What Pleased You Today!

[89AKurt]

Took a break today, to allow the ankle to rest.  Found one that isn't political. 😏
 

[A modeler named mike]

Finally checked a few major boxes on what seems to be my constant growing list of things needing to be done. And of course a few had irks that came along with or was the reason for the fix but all turned out well in the end.

The Roof: I hired a guy I knew from my school days to replace my roof at a very reasonable price I couldn't refuse. The replacement was initiated by my insurance company,  in order to have our renters policy turned into a homeowners policy since we know own it. The roofer  ended up needing to come back after running short on the shingle tabs for the ridge vent. He never came back because he got a DWI and it's apparently not his first. Rumor has it he'll be heading to jail soon. So, I had to buy a bundle of shingles to finish the job even though he's been paid in full.. but on the bright side, it's done and my policy has been switched. ☑️

The Chimney: At the same house. After I finished his (my) roofing job, I realized that my cement chimney crown was in desperate need of being replaced. I had contemplated doing the job myself but some things are best left to the professionals. In my research I found that the chimney codes had been modified or updated and not one house in the neighborhood is in compliance with the new chimney code. $1,950. later, my chimney has a new cement crown per the code and the mortar joints that was deteriorating due to the weather, have been pointed up. ☑️

The Furnace: This is at my Dads old place that I took over after his passing a year ago. I had already known that it would eventually have to be replaced since it was starting to burn more oil last winter than in the previous years and the service tech mentioned that parts are becoming harder to get and some are already obsolete for the old dinosaur. I figured this would be best replaced durning the warmer months than to take a chance of it dying in the dead of winter and becoming a real mess. $13,500. later, the new furnace is in and all is good. No additional irks on this came about other than the price tag. ☑️

Last but not least, my vehicle: recently I was given a 2005 Trailblazer by my brother in law. In order to keep down the transfer fees it was decided to go through the title process as a family member gifting it to anoyher family member. In Maryland it has to go from a parent to child or vise versa, not brother to sister. So in order to keep it from being inspected (it'll definitely not pass) it will go to the mom and then to my wife. At first my mother in law wanted no part of the transfer because she didn't understand that you can transfer a vehicle without having to tag and insure it. Now that it's been explained and I insured her that I will pay for any cost that incur, she's finally on board with it, Thankfully..☑️.                                The whole purpose of getting the vehicle as cheaply as possible is to keep from spending unnecessary money that can be put towards getting my 1994 Silverado short bed back on the road again. 

Sorry guys, that was a bit long, but it is on the positive side and that's where I'm trying to stay nowadays. Making sour grapes into a fine wine. 

 

[stavanzer]

1 hour ago, A modeler named mike said:

 

Sorry guys, that was a bit long, but it is on the positive side and that's where I'm trying to stay nowadays. Making sour grapes into a fine wine. 

Sounds like you've handled it well. Good Show.

[89AKurt]

15 hours ago, A modeler named mike said:

[...] In my research I found that the chimney codes had been modified or updated and not one house in the neighborhood is in compliance with the new chimney code. $1,950. later, my chimney has a new cement crown per the code and the mortar joints that was deteriorating due to the weather, have been pointed up. ☑️

The Furnace: [...] the service tech mentioned that parts are becoming harder to get and some are already obsolete for the old dinosaur. [...]

Sorry guys, that was a bit long, but it is on the positive side and that's where I'm trying to stay nowadays. Making sour grapes into a fine wine. 

Apology not needed.  Don't get me going about codes, you are encountering the joy of regulations.  Did "mini splits" come up for replacing the furnace?  I can see 3 from my house now, two recently installed.

Even though I'm feeling it, still added a walk to take this picture.  We have a field on a ridge, this stump bench is looking at the mountains with clouds on them, a very unusual sight.

[A modeler named mike]

4 minutes ago, 89AKurt said:

Apology not needed.  Don't get me going about codes, you are encountering the joy of regulations.  Did "mini splits" come up for replacing the furnace?  I can see 3 from my house now, two recently installed.

Even though I'm feeling it, still added a walk to take this picture.  We have a field on a ridge, this stump bench is looking at the mountains with clouds on them, a very unusual sight.

The house has a 275 gallon oil tank in the basement so I wanted to stay with an oil burning furnace for our heat and hot water. They tried taking me into an electric hot water heater. No thanks, I've replaced 3 in the 30 years being at the other house. It's always a mess and it runs up the electric bill. This house also has a central air unit up in the attic and an outside unit. I don't know much about the system. I need to make contact with the company that installed it and possibly inquire about purchasing a maintenance agreement and some general knowledge that wasn't passed on. 

[Volzfan59]

My beautiful wife and I got up to a needed rainy morning. Decided to make scones (she knows that I love them).

[John M.]

Four new school busses arrived yesterday and the boss will have 15 more decommissioned busses hauled off to the big scarp yard in the sky soon. More room for parking for both the fleet and the personal vehicles of the drivers and office personal. 

[stavanzer]

Made it to the Model Club Meeting today.

Sold 3 decal sheets for 15.00.

Bought two kits for 10.00.

Net profit, 5.00.

I got 2 Monogram kits. The '70 Heavy Chevy Chevell, and the '69 Shelby Mustang. Both are complete, and ready to go.

Model Club Meeting was good, although I was an hour late due to family issues. Still nice to be there.

[Volzfan59]

13 hours ago, stavanzer said:

Made it to the Model Club Meeting today.

Sold 3 decal sheets for 15.00.

Bought two kits for 10.00.

Net profit, 5.00.

I got 2 Monogram kits. The '70 Heavy Chevy Chevell, and the '69 Shelby Mustang. Both are complete, and ready to go.

Model Club Meeting was good, although I was an hour late due to family issues. Still nice to be there.

I wish that I lived somewhere close to a model club. Closest one (that I know of) is in Little Rock, 2 1/2 to three hours away.

[89AKurt]

Pleased to be at a good stopping point on the backyard remodel.   Going to WA to see my family next week.  Finished the left side today.

Found a spot to watch the sunset.

Obligatory car picture.

Pleased I got a great dinner, a restaurant has a killer salad, so I got my monthly dose.

[TonyK]

Very nice stone design and work. A LOT of work but I don't need to tell you.

[89AKurt]

4 hours ago, TonyK said:

Very nice stone design and work. A LOT of work but I don't need to tell you.

Thank you.  Just glad that I can.  Never needed to join a gym. 🙂  Didn't smash any fingers or toes moving those boulders, and it was fun to drop those on the dirt.

[stavanzer]

I got hired by the County to work the November election. Completed all the paperwork this morning.

Minor Irk....

I don't actually go into the office and get paid until Late Sept/Early Oct. So 3 more weeks idle before working. And then only for 6/7 Weeks.....

But, there are Gubernatorial Primaries in March, so I could get called to work that election, in early Feb.

( we generally start taking phone calls about the election, 5 or 6 weeks before the Election Day)

[Earl Marischal]

My Skoda Octavia Estate passed its MOT*. There were advisories on the tyres but, when we go to Scotland in a couple of weeks, we will take into the Kwik Fit where our son is the manager. A win all round.

steve

*Annual legal safety check, for those who might not know.

[89AKurt]

Pleased to drive Blue Cloud where the only guy I saw was running the grader over one of the Prescott Rally stages.  Yes, we are having a European style rally running through Perkinsville, which is an old cattle ranch inside the Prescott National Forest, this weekend.  Bummed that it conflicts with my grandson's 3rd birthday, so I'm not working this time.   Anyway, this is just outside of Jerome.  Pleased Blue Cloud does rough dirt roads and curvy Mingus Mountain so well, no problems at all (but I better check later).
 

[89AKurt]

6 hours ago, Earl Marischal said:

My Skoda Octavia Estate passed its MOT*. There were advisories on the tyres but, when we go to Scotland in a couple of weeks, we will take into the Kwik Fit where our son is the manager. A win all round.

steve

*Annual legal safety check, for those who might not know.

I'm so in the dark about all that, first what is a Skoda? (just kidding, WRC)  You might not like this, but my County does not require any check.  That's why so many Rat Rods are at car shows (but rarely on the highway).  My '68 pickup has zero emissions controls too, so double whammy.

[Earl Marischal]

4 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

I'm so in the dark about all that, first what is a Skoda? (just kidding, WRC)  You might not like this, but my County does not require any check.  That's why so many Rat Rods are at car shows (but rarely on the highway).  My '68 pickup has zero emissions controls too, so double whammy.

I do find it amazing that you don’t have safety checks on vehicles. Is that just your state or all of the country? This is ours:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOT_test

And this is my Skoda 😁

steve

 

[James2]

Well after not traveling for work in over 6 yrs. I have been asked to do so. Not really pleased about that but I am pleased to be able to work. 

Not here in Chicago....

Edited September 10 by James2

[Volzfan59]

@Earl Marischal, I live in the USA, State of Arkansas. We do not have safety checks. I’m originally from the State of Tennessee, didn’t have them there either. By the way, your Skoda looks sharp as a tack!

Edited September 10 by Volzfan59

[Volzfan59]

Waking up to a beautiful, unseasonably cool morning pleased me a great deal. Today is my beautiful wife’s birthday. Really enjoyed giving her the gifts that I got for her before she headed off to be a nurse. 

[rattle can man]

Thanks for the semi-pleasant memory jogging with MOT.  It has been too many years since my brief time in the U.K. I needed a brief diversion from reality (bad family news yesterday).

Safety inspections and emission checks depend on the state and city you live in. KS does not have any. But Pennsylvania is pretty strict on the safety inspections. Emissions inspections are more common in heavily populated areas.

[stavanzer]

California is Draconian on Emissions, but has no real safety.

Every State is different.

[John M.]

Here in Massachusetts, once a vehicle reaches 15 years old, it's exempt from the annual emissions test but it still have to under go the annual safety check. 

[rattle can man]

From what I have heard, KS's reason for no inspection is that they cannot control safety inspection stations to prevent them from just slapping the sticker on instead of actually inspecting. Emissions wise, air quality is irrelevant (just visit during Apr-May when they burn the prairie and pastures off).

[rattle can man]

milk. I accidently rubbed my eye after cleaning jalapenos, Carolina Reapers, and ghost peppers. so I could dry them.  I didn't think I had gotten the pepper juice on my fore arm.

Edited September 11 by rattle can man