled that bag around to the front where I replaced some of the weed barrier around some smaller trees and dumped the shredded leaves as free mulch.

After getting cleaned up, needed to address my phone case which was coming apart where the rubber surround was glued to the plastic backing. Have had it for 2 years, and it was rock solid until a couple months ago when the finish started peeling off.



I considered buying a new case, but the official Samsung case for the Fold 4 had mixed reviews, many of them saying the case didn't hold in place. I used to always get Otterbox cases, and their version also had a number of bad reviews. So I opted to let the mod bug have at it. Pulled out the Gorilla glue, and a tooth pick, applied a bead of glue along the edge and left the case face down overnight.

Worked quite well for the most part, but would have been better if I had kept an eye on it and cleaned up the glue that expanded to the inside of the case. Sorry no pics. Ended up taking my smallest Dremel router bit and using that to clean out the inside of the case as well as some of the glue that oozed to the outside. The finish already looks crappy so some minor scratches won't be any worse.

Case feels solid again, and the rubber edge no longer pulls off when I unfold the phone, resulting in half the case falling off every time.

 

[mrrsm]

I was just *Thinking* about what a "Palindrome" is... My Name "BOB" is an Example...

palindrome at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

But I mention this because Today's Date is ALSO One of THOSE...

4-24-24

:>)

 

[northcreek]

Have you ever heard of a double Palindrome ?
Like the word boob, where the actual item is also the same when viewed L-R or R-L ....

 

[northcreek]

Working on my gas powered yard golf cart. Removed the troublesome cable shift linkage and fabricated a rod type shifter which is much more positive now....

 

[mrrsm]

@northcreek Re: Post #2,063 In my considerable experience over the years (up close...and personal) the (L) Ones are usually a Just A Little Bigger due to the position of the Heart and Blood Supply.

Nonetheless... The WORST Ones I've ever seen... Were WONDERFUL... Oh...and My wife uses your 'Double Palindrome' expression in the pejorative sense directed my way ...from time to time..

 

[Mooseman]

Took the Caprice to work today. One of the guys also has an old CVPI. It's literally all painted with bedliner

 

[azswiss]

Noticed a moisture stain at the base of the exterior wall by the kitchen. Upon closer inspection I could see that it was slowly seeping. Went back inside and I could hear the faint, but clear, sound of a leak inside the wall. Rather than tear into the cabinetry I decided to go through the exterior wall. Good thing too, because the leak was located in between two studs and would not have been accessible from the inside. Caught it early as there is no rust on the nails or braces.



Expected to find a leaky solder joint but to my surprise it was actually a pinhole in the 45deg elbow. As Eric O. would say, here's the money shot . . .

 

[CaptainKD]

Attempted to fix my parking brake. Yes......parking brake. '07 SLE with 180k. It has finally given up the ghost and no longer works. Failed NC Inspection and can't register the old beater with the state before deadline tomorrow. Just gonna have to ride dirty Adjusted the bananas out of the back shoes with no gold, both sides. Twice. My hunch is the cable has rusted to hell, given the truck lived the first 11 years on the salty roads of Chi-town. Finger-fiddled the lever up front based on the ancient artifacts of an article by The Roadie many moons ago, but my luck had expired and did not find gold either. I was hungry, it was getting dark and the gnats were winning the war of dive bombing my head. Packed up my wrenches, including the ones that landed across the yard after yelling F@#k several times!

Any which way.....Glad to see some OG's still hanging around and new G's keeping it real. Life and work got me tied up like a dog and I don't got time to hand around and whore it up.

 

[Mooseman]

Finished work early yesterday (too many people, not enough work). Got home and threw some ribs on the smoker. Rubbed them with kosher salt, garlic powder and berbère spice mix. Holy sh!t they were good!

While they were smoking, I swapped the Caprice's Camaro wheels for the originals temporarily. Taking them to a wheel refinisher to have them fix the curb rashes and powder coat them in black. Also getting the new tires mounted.

 

[TollKeeper]

I so want a smoker... But I dont even use my grill that much..

 

[BrianF]

Hey Moose, what was your cooking method? Those look awesome!!

 

[Mooseman]

Hey Moose, what was your cooking method? Those look awesome!!

Sort of a 3-2-1 method. Rubbed with a berbere spice mix, kosher salt and granulated garlic, about 2.5 hours in the pellet smoker using maple pellets at 200f, then about 2 hours wrapped in foil, then 30 minutes back in the smoker basted with G.Hughes sugar free hickory BBQ sauce. Fall off the bone deliciousness.

Right now, boondocking at a winery for a night. It's only about 30 minutes from our house but it's a coworker of my wife who owns it and a nice first time out with the RV this season. Very good wines, cheeses and charcuterie. Weather is kinda sucky with clouds and rain showers but it's comfortable. Had planned to grill some steaks for dinner but we're still full from the charcuterie.

 

[BrianF]

No staged photos but ribeyes just came off the gas. Also cooked up some locally made farmer sausage smokies in the cast iron.

Got the weekend off and just puttering around. My oldest fractured her index finger a few days back, playing sime stupid game at school. Its putting a bit of a hamper on her horse riding. She has another Saskatchewan Team Penning event to compete at in two weeks plus some Arab horse shows coming up in Alberta..... poor kid but thats life.

 

[BrianF]

Its a beautiful day outside Crimetown today. Overcast, light breeze and 18C.

I seasoned my cast iron, did laundry, did my run (now that my hip feels good, I do some uphill sprints on my off days from the gym). Now enjoying midday coffee as I balance to chemicals in the hot tub.

Its now time to start cutting the lawn, clean up the backyard and rototill the garden. This week I have to haul in manure so I can plant after the long weekend. While normally I avoid chemicals around the garden, the quack grass is really bad and heavily encroached. Last week I sprayed some roundup and I am seeing the results, which is pleasant. Hopefully minimal applications are only needed.

 

[coolride]

I'm using a big black tarp over the garden. It heats up in the sun and kills all the weeds.

 

[azswiss]

Finished patching up the exterior wall opening that was needed to access the leaking water line.

 

[BrianF]

Got the swisher rough cut mower out of hibernation. Popped second second pull and ran on the third. Oil was clean from last season as it was barely used. Actually, everything is good from last year so she needs fresh fuel and to be run.

We got the Brandt area rep popping by shortly with a demo machine we are interested in..... will post some details later.

Checked my mole traps, although to be more accurate, it looks like I'm trapping voles. Im just over 30 this year but stalling out. I got over 50 last fall in the same areas so I am actually making an impact.

 

[BrianF]

So here is a comparison....... shes nice....

 

[mrrsm]

@BrianF ... You've got Andrew Camarata's Teeth Chattering with ENVY over those Two Machines!

https://www.youtube.com/@AndrewCamarata

 

[Mooseman]

Got my Caprice's wheels back from the refinisher. The Camaro 20" offsets had some curb rash and I don't like silver so... back in black! I already had the black center caps that I originally got for the previous 19" that didn't fit. And I also got the proper 275/30R20 for the rears instead of just 245/35R20 all around. Went with Bridgestone Potenza Sport all around. They were 2020 and 2021 production and were heavily discounted at Tire Rack. First ride on them and they are lot nicer than the General GMax I had before.

 

[mrrsm]

@azswiss ... Re: Post# 2,063... FWIW ...it is likely that you already have this kind of "Anti-Water Hammering" Device installed somewhere within your plumbing system. But if not... Since all liquids are in-compressible, it is critical to install a kind of "Fluid Damping Shock Absorber" somewhere within your Copper Plumbing.

If installed properly, if the in-rushing resultant force of the water suddenly gets turned off, it won't "hydraulically" Slam-Hammer all of that Energy of Motion into Oscillations that will keep moving through the Fluid Column. Thus, that energy can be dissipated and controlled with the installation of a "Water Hammer Shock Damper".

Otherwise, this repetitive phenomena can risk damaging the pipes or even separate poorly soldered joints....and develop unseen leaks that will soon reveal their presence. The leaks can also develop wherever the Copper Pipes are held by UN-insulated Steel Strap Clamps that can wear holes into the pipe sections that constantly get jostled back and forth each time these events occur.

The Video linked below is worth a look for anyone who can actually "Hear the Hot & Cold Water Pipes Rattling" whenever the Hot or Cold Water Taps are turned on...and then off. It may or may NOT have been material in the latest development of the leak that happened behind the wall that you just extensively repaired...But if it was... Well...You'll know what to do to prevent any recurrence:

...AND... Some additional HELP for my Washing Machine!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093V1X4FC/?tag=gmtnation-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W1ZG9NR/?tag=gmtnation-20

 

[azswiss]

Already installed previously @mrrsm, important comment nonetheless. Surprisingly enough, the leak was a pinhole at the apex of the 45deg elbow and not at a solder joint as one would normally expect.

 

[Mooseman]

Just handed in my 2 week notice of resignation

 

[TollKeeper]

Didnt you just get that job?

 

[Mooseman]

I've been working at the dealership for just over a year.

 

[mrrsm]

Back in the 1970s when I was "Fixin' -n- Flyin'" in Sikorsky HH-3F Helicopters for the USCG as an Aviation Machinist's Mate - Search And Rescue Crew... I had the chance to see Jethro Tull "Live & In Concert" ...and the Flute Player's Dark and Dreary Solo Performance of the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil" under a Single White Spotlight... surrounded by All of That Darkness in the Stadium that Night ...Wooo! Man... He scared the Ever-Loving S***T RTF Out of ME... Man!

But all that aside... THIS "GD A-Syncopated Tune" coming from them is called "Teacher" ...and IT as been Playing Non-Stop inside of my Coconut ---All Damned DAY--- Today! See what you make of it... and THEN ...Try to Get it OUT of YOUR Noggin'... Just TRY!!!

 

[BrianF]

Put a bit of time on the 325G. So far..... I love the thing.

Cons: shes expensive, over 100k expensive. Tracks are expensive and tracks require periodic tensioning. Changing to winter rated tracks is labour intensive and expensive, much more than throwing chains on a wheeled machine. So she better dig on that packed snow/ice. Shes louder. Bigger engine, more noise. The tracks chatter and whine when you put her in road gear. But I knew this was the case already. Finally, the view out the back window is a bit worse.

Pros: this bitch will dig. Shes heavier, has better traction and more power than the 318G. It hands down will out push and out lift it, with zero drama. I played around with some 14 to 1600 pound round bales and couldn't even get it rocking where I could easily tip or run on two wheels with the other. While I didn't pop the cab, the engine access is decent as there are removable side panels.

Regardless of whether we get this machine or not, it kicks ass and everyone needs one.

 

[TollKeeper]

Waiting on the report...

Early this morning, one of my drivers who parks his truck at his house out in the country....

Well a person (unknown mental condition (Drunk, high, etc)) decided he wanted to go under our HAZMAT trailer, and then crash into our drivers house.

Truck and trailer are severely damaged.. The house is completely gone.

Our driver, wife, and kids survived, with no physical injuries.

The driver of the truck did not.

Need to see if the truck/trailer is safe to drive back to our yard for repairs, or if it has to be towed.

 

[flyboy2610]

I'm glad your driver and his family are unhurt! I hope that he gets his home rebuilt quickly.

 

[Mooseman]

At least the family is OK but having to deal with insurance is gonna be a bitch, especially if the idiot was uninsured or it's determined he was impaired, which effectively cancels his insurance (no coverage during criminal acts). Maybe, just maybe, the guy was insured and had a heart attack while driving (seen that happen).

 

[coolride]

Have the day off. Going to hit the garden before it gets too hot.

 

[TollKeeper]

Waiting on the report...

Early this morning, one of my drivers who parks his truck at his house out in the country....

Well a person (unknown mental condition (Drunk, high, etc)) decided he wanted to go under our HAZMAT trailer, and then crash into our drivers house.

Truck and trailer are severely damaged.. The house is completely gone.

Our driver, wife, and kids survived, with no physical injuries.

The driver of the truck did not.

Need to see if the truck/trailer is safe to drive back to our yard for repairs, or if it has to be towed.
View attachment 113006

Got a few more minor details...

It happened at 05:15:23 AM. Our dash cam shows the time of impact, but nothing else.
Vehicle that hit our Semi was a 2008 Ford F250 5.4
Owner lives in Oklahoma
Driver lived in Liberty, KS

Our drivers house was NOT insured. He had bought it back in 2020, cash, and was almost complete on doing a remodel. All he had to do was the outside siding. The insurance companies had refused to insure it prior due to its condition. He was waiting on the siding to get the insurance in place.

If our semi truck/trailer had not slowed down the truck, the point of impact on the house would have been much more catastrophic, and likely lethal to our driver and his family.

Our driver and his family are legal permanent residents from Serbia, but had used most of his money in the rehab of this home (you know, that american dream). He is destroyed at this point, and is thinking he might have to go back to him home country with his family if he cant figure something out.

 

[coolride]

That guy needs a good lawyer.