What Pleased You Today!

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 12/6/2025 at 12:30 PM, Volzfan59 said:

This is going to sound a little, maybe a lot, hokey. I live outside a small southeast Arkansas town, 5000ish population. Today is Christmas in town, Main Street is closed with food trucks and vendors set up. My favorite part, Christmas parade starts at 6:00! Always go to the mom and pop coffee shop and get a white chocolate hot chocolate and watch. I love watching the little kids and how excited they are. Y’all come on down!

Nothing "hokey" about that at all, sir.

Enjoying simple, traditional holiday pleasures is something a lot more folks could probably benefit from.  

[TonyK]

2 hours ago, Jim N said:

My wife and I saw a Trans Siberian Orchestra concert over the weekend.  Wow, what a show.  First time seeing this group; although, we have several of their CD's.  Have seen Manheim Steamroller a few times before.  Nothing like seeing a good Christmas concert to set the mood for the season.

Been quite a few years since we saw Trans Siberian Orchestra but I agree it was a great show. One thing I remember is all the long hair on the girls AND the guys. LOL

[HomerS]

I was at a local collectible store last weekend and saw this MC Hammer figure in a display case.  Had to take a pic and sent it to my wife and teenager and said they have him in the protective display case.....cuz?.....can't touch this!!

I got the SMH response from my wife.....teenager just ignores the Dad humor.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'm almost finished with the year-end paperwork. It's been a hard slog, but just a couple more hours tonight and a couple in the morning and I'm done.

Christmas with a clear conscience? Maybe some real bench time?

Too good to be true.  

[stavanzer]

Got the estimate to repair my 1987 Toyota Camry.

I bumped a Parking Post (one the Yellow ones with the Plastic Cover over a Concrete post), early last month.

Just now got her into the dealer.

I'd damaged the radiator. While it was there, I had them check things out. Car is 38 years old, and had some small leaks, and I was worried about the brakes.

Turns out, radiator split a seam and is leaking. Rear Brakes at 2mm. Front Brakes, at 8mm.All 4 McPherson Struts are Completely Worn Out (after only 38 years and 113000 miles)

All of the brakes and Hoses are also 38 years old. So, many will get replaced.

They gave me a laundry list of things to fix. All 4 Shock Struts ($ 2900.00 total) , Radiator & Hoses ($1900.00), P/ Steering Pump ($1200.00), Rear brakes ($450.00).

All told the bill is $6800.00.

I am so grateful that my Mom can help me pay for the repairs. Grateful that I am in place where it can be done.

I have a lot to be really Thankful for. I am Blessed.

I should get the car back in Two Weeks.

 

[Jim N]

20 hours ago, TonyK said:

Been quite a few years since we saw Trans Siberian Orchestra but I agree it was a great show. One thing I remember is all the long hair on the girls AND the guys. LOL

That is funny.  I mentioned to my wife that I did not think they would let anyone in the band with short hair.  And with the way they swung it around, their necks had to feel it.

[Tim W. SoCal]

Paid $3.899 a gallon for gasoline in my neck of SoCal, the first it has been under $4.00 per gallon in quite a while... (Reciprocal IRK: Paid $3.899 a gallon for gasoline)

[JollySipper]

I've made a few changes to some of my bills, and I've learned some energy-saving tricks that have helped lower my power bill some........ The power bill is down like $15 from normal, and I ditched the landline, which is saving me another $30 or so. Just trying to create a little breathing room in my budget, and it's working! 

[Ace-Garageguy]

12 hours ago, stavanzer said:

Got the estimate to repair my 1987 Toyota Camry...

...I should get the car back in Two Weeks.

Sounds like it'll be ready for another 100k.   

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, Tim W. SoCal said:

Paid $3.899 a gallon for gasoline in my neck of SoCal, the first it has been under $4.00 per gallon in quite a while... (Reciprocal IRK: Paid $3.899 a gallon for gasoline)

Saw it at $2.65 here the other day. 

So cheap I feel like letting most of the air out of my tires so I can use more.  

Edited Thursday at 03:08 AM by Ace-Garageguy

[stavanzer]

42 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Sounds like it'll be ready for another 100k.   

I sure Hope so. I'd like to drive it another 25 years!

[89AKurt]

This was yesterday, working in the yard, had a touching moment.

Second time:

I know that I've smashed many of it's brothers and sisters on my bumper. 😶

[rattle can man]

Modeling hall pass tomorrow night! My partner will be staying with her grand children so I can stay up all night working and watching old sci-fi or listening to my "weird" (according to her) music.

[rattle can man]

And I can cook something with my really hot  (ghost, scorpion, reaper, etc.) peppers.

[stavanzer]

4 hours ago, rattle can man said:

listening to my "weird" (according to her) music.

Define "Weird Music"...

I listen to Enya, Def Lepard, German Schlahger Music, Toby Keith, Peruvian Folk Music,  Billy Strings, Bach,  Tom McDonald, and Oingo Boingo.

And many others besides.

So whatever you are listening to, I've probably heard some variety of it.

Enjoy the Ghost Peppers, and your Music!

 

[John M.]

Just had the exhaust system on the trusty 08 Corolla replaced today. It was droning and rattling and at times, it would hit the car's underside making an annoying ratta tat tat sound My mechanic whom I bought the car from in the Spring installed the system just prior and it was still under warranty which saved me a nice chunk of change. It sounds MUCH better. 

Edited Thursday at 10:23 PM by John M.

[rattle can man]

Anything that is/ was not pop. Things my partner doesn't like so I don't listen to it very often.  Weather Report, Pink Matini, Trombone Shorty, Tubular Bells, Itzhac Pearlman's Jazz improv album, spanish guitar, and many others. 

[89AKurt]

Tonight was the Prescott Antique Auto Club's Christmas dinner, first time at the fancy golf clubhouse.  I was the only one who drove an old vehicle, and everyone else was dressed to the nines.

I contributed to the Toys For Tots box with only *real* car Hot Wheels®, but kept this just because.

The numbers are so close to my Shipping Container serial number. 🙄 

[ranma]

Bought some jeans from Ollies @ $9.99 per pair. One pair wanglers, one pair Lee's Only 2 in my size, and two pairs of Carharts jeans (women's) Funny thing is the women's jeans actually fit better and are actually longer inseam than either of the "mens" jeans! The Lee's are 52X29 Which is about 3 inches to short in length , so I'll be making them into long shorts!

[mk11]

On 12/11/2025 at 6:42 AM, 89AKurt said:

This was yesterday, working in the yard, had a touching moment.

Second time:

I know that I've smashed many of it's brothers and sisters on my bumper. 😶

Great when you win the trust, like I've had happen with chickadees and this summer, a midsize dragonfly; one of my favorite flying critters. 

[Trainwreck]

Got a few hours bench time today.