What Irked You Today?

[A modeler named mike]

4 hours ago, Rodent said:

Ordered a jacket from Macy's and it was delivered by DoorDash. 

You must have good taste in clothes..😁

[Rodent]

19 minutes ago, A modeler named mike said:

You must have good taste in clothes..😁

Smelled like tacos, LOL. 🌮🌮🌮

I was surprised to see the carrier on the bag was DashLink. I am used to ordering things from Macy's and having USPS do the last mile for UPS, but this was a bit different. We get a few of the Amazon freelancers around here as well. You can tell them when you see a Toyota hybrid (any model) creeping around the neighborhood and suddenly stopping.

[Tim W. SoCal]

I bought a carton of my favorite brand of ice cream least night, which I haven't done in quite a while. After I got home, I noticed the term "Ice Cream" was removed from the brand. It is no longer ice cream, it is now "frozen dairy dessert", and the ingredients are mainly chemicals and other assorted garbage.

Edited November 11 by Tim W. SoCal

[89AKurt]

Every home owner's favorite kind of IRK, in this case a water leak.  I've known about this for (I better not admit it in public 🫢) and today had a plumber do the investigation.  He loved that I had the Kodak slide projector set up, with a picture of the wet wall (where all the plumbing for the bathroom is) when I built it 40 years ago.  So even with that, it was the last hole cut that he figured out it's in the cold supply to the kitchen sink which runs under the slab.  I know the fix is to run under the base cabinets, under the range, using the PEX plastic pipe so it shouldn't be a total pain.   But still..... should I make mouse house facades to cover that?

Just for giggles, 40 years ago I broke ground.  I have that '77 Honda Civic CVCC 4 speed dealer a/c in many pictures.  I currently drive a '16 Civic.

[espo]

17 hours ago, A modeler named mike said:

If you're weird, then so an I. It's been a family rule ever since we had asphalt laid in our driveway and did away with the gravel back in the mid '70's. You drip anything, you're on the road and it's not up for discussion. 

Having a concrete surface, I'm dealing with a dark oily stain than is hard to remove without degrading the concrete in some instances. With an asphalt surface it could be even more damaging since the oil deposits are also the base for asphalt, and the even greater care must be used to clean the area without damaging the surface. 

[Rodent]

3 hours ago, espo said:

Having a concrete surface, I'm dealing with a dark oily stain than is hard to remove without degrading the concrete in some instances. With an asphalt surface it could be even more damaging since the oil deposits are also the base for asphalt, and the even greater care must be used to clean the area without damaging the surface. 

Regular el-cheapo clay cat litter ground into the stain with your shoe and left for a few days will do a surprising job of removing oil stains from concrete.

[espo]

19 minutes ago, Rodent said:

Regular el-cheapo clay cat litter ground into the stain with your shoe and left for a few days will do a surprising job of removing oil stains from concrete.

Thanks, I've done that before but finish up with a power wash and a lot of simple green seems too often help. 

[A modeler named mike]

4 hours ago, espo said:

Having a concrete surface, I'm dealing with a dark oily stain than is hard to remove without degrading the concrete in some instances. With an asphalt surface it could be even more damaging since the oil deposits are also the base for asphalt, and the even greater care must be used to clean the area without damaging the surface. 

I've used brake cleaner and rags on fresh spots on the concrete before, followed by scrubbing with a stiff brush and Dawn liquid detergent. I'll have to keep the grinding of the kitty litter in mind.

[Rodent]

The last really big mess I had to clean was 20+ years ago when I burst the right turn PS hose on the 68 Mustang turning into the driveway. I realize that PS fluid / ATF doesn't stain as badly as motor oil, but it looked like someone slaughtered a cow.

(for those of you not familiar with external power steering systems, there are small hoses running between the ram cylinder and control valve)

Edited November 12 by Rodent

[stavanzer]

As a professional Auto Tech, we always had a big 10 gallon can of kitty litter for spills.  That, and Citri-Solve Cleaner kept our shop floors claen.

I highly endorse both.

We used large Wooden Push Brooms, Bristle Side Up, to scrub the litter into the floor. In order to work best the litter needs to be ground into a Fine Powder.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

Heard a local meteorologist say "Eastrin" for Eastern. 

I know people in some areas say this but not so much in South Florida. In any case, as a professional broadcaster and weather expert, you should have a better grasp of the english language.

[rattle can man]

Kurt. I'd say Fairy doors. Or perhaps steel bars withrubber snakes, rats, etc behind it. You could always patch it and do a built in bench, maybe with storage underneath?

[stitchdup]

i'm having major issues just logging into mcm just now.  i'm sure its my isp thats the problem as i've tried multiple browsers on both computers and can only connect if i use a vpn. i've cleared everything but the site still times out without a vpn. its only happening with mcm as every other site works fine. its very frustrating

[Ace-Garageguy]

28 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

i'm having major issues just logging into mcm just now.  i'm sure its my isp thats the problem as i've tried multiple browsers on both computers and can only connect if i use a vpn. i've cleared everything but the site still times out without a vpn. its only happening with mcm as every other site works fine. its very frustrating

I've had the exact same thing come and go for no rhyme nor reason here in the States.

It's been OK for a while now...

[stavanzer]

Parking Lots. Modern Pick ups.

Parking Lots stripes have been steadily shrinking, made to fit the "compact" cars from the 2010's on. (aka Ford Fiesta, Kia Soul) It is also an effort to squeeze one or two more spaces in a lot.  Understandable, I suppose.

Modern Pickup Trucks from about 2005 on. Getting bigger & bigger. Taller, Wider, Longer. I'm not sure how having a pickup bed with sides too high to lean over works, but that's how they are now. My 2007 Chevy, is not a giant, but it requires steps to climb up into, and it is smaller than a comparable 2024 truck. (Crew Cab, Shortbed 4x4) the Newer truck is taller, and wider by a few inches.

Now Combine the small striping and the modern pickups. Spaces too small to allow the opening of the truck doors. In fact sometimes too small to fit the truck in. I wind up paring at the ends of rows, so I have some room to open doors and get out, without fear of hitting anything.

(yes, I see them too. the guys driving these huge pickups, who whip them in and out of these tiny spaces without any seeming fear of anything. I keep waiting for the crash.)

[stitchdup]

4 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

I've had the exact same thing come and go for no rhyme nor reason here in the States.

It's been OK for a while now...

dealing with ai help is horrible. even a stupid human would do a better job. i dont know what language it was trained in but it sure wasn't one spoken or known by living humans. since i got nowhere with that i thought i'd call the helpline which only had options for paying. live chat wasn't available so i've tried an email to their complaint section. there was another option for through the app but my phone is just a phone. i did mention in my email that maybe sacking the advisors was a bit premature and how awful they are to try to get help from. 2 days of this absolute time waste

[Earl Marischal]

The television is full of awful Xmas films. Mind you, I think all Xmas films are cr*p.

steve

[stavanzer]

Not really an Irk, but I am sad.

My temporary job with the County Elections Division has come to an end.  I started Oct 13. Worked my last 2.5 hours today. The rest of the crew will work until Noon, then they are gone too.

With any luck, I'll be called back again in Late April/Early May for the big Gubernatorial Primary in June of 2026.

I always like working the elections. Just wish I could get hired on Full time.

 

 

[FoMoCo66]

My building is going to slow down now that the High School boys swimming has started back up and homework is piling on.

[mcs1056]

Irks?

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." - Say that and you're telling me you just want to end the conversation, so I will.

My boss interrupts by saying, "Not to interrupt." 

A co-worker adds "I said" to conversations 20 to 30 times...sometimes two in a row. It's become a joke among the group. 

My mirror reflects poorly. It makes me look fat and ugly. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

17 minutes ago, mcs1056 said:

Irks?

...My mirror reflects poorly. It makes me look fat and ugly. 

Yup, my mirror has been going bad like that for the last few years.

They sure don't make 'em like they used to.

[Trainwreck]

After saving my pennies for a few months I was able to buy new windows for my kitchen and living room.(YAY!)

That was about two weeks ago, today my mechanic tells me my car is no longer road worthy as the front subframe has turned to mush and I have no cash to replace the car because I bought the windows.

So I'm now a pedestrian with nice windows who has to ride the big yellow taxi. (NOT COOL!)

[HomerS]

Optum mail order Rx customer service!

For years, they've had my e-mail/phone number tied to my wife and her info for my name.  Recently I had a new Rx ordered by my Dr which was showing as 'pending' but then disappeared.  I would much rather do things on line than talk with someone but this was clearly going to be more involved.  I called the 800 number and got "Mark"...while not an AI, clearly he is NOT on this shore.  I said I need his help fixing two things.....the date in their system assigned to the wrong name and then a new Rx which disappeared....so I said let's do the name/info switch.  He calls up my info and asked if I wanted to renew my BP med.  Wait....what?  NO!  Leave my meds alone and focus back on the info.  I explained what is going on and he asked if I knew the other person.  Umm...it's my wife of almost 30 years so yeah we've met.  What should have been an easy fix took 20 minutes.  Then he asked if I want to renew three meds of my wife.  1) They too are on auto fill and 2) I don't know how many she has left so I will let her deal with those.  

Now onto my new Rx.  It was in their system for me (which was correct) but they put it on her info which I presume someone saw and they cancelled it.  I got a call a few days earlier from their automated system asking to speak to my wife.  When it asked if was {wife's name} I said no.  When it asked if she could come to the phone I said no (she was at work).  Click...it hung up on me.  Apparently they took that as approval to just scrap the Rx.  "Mark" got it straightened out and due to the error they would expedite the medicine.....delivery time is 5-7 days.  Glad its not an urgent med!  I can go to their warehouse and pick up the Rx and be home in a nine hour round trip.

All good.....of course not!  That evening I get an e-mail they removed the autofill for my BP meds.  OMG....seriously?  He removed something we didn't even talk about!  I sent back a very grumpy e-mail just lighting them up.  I had an appointment the next morning so she went on line and fixed it.  She's a nurse so she has the comforting ability whereas I have the moment of Bluto from Animal House when they all got expelled!

Optum send me an evaluation e-mail this evening.  If they really do read those, its not a pleasant review

 

[A modeler named mike]

13 hours ago, Trainwreck said:

After saving my pennies for a few months I was able to buy new windows for my kitchen and living room.(YAY!)

That was about two weeks ago, today my mechanic tells me my car is no longer road worthy as the front subframe has turned to mush and I have no cash to replace the car because I bought the windows.

So I'm now a pedestrian with nice windows who has to ride the big yellow taxi. (NOT COOL!)

Rust, rot and corrosion 🤬

Currently, I'm in the mist of having  my wife's 2008 Equinox at a restoration/frame shop to repair the rusted rot that's eaten away where the engine cradle bolts to the frame mounts. The drivers side is dang near apart and the passenger side is not as bad but needs replaced also. Unfortunately GM doesn't have replacement parts, junkyards from Maryland to West Virginia has nothing usable so the mounts have to be made.  We lost a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero with very low mileage in 2022 due to undercarriage corrosion causing the repairs to be far more than what the car was worth. IMO, the cheap foreign metals in used in the vehicles and the corrosive materials that are applied to the roads are the culprits to this rash of vehicle deterioration. Especially the pre-treating method of using liquid brine before a snowfall, that my state has been using. It slings up and clings to everything.

Don't get discouraged, it could always be worse. Yeah, I'm a pessimistic. That way I'm never let down..

[Ace-Garageguy]

Just not feeling it this AM, but duty calls ("duty" in this case being able to continue paying the bills).

Bye.