Comments & Overlords

So I keep getting spam comments that I can't delete. So I've had to add comment captcha words again. I hate the stupid things but as Google is too busy telling those nasty little Chinese who want to know what's going on in the world that their wonderful, loving, all powerful murderous government doesn't want them to know things, it seems they've broken the coding for Blogger in the process. I can't delete crap comments & the stupid Blogger thing at the top of the screen isn't keeping me logged in but is recognizing I'm logged in as soon as I reclick "Sign In". For the foreseable future the words will remain on. Sorry.

We went to DC for 3 days at the end of last week. It was enjoyable, but expensive & we went dirt cheap. Couldn't get lodging because everyone was booked & for some weird reason Andrews AFB has NO TLF until May when they move into new digs for the billeting office. But, that's okay. We still got there & we'll be going back.

The Metro worked really well minus the Red line fire at Metro center on Friday. The trains were actually pretty clean, & not too terribly crowded (minus said fire & line disruption). We didn't make it to the National Zoo - too cold! but we did spend a whole day at the Air & Space museum & then the American History museum. Thursday we spent at the Mall. Saw all the monuments (didn't go in the Washington one, but saw it) & visited the Vietnam & Korea memorials. Got to say "thank you" to 2 gentlemen who fought in the Pacific in WWII at their memorial. They were both very young men when they helped liberate Asia & in the process helped liberate my great-grandfather so they deserved so much more than just my thanks but that's all I had to offer them.

If seeing your nation's capitol & thanking veterans doesn't make you tear up, nothing will. Even with the cesspool that is Congress in the background, I was still incredibly proud of my nation & what all its done in the world.

Einstein has a new home. He, well he snapped at one of the kids & that was strike 2 after biting the husband. We found a very lovely single lady who lives right on the beach. They enjoy each others' company & he's thriving. I'm glad he's happy & didn't have to get put down, but I'm sorta sorry to have seen him go. He's a good dog, just not the right one for us & we're not the right one for him. So we're back to a single pet family at the moment.

Por mi padre

Per your request, photos of the under carriage. From the looks of it the exhaust has GOT to be replaced. I'm not sure about the actual pipes for the exhaust but I don't see any holes or corroded spots on them. I know with the weld they'll probably have to go anyway, but I see no outward signs of rust or corrosion besides being in a state that uses salt to melt ice & snow.

Life

Ahh, some days it is sweet some days it is not.

Got a new RX for my glasses, now to get new glasses.

Van is now plated, woo hoo! Still needs work doing on it but we're getting there slowly but surely.

Have decided I'm getting too old to put up with some people's crap. Of course when said people told this I'm the bad guy. Ohs wells, still done with their crap.

Looking towards Spring Break. We're trying to get to DC to see the Smithsonian & the National Zoo. They're FREE!!! Free is Rhi's fav price! Clearance (pronounced "Klare ance" in your best hoity toity voice) is Rhi's bestest friend!

About 1/2 done with stripping the grass for the raised beds I'm putting in for the garden this year. High enough to hopefully not flood or float away.

Broke the wheel barrow while carting wet sod. Not best pleased with that one, but it was several years old so it did see some use before going to gardening tool heaven.

Looking at a Gorilla cart for the new one. Those are COOL! They're also pricey for my cheap butt so I may not get one, but I'm thinking the $$ in the short term is offset by the life time of use versus repeat replacing of cheaper ones. Still haven't convinced myself of that one.

Looking for ZOMBIE garden stuff. Like the little head & hands you put on the soil to make it look like one is climbing out of its grave. Hehehe, I lurve me some zombies.

I think, looking at some of these wurdz that I read LolCats a bit too much lately.

Trying to get US gov to agree that a culinary degree is a "mobile" career. Seems "makeup artist" is but "culinary arts" isn't as of yet. That is the height of gov stupidity.

Oh & I'm happy to have the post from the offered guest blogger. I shut down my yahoo e-mail for this account some time ago so I'll need to send you an e-mail from my account but I'm happy to share if it fits in with my bizarre ramblings.

Hope all is well in cyber land!

New Recipe

I added a recipe for Butter at the recipe blog. I haven't fallen off the Earth, just busy living life.

Time to get back to prepping the garden. Hope all is well in cyberspace and IRL.

Goodbye Old Friend

We just finished Parts 1 & 2 of "The End of Time". Alas, there is a new Doctor, at the loss of a beloved one.

He got to say goodbye this time, but that made it even the more bittersweet. While I wish Matt Smith a wonderful run as The Doctor, I'm actually mourning the loss of David Tennant. He was a BRILLIANT Dr. Who. He bested even my childhood favorite Baker. I wish him well in the future, even as the evil Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry Potter. For me he'll always be #10, but second to none.

MY New Van

So we need to change our vehicles. The Dodge is too small for us now - we have 3 kids that will be the death of me yet & who need their space on long trips (or short trips, or quick errands, or ...) so we got me a new van. Not just ANY van mind you...

A 1985 Toyota Vanwagon! It's ALL MINE!!! The first car I've ever owned - MY name is on the paperwork. Woo Hoo! (Owning a vehicle should not excite me this much, but it really, really does.)


It might not look much now, but I can see what a beautiful, awesome work of art this van really is! I LOVE this van, even with it's problems (& its got some serious ones).

The interior is in pretty good nick for it being 25 years old. I don't demand much of the carpet & seats - I have 3 kids, things will spill & stain & just in general be used so I'm very forgiving in that department. There are no rips, tears, or general destruction of the inside. Its in fair to good condition for being a family vehicle from the mid 80s. I also don't know how long it was stored, or by what means, but there are no furry rodents or birds or the like so its all good.




Some views from the front. Pardon the angles, it just fits inside the garage with a little walking room to spare so its somewhat tight quarters with the camera.



Now the state of Virginia wants $4600 to 'fix' it to pass inspection. It would ace TX inspection easy peasy. Over $3000 of the 'fix' it cost is labor. Dude wants $200 to replace this tail light - $100 of it for the parts, $100 of it for 'labor'.


I consider tail lights, belts, filters, et cetera, to be standard operating items. Basically, I expect when buying a used vehicle to need to check (or replace) bulbs & light covers, brakes, belts, hoses & the like. Doubly so on a vehicle this old CLASSIC! However, there is NO reason the bulb & assembly would cost $100 or the labor (at $90 an hour) cost $100.


We've been given 6 pages of things to 'fix' - including (but very far from limited to):
Catalytic Converter & "COMPLETE" Exhaust system The converter was removed, it needs a new one but the pipes aren't leaking so I don't buy the "COMPLETE" system needing a replacement.

Transmission & Transaxl Um, WTF? It shifts fine, it remains in gear, it doesn't whine, it doesn't complain, it starts when its supposed to & doesn't when it's not (in Park versus Drive). My bullshit detectors are working overtime here.
Rack & Pinion Again, WTF? I drove it 800+ miles in 3 days, with all my kids in the vehicle wiggling around at times. There is NOTHING to indicate the rack & pinion is bad.

Differential WTF is all I can say.

Radiator The van does NOT overheat, there are no warning lights, sounds, or anything like it to indicate there is anything wrong with the radiator. It probably needs a drain & flush then refill but to completely replace it WHY? There are no explanations given, just list of what, how much parts, how much labor.

ENTIRE Brake system Again, 3 days, 2 snowstorms, 800+ miles. The breaks aren't the greatest & I'm sure the pads need replacing but the ENTIRE system? It's getting higher & deeper in shit here.

Shocks This one I can see it needing due to age & unsure care conditions. However, they want $250 for the parts, $233 for the labor. WTF?!?

Odds & Ends light bulbs & hoses & belts This falls under my standard maintenance thing, I have no issues with it needing doing but the prices they want for this is astronomical & ain't coming out of MY pocket!


Just a beautiful little Edelweiss I got on the drive home through Tennessee. There was even a man who took a photo of it when we pulled in to gas her up (she seems to be a her, not really a him & "it" doesn't fit the van's personality). Brought a smile to his face to see such a silly, but neat thing.


A little bit closer view.


So I have the van I want & I've definitely put it through its paces. I'm in lurve with it & can see what a wonderful friend & family member it has the potential to be. Now to find someone who can help me get her there.

An update of sorts...

He liked the Pan Dulce (Conchitas, Conchas, etc). He said they aren't bad but aren't quite right so need to find some more recipes to try.

It snowed like crazy here (about 9 inches total) over the weekend.


People in this part of Virginia are apparently not used to the snow, they drive terribly!

I'm looking into Culinary school, just gotta come up with the $$$ - hint, hint to my unky Sam.