What Irked You Today?

[Rob Hall]

I looked at Amazon and Tire Rack last year when I bought new tires for my Jeep (265/50R/20s), but ended up buying tires from my local tire store 1 mile away.  Could have saved a few bucks perhaps buying online, but the convenience of doing everything at one place beats out the hassle.

[OldTrucker]

If you have a Discount Tire in the area they will mount them.

In the last few years less and less places will mount tires that you don't buy from them and most are real sticklers on tread depth and tire condition.

Given the sue happy lawyers these days I can understand that too!

Some that will quote you an unreasonable price my guess in hopes of scaring you away.

I still will hand mount them myself and check for bead leaks then just take them in to be balanced.

[slusher]

On December 15, 2018 at 5:11 PM, OldTrucker said:

What irked me????

Some deleted word broke a window on the car, ransacked it and found the almost 300 Christmas presents for our grandkids in the rear well under the floor of our HHR.

We had been out shopping and were at the last stop (Walmart) at the time. A big 4X4 suv parked next to us after we had parked so the car wasn't visible on the stores security cameras.

Only have liability so we are sol on that. The only plus was her cousin runs a body shop and happened to have an HHR door off a repair job that had a good window glass in it and her fixed it for free.

I'll be going over to "visit" a few days and clean up in the shop for him so I don't feel bad about not paying for the work and window.

Hope the grandkids understand.

add on top about 3000 in doctor bills medicare is refusing to pay.....

Be glad when this year is over.

Man, I really hate that for you and your grand children. More thieves and crooks out this time of year...

13 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Nothing I hate worse than a thief who destroys property getting to whatever he's stealing. I don't mean it irks me. I mean I HATE destructive sneak thieves. Far as I'm concerned, the best punishment for somebody caught doing that is to just put him through a wood-chipper. 

 

 

I agree with you Bill. Some middle eastern countries will take a finger on first stealing offence 2nd is the hand.  If they want something they find a way it seems. 

[1930fordpickup]

On 12/15/2018 at 6:11 PM, OldTrucker said:

What irked me????

Some deleted word broke a window on the car, ransacked it and found the almost 300 Christmas presents for our grandkids in the rear well under the floor of our HHR.

We had been out shopping and were at the last stop (Walmart) at the time. A big 4X4 suv parked next to us after we had parked so the car wasn't visible on the stores security cameras.

Only have liability so we are sol on that. The only plus was her cousin runs a body shop and happened to have an HHR door off a repair job that had a good window glass in it and her fixed it for free.

I'll be going over to "visit" a few days and clean up in the shop for him so I don't feel bad about not paying for the work and window.

Hope the grandkids understand.

add on top about 3000 in doctor bills medicare is refusing to pay.....

Be glad when this year is over.

So sorry to hear this. I would have to think that the crooks followed you from the last place or places you were shopping at. They were doing that here in the Toledo area a few years ago. 

[Tom Geiger]

a few responses:

Leaves- Yes, I have large oak trees in my yard. The leaves would be up to past my ankles in some areas if I didn't rake.  For the most part I blow them into the woods. This year we paid for them to be taken away. As others said, I'd have no grass if I left them.

Johnny-  So sorry about your Christmas gift theft.  If you used a credit card to buy them, some cards have insurance on your purchases.

Per Bill's worries about porch pirates-  Last week New Jersey news reported that a pile of 25-30 Amazon packages were found in the woods.. empty of course.  And I hate delivery idiots as well, last Sunday I was driving home in the rain after dark. In our neighborhood the houses sit back from the road and we have mail boxes at the curb.  I noticed a bunch of Amazon deliveries were made that day, boxes dumped next to the mail boxes and here they were sitting out in the pouring rain overnight. 

[espo]

21 hours ago, MrObsessive said:

Jim, I got the tires from a vendor on eBay actually. The ended auction is here.

I have a garage just a few miles from me that will mount the tires of course for a price. I had them mounted the next day as I wanted them on the car as I wanted to take the trip to Maryland for the MAMA club meeting/party. While it was on the rack, I had them do a four wheel alignment and with mounting, balancing, alignment, discard fee and tax, it came to about $185. I had to make a couple trips to take the tires there because they were so large, but that was no biggie as it was only a few miles back and forth.

Still a great BARGAIN simply because had I gone back to where I got tires before, it would have cost me over $1200 for four tires which to me is absolutely CRAZY!

So far the tires are riding great and they got a good workout as it was pouring down rain on the way there and on the way back home.

This isn't the first time I've had trouble with FedEx. About a year ago, I needed a new picture card for my digicam as I was really tired of the old one which filled up way too quickly. I ordered a 2GB card online and FedEx was going to be the deliverer. I got a notice that the card was delivered, but when I opened the door I saw nothing. I looked on the porch, in the mailbox........no card.

I called FedEx and the driver swore he delivered it, however he was too lazy to simply put the (a small envelope) package BEHIND the storm door which logic should have dictated. No, he simply tossed the envelope on the porch more than likely and someone came along and snatched it up. Of course, FedEx claimed no responsibility and I ended up spending 25 bucks ALL OVER AGAIN! The next time I INSISTED that it be sent by USPS as this guy has the brains to put something like that either in my mailbox or behind the door where it belongs.

Can you tell I'm NOT a fan of FedEx??

You are not alone with your FedEx problems. Mine was many years ago and since the way they handled the problem back then I still don't use them for anything even today.  

[NYLIBUD]

Another tree trimmer started cutting today again at 8AM,all the way to at least 1pm.On my day off.

Edited December 18, 2018 by NYLIBUD

[Rob Hall]

35 minutes ago, NYLIBUD said:

Another tree trimmer started cutting today again at 8AM,all the way to at least 1pm.On my day off.

At least they didn't start at 5am.   When I lived in Arizona, the house next door to me was gutted and remodeled twice within about 18 months.  The constant construction noise would start at 5 am in the warmer months..

[peteski]

On 12/13/2018 at 10:12 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Why? It's never made any sense to me, since I was a little kid. Soon as you clear 'em, more blow back from somewhere else. And if you just leave 'em, they break down into lawn food over the winter. Somebody please 'splain it to me.

PS. I just let mine stay where they fall. In the spring, my lawn looks at least as good as anyone's who spends effort or cash removing them. I guess my grass just doesn't know any better.  

Really?  Whatever oak leaves are left on my lawn in the Fall are still there in the Spring. Except at that time they are all nasty, wet and clumped together (being packed down by the snow).  If I don't pick them up, they block the sunlight to the grass underneath them and that kills the grass.  And lets not even talk about pine needles!  I just had 2 huge pine trees cut down - at least the pine needles won't be much problem anymore.

Edited December 18, 2018 by peteski

[Ace-Garageguy]

50 minutes ago, peteski said:

Really?  Whatever oak leaves are left on my lawn in the Fall are still there in the Spring. Except at that time they are all nasty, wet and clumped together (being packed down by the snow).  If I don't pick them up, they block the sunlight to the grass underneath them and that kills the grass.  And lets not even talk about pine needles!  I just had 2 huge pine trees cut down - at least the pine needles won't be much problem anymore.

You live in New England, so that possibly accounts for some of the difference. Usually the last time I have to mow the lawn in the fall, most of the trees have already dropped most of their leaves. When I mow, I'm also shredding whatever leaves haven't already blown away. Maple, dogwood, a couple of oaks in back. And we usually only get one snow, gone in 3 days or so.

I won't cut down a tree though unless it's sick or in real danger of falling on the house. So far. I've been lucky...but last year several large limbs just missed doing serious damage to the house in the snowstorm, and one took out the power line.

I guess what I don't really understand is the desire to have a manicured lawn that looks like a putting green. Frankly, something that looks a little wild appeals to my own aesthetic sense much more. But to each his own. I guess. The people who bought my last house immediately stripped all the ivy off the place, cut down all the shrubbery, a huge magnolia, a camellia, several old gnarled fruit trees, the mulberry bush (I used to get buckets of berries from that thing) and two of the young hardwoods on the front lawn. All the greenery shielded the house from the street and neighbors, and provided a nice feeling of seclusion and privacy. I cringe when I go past it now. I'm always reminded of a jarhead with his first buzz cut (no disrespect to Marines; they're some of my favorite people).

Edited December 18, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[peteski]

4 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

You live in New England, so that possibly accounts for some of the difference. Usually the last time I have to mow the lawn in the fall, most of the trees have already dropped most of their leaves. When I mow, I'm also shredding whatever leaves haven't already blown away. Maple, dogwood, a couple of oaks in back. And we usually only get one snow, gone in 3 days or so.

I won't cut down a tree though unless it's sick or in real danger of falling on the house. So far. I've been lucky...but last year several large limbs just missed doing serious damage to the house in the snowstorm, and one took out the power line.

I guess what I don't really understand is the desire to have a manicured lawn that looks like a putting green. Frankly, something that looks a little wild appeals to my own aesthetic sense much more. But to each his own. I guess. The people who bought my last house immediately stripped all the ivy off the place, cut down all the shrubbery, a huge magnolia, a camellia, several old gnarled fruit trees, the mulberry bush (I used to get buckets of berries from that thing) and two of the young hardwoods on the front lawn. All the greenery shielded the house from the street and neighbors, and provided a nice feeling of seclusion and privacy. I cringe when I go past it now. I'm always reminded of a jarhead with his first buzz cut (no disrespect to Marines; they're some of my favorite people).

I also love trees but these were huge pines (over 120' tall) and very close to my house.  The New England winter weather is getting weirder and weirder every year. We are getting more and more of that "wintery-mix" precipitation where we get pasty snow first, then some rain to soak into the snow, then cap it it off with some freezing rain.  The snow is more like wet cement than nice fluffy snow.  It sticks to the pines (since they keep their foliage) and since pines are very fragile, branches start snapping.  Last winter couple or very large branches came down and damaged my fence and shed.  Since some branches were directly over my house, I lucked out that one didn't come down on the roof.  And of course this ever-worsening climate also produces more and more super-storms with fast winds, and pines have very shallow root system.  Those 2 just had to go.  Like I said, I like trees, they produce oxygen, provide shade and acts as sound barriers. I'll miss the shade my pines provided, but I was not taking any more chances.  I still have several oaks in my yard, and I own a mini forest across the street with pines, oaks and maples.

As for my lawn, it is 100% natural. I do not water or fertilize it - whatever grows, grows.  I only mow it to keep it somewhat neat and rake the leaves in the Fall.  I know exactly what you mean about those perfect lawns. House in the middle of the lawn, and no trees anywhere. I couldn't live like that - it is too bare - I would feel too exposed.

[NYLIBUD]

Found out today,that my new neighbors have not one large dog,but two of them.The folks that were living there before,and for a very short while had one dog that would howl and cry like he was being tortured whenever he was left alone me.So far these dogs seem pretty good.Dont get me wrong,I love dogs,but sometimes I wish my neighbors didn't have them....Oh well see what happens.

[Tom Geiger]

On 12/18/2018 at 12:37 AM, Ace-Garageguy said:

 The people who bought my last house immediately stripped all the ivy off the place, cut down all the shrubbery, a huge magnolia, a camellia, several old gnarled fruit trees, the mulberry bush (I used to get buckets of berries from that thing) and two of the young hardwoods on the front lawn. All the greenery shielded the house from the street and neighbors, and provided a nice feeling of seclusion and privacy. I cringe when I go past it now. 

Same here!  My old house in NJ had some great trees out front.  I had built rock gardens with perennials that came back every year.  It was very pretty.  The goobs I sold the house to had the trees removed and leveled everything!  Tiered rock gardens gone!  Just random grass and dirt.  And several lawn chairs where they sit in what was the middle of a garden.

[NYLIBUD]

Yes,That is definitely a sore spot for me too.When people chop trees down..There have been so many tress in my neighborhood,that have been there for years,that were cut down for no reason.Then another neighbor also pulled every single shrub and tree from in front of their house,it just looks horrible.The only thing to do,is plant as many trees and shrubs on your property.Which is exactly what I did this summer.Leave the trees alone,they didn't hurt anyoneAnd does the word "shade"mean anything?Better for your home(paint),etc.

[crazyjim]

We took down 75 pine trees when we moved to FLA.  Some were too close to the house and we were afraid of winds taking them down on top of us.  Others were attacked by pine beetles and the trees died.  They had to come down then.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Watching the Dunning-Kruger-effected leading the clueless, and nobody who should really know better stepping up to try to help.

[aurfalien]

Oddly enough the US Post Office.

I'm a supporter of this establishment but more and more over the years this once wonderful institution has been sliding into mediocrity.

I was doing a mail forward to a POBox as my business also burned down in the fires and this chuckle head asked if I was evading child support and that he'd have to tell the IRS where to find me should they come knocking.

Meanwhile a huge line had formed behind me.  This clock watcher was supposedly the manager going at a snails pace.

I'm very fortunate to be working in the VFX industry since 93'ish where every one pulls there weight and works hard, w/o exception.  So this lack of being consciences about ones work baffles me.

[NYLIBUD]

Yea being today,the official beginning of winter.The shortest day of the year,with only 5 hours of daylight.It Should read (unwelcome)winter..The only good thing,is that after today the days will get a little longer and longer.Until June 21st,the summer Solstice,which is the longest day of the year,when there is 17 hours of daylight.But for now here comes the ❄️ winter,in NY.Meanwhile today is 60 degrees,but pouring out.???

[cowboy rich]

Normally I'd say unwelcome winter as well Ron but seeing how southeastern Washington st. Has been routinely high 30' to low 50's I ain't complaining!! ?

[crazyjim]

Another day of rain.  Haven't seen the sun in 3 or 4 days.  Hasn't got past 65 in that time either.

[cobraman]

Jim I would love to have some of your rain.

[crazyjim]

Finally some sunshine this morning but only 45 degrees going up to 59.  I'm cold.

[espo]

We had snow for Thanksgiving and sunny '50's now. There will be a glass or two consumed on the outdoor patio this afternoon.    Sorry that should be under "what pleased you today".  

Edited December 22, 2018 by espo

[peteski]

On 12/21/2018 at 10:29 AM, aurfalien said:

Oddly enough the US Post Office.

I was doing a mail forward to a POBox as my business also burned down in the fires and this chuckle head asked if I was evading child support and that he'd have to tell the IRS where to find me should they come knocking.

That is so rude and totally uncalled for!

[Rob Hall]

Doesn't look like we are going to have a white Christmas this year.  It snowed Saturday morning, but melted off yesterday.