...still going!
|
Posted:Feb 6, 2015 11:27 am
Last Updated:Feb 15, 2015 5:50 am
7876 Views
|
Friday morning, and yes I'm still going. I'm trying to drum up the motivation (and tolerance for the cold) to go out and pull the master cylinder on the old truck. I have the new one already, but need to do a little bit of swapping of peripheral stuff on the old one.
The truck is running great! I finally got it tuned out last week and I really was thinking WAY too hard about it; the problem ended up being a slightly kinked fuel line (the new fuel pump was slightly smaller, so the hose bent just enough to restrict the fuel. So simple, yet so easy to overlook. Once the brakes are working, the appraiser will come out and give it the once over.
I'll need to go put some gas in once it has the ability to actually stop (besides the emergency brake); I'll try to have somebody take a picture of us and post it. Older than me and a hell of a lot prettier!
Not much else going on. Nothing new on the search for a condo, but if nothing comes up soon, I'll probably start reconsidering the last one I looked at. I really hate that I'd be overpaying, but it really wouldn't be by THAT much; it would also be less than what staying here much longer will be taking from the estate. Depending on what happens with the pickup, I might have enough cash to fix the place up fully.
I've had a few other interesting things ...umm, go down. My weight, actually. I've dropped 20lbs since October, and I just think of it as my bachelor gene re-expressing itself. The last couple weeks, I had been putting on pants that I haven't been able to wear in a couple of years. A pair of jeans that had been a little too snug last year kept riding down on me yesterday. My best friend and the next door neighbor here commented to me this week about how much I've lost. I still want to get below 200 again, but I'm not actually putting any effort into the weight loss yet. Cooking when I want to eat rather than scheduling meals goes a long way though.
I'm also discovering reading again ...I used to be a voracious reader, and slacked off a great deal lately. I've started on "Red Rising" and I'm a bit over halfway through as of last night. It's not a bad book at all, but not a real page-turner either. I'm enjoying it in any case though ...I suspect when I'm moved, I may find a lot more time for reading.
The pick-em-up beckons, and the temp is slowly going up so I guess I can get busy. Geez ...it was 31 degrees when I went to Irving yesterday, it's sunny and 50 now, and they're saying 75 for tomorrow. Welcome to Texas!
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
business as usual
|
Posted:Jan 21, 2015 1:50 pm
Last Updated:Jan 23, 2015 8:12 am
8794 Views
|
Well, it's been a while since I've posted. Interesting thing, I now have confirmation without any shadow of doubt about one thing in particular: The dishes will NOT do themselves! After a bit over a week of them piling up (it's not as ugly as it sounds; I've been eating out a lot lately), they sat and sat and didn't magically jump out of the sink and into the shelves clean. Go figure.
I was looking at a condo ...been hesitant to write much because of the "jinx" factor, but it has fallen through completely. I almost feel bad for the people living there; they have a Realtor who isn't doing them any favors, but they have real problems and don't seem to understand what is going on.
They WANT to make a profit on the place. Hell, nothing wrong with THAT (I wish them luck, but it's not gonna be me), but they have a pretty big problem with that idea. First of all, they are insisting on cash since apparently no bank will back a loan on the place (it's really not all that uncommon for condo's in general, but this one needs some work). So they really want to move (not sure why), but they don't want to take a loss. I feel their pain ...I wouldn't want to either.
Problem is, they made some "updates" to the place. It's really not a bad place, except for one crucial problem: they made some updates to the place.
1) They took out the carpeting downstairs and put in hardwood floors.
This might have been pretty cool, except they didn't know what the hell they were doing. The strips are laid unevenly, there are gaps in places that I can put my pinky finger into, but it isn't close to even much of anywhere.
2) They painted the entire unit. Except for one room, which they started trying to wallpaper, got two thirds of the way through and apparently realized how bad it looked, and then painted over the wallpaper. The wallpaper, after being saturated with the paint, is now falling off the walls. To compound the issue, they used really ugly colors and were unclear about the entire concept of "masking." It would almost be amusing, except that they actually appear to be kind of proud of the paint job they did. They put masking tape on the walls in order to paint the trim, and I suspect they used regular masking tape instead of painters tape. That's the only reason I can come up with for why they painted right over the masking tape for the walls. Once again, after being saturated with paint, the tape is coming off and there are big gaps between the trim and the wall (I won't even go into all the spots with brightly colored paint on the ceiling that they didn't bother to clean off.
3) They painted the kitchen cabinets. Black. Yellow countertops, white linoleum, and fucking BLACK cabinets. I don't know if they were trying to "match" the black and silver oven (that needs to be replaced ...it looks like one of the elements on the stovetop shorted out, because the surface is burnt off); the dishwasher doesn't appear to work either. The walls are the same color as the living room: a shade of yellow that I'm pretty sure doesn't exist on the natural spectrum.
4) The carpeting upstairs and on the stairs is shot. At least it isn't gummy and sticky like the first place I looked at, but my Realtor said it was probably a health hazard nonetheless. I guess if they would at least steam clean it, they might have a better reception, but it's ugly, stained and worn.
Their Realtor originally listed it at 10K over the market value. It sat for two months, and they dropped the price 5K (which is 5K more than they paid for it 4 years ago ...public records). They seem under the impression that the poorly done upgrades should raise the selling price, when it's ALL going to have to be redone even IF they miraculously found someone who actually liked the colors. They had an open house on Sunday, and while my own Realtor and I were looking at it, three couples came and went without so much as even looking upstairs.
On first talk, their Realtor said they'd come down to what they paid for it (which is pretty well the market value). I got rough estimates on repainting and carpeting, and offered them 3K less than what they paid, and they won't budge (I even went up a grand). Poor folks don't appear to realize that the "upgrades" ARE the problem, and my guy seems to think that their Realtor is probably just too afraid to be straight with them about it. That, and the Realtor is utterly convinced that the units SHOULD be selling for more than they are.
All I can say is good luck in finding a cash buyer who will take it in it's current condition.
In other news, my house smells like gasoline and it's giving me a headache. I have been working on Dad's truck and well ...it starts and runs ...briefly. I rebuilt the carburetor, and it still wouldn't start. It finally occurred to me after wasting entirely too much time on it, that five-plus year old gas may have been contributing (and that gas leaked all over while trying to start it). I drained the fuel tank, put in new spark plugs (I don't think the ones in it had a hundred miles on them) and poured a special oil into the cylinders to raise the engine compression temporarily. It fired up on the first try.
Then promptly died. When I had been working on it before, I drained the fuel filter (it's a glass bowl) and was able to see the fuel level rise when cranking it. It took a little while before it occurred to me to empty the bowl and check it again. Aggravating, but the fuel pump wasn't pumping anymore. I took it off probably five times ...disassembled it to check for trouble, and it all looked good. Turns out that the ONE movable part that I can't get to is the problem. It works pumping it by hand if you hold it JUST right, but as soon as I get it on the truck ...no go. I ordered a new pump, and it ought to get here Friday ...along with some rain and/or snow. Bummer! ...and until I can get the silly thing running, I can't get under it to clean up the fuel well enough to get rid of the awful smell.
I've sure had a lot of people stop by when they've seen me working on it though. It is quite purty!
I'm off to walk the muttifer ...he's been a bit of a pain of late too.
cheerzall!
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
Secret code words
|
Posted:Jan 6, 2015 8:26 am
Last Updated:Jan 21, 2015 2:45 pm
10634 Views
|
Though it really isn't wasn't this particular blog is about, I have to admit to a guilty pleasure I take from time to time: the Craigsthing list of personals (or sometimes I call it the hopelessly delusional list). I don't do it often, and I may go in six month stretches without even so much as a glance, but then I may go every day for three weeks straight. Number of times I will respond to any: 1-2 times a year, number of times I create posts of my own: once every year or two. Number of responses I've received from my own posts that I have felt compelled to reply to: 1 in the last two years (with no return response).
So it should be obvious from the above that it's mostly a guilty pleasure that I don't follow up with. I actually used it with a fair amount of success six or seven years ago ...it made a transition to an absurd amount of scamming and data-mining, and I don't know if it's just the fact I don't go that much anymore, that there is less of it, or if I'm just better at spotting it ...or a combination of all those, but my interests have waned even though I suspect that the number of ads may actually be slightly more sincere than they were ...say three years ago.
One of the things that really gets me is the whole "secret code words" so "I'll know you're real" (or "so you know I'm real" which is slightly more realistic). I'm a born skeptic, so I don't think I ever approach things from assuming a standpoint of "innocent until proven guilty" in my personal life; I assume all of them are fake and look for clues that they may be real rather than the reverse. The whole "secret code word so I know you're real" is silly beyond words when you think about it.
For instance: in your ad, if you mention that your favorite movie is "V for Vendetta" and the response says "I love your ad and we have a lot in common" then it's a canned response. If it says "I love movies too" ...then regard with extreme skepticism and look for direct references to anything else in your ad; if there is nothing direct, I don't waste my time. If the response is "I loved V" or "So what did you think of 'Watchmen?'" then it's a pretty safe bet it's not a sweaty Nigerian on the other end. A bot can quote a subject line, and a canned response is a canned response regardless of what they put in the subject line "so you know they're real."
So anyways ...that wasn't the intent of the blog post, but rather a knock on the door I had yesterday from a dude wanting me to change my electric provider. He was a nice enough guy and I will always give a lot more attention to people who do "door to door" over phone calls. But I'm not planning on staying in this house any longer than I have to ...but THEY have their canned responses too ...Oh, you're moving? ...how about using our service when you move? No? ...well you know we can switch you for the next month or two while you are still here? Suddenly the "secret code words" come into play in realtime: "I'M NOT INTERESTED!" works pretty well in my experience, but if it doesn't you only need repeat at a higher volume. If you have a ferocious dog, siccing him on them works like a charm nearly every time (my muttifer's aggression tends to end at the damage he does to a cheeseburger or a treat though, so it's out for me)
One thing since I moved in with Mom I've gotten used to and view with contempt are recorded phone calls. I'm also contemptful of non-recorded solicitation calls and have learned the difference between calls that come from telemarketers that have found a new niche, and (only slightly) more legitimate calls. Telemarketing firms dial numerous at a time expecting that most won't answer (and they usually spoof numbers on the caller ID); when you pick up and say hello, and have to say it three times before someone responds ...it's either a telemarketing firm, or someone who simply doesn't care too much about the call. My general rule of thumb is that if they don't respond immediately when I say hello, I hang up.
I've really reached the point that I need to disconnect the phone here completely, but since it's still the number associated with all the utilities I'm a bit reluctant (especially since the mail carrier accidentally returned one to sender recently).
I am going to view a different condo on Thursday, so we'll see what happens. I just know that I'm ready.
cheerzall
|
|
|
2
Comments
|
|
The Mouse does it again
|
Posted:Jan 3, 2015 7:56 am
Last Updated:Jan 3, 2021 9:47 am
10474 Views
|
I have a confession to make ...odds are pretty good that if it was made by Disney, then I'm probably going to love it. Same goes with Pixar ...the list of animated movies that I LOVE is a whole lot longer than the ones I hate. Weird that a dude who loves Zombie, vampire, slasher, 50's sci-fi and bad b-movies would love what I guess I would call " stuff" but I guess since I never did the " thing" I have to like them twice as much or something.
Anyway, last night I went and saw "Into the Woods" with a friend and I absolutely loved it. I really didn't know it was going to be a musical, and I thought it was going to be a lot more driven by special effects ...so I had two surprises I guess. I dunno if it'll really go down as one of the "bigger" Disney movies or not, but it's probably my favorite in quite a few years (which says a little because I'm not a huge fan of musicals); I really did like a lot of the central messages ...especially towards the end when they were trying to figure out whose fault it was and assigning blame. It had a few pretty profound messages hidden in all the goofiness! ...and there was goofiness galore (probably why I liked it so much); Chris Pine was hysterical, although I'm pretty sure the girl who played "Little Red Riding Hood" stole the show for the most part.
After the Disney movie I came home and plugged in the 1981 version of "The Evil Dead" (gotta offset the musical, yanno?!). I think I might have made it an hour before I started dozing ...I'll probably pick up where I left off in bed tonight and then start the new version again next. I had almost forgotten that Bruce Campbell was ever that young, but the original really was a pretty decent horror flick (although "Army of Darkness" still remains one of my favorite horror-comedy movies ever).
Off to hit the shower ...yet more plans today, so better get busy!
cheerzal!
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
Happy
|
Posted:Jan 2, 2015 9:54 am
Last Updated:Jan 3, 2015 6:54 am
10540 Views
|
Well, I have survived the New Year. In fact, it was kind of boring ...I didn't have a drop of alcohol either on the eve or yesterday (hell, I fell asleep some time before the ball dropped ...10 is apparently the new midnight after all). I did however, manage to lose about a third of my on New Years Eve.
I had quite a few people tell me how I should wait to cut the dogs hair until it warmed up a little bit, but honestly ...I don't really recall ever going this long between haircuts with him. After spending as much of the day as I did cutting out matted up snarls and wrestling with the poor little guy, I don't think I ever want to pass the 6 month mark again either (he's had a couple of baths in that time, but no haircuts). He's really pretty well behaved for the ordeal ...but I'm not very fast, and neither of us are really big in the patience department.
Holy smokes, but his hair had gotten long though. He used to let me brush him out every now and then, but as he's gotten up in years he's lost his patience for a LOT of things (good thing that only happens with dogs, huh?). He trembles a lot more, he lays down when I'm trying to keep him standing, he runs when he sees me pick up the brush. Mostly he just sits there and looks pitiful, which is bad enough I guess, but he's always SO proud of himself once it's all over with.
He's trimmed short enough that his hair is about four shades lighter and now I can see his eyes and his ears aren't so heavy with the hair that they don't perk up anymore. He LOVES cold weather, but with his hair a little shorter, he does tend to want to snuggle a little more (which is handy when you don't have anyone else to do that with). It's a dreaded project out of the way, both of us are a lot happier now that it's over with, and I can say that at least I didn't wait until the next year to do it. Now I just have to move onto those "other" things.
I still haven't done anything with the pickup ...it's been raining and nasty, but at least we dodged the big winter storm that was expected. My motivation is still low though. Excepting the sister, everyone is glad that the truck is back here.
The other condo that is for sale at the place I want to move to just took a sizable drop in price in the condo listings (not the POS unit I wrote about before ...a different one), so I think I may go have a look at it in person next week. It didn't appear to be in horrible shape looking at the pictures, but they were WAY too proud of it price-wise and they appear to be getting a little bit more realistic. It merits having a look in person in any case.
It would be a nice start to the New Year if I could find a place to live sooner rather than later and get the moving plan started. I usually despise change, but this is certainly one that I'm ready for.
Happy New Year all!
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
half-empty?
|
Posted:Dec 30, 2014 8:31 am
Last Updated:Jan 2, 2015 8:48 am
10313 Views
|
Well, the house got a little emptier and more full all in one fell swoop. My brother and his husband carted off another load of furniture last night AND we brought back my Dad's old truck which is now taking up the garage until I can get it running again and have an appraisal done.
This silly truck has caused more hard feelings in my family than anything else since Mom died. My sister (although I suspect it was more her husband) was of the opinion that we should just GIVE the pickup to them (it's a show-winning '49 Ford that my Dad bought brand-new). My brother's were of the opinion that it should be a part of the estate just like everything else, and if they were really that attached to it, we should have an appraisal and they could buy our shares. My sister and her husband have actually snubbed a few of their friends upon being told that there isn't exactly anything unreasonable about that.
On the drive out to BFE to pick the thing up, one of the things that we talked about was the fact that if it was so beloved to them, why isn't it running? It hasn't been started in three years, the carburetor is sludged up, the brakes don't work (that's what happens when you don't take care of an antique vehicle), yet it's supposedly near and dear to them and we're being entirely unreasonable by not simply giving it to them. My sister is finally starting to come around; she even helped us load it ...her hubby not so much. He pulled it out of their garage with a tractor before we got there (with all four tires flat) and left it sitting in the middle of the field for us to pick up, and then stayed inside while we did it.
My brother and his husband had never been out to the ranch before (sister and husband are ultra-conservative Christians who are outspoken against gay rights ...hard to imagine why they've never visited), so even had I not wanted to, I had to go along to show them how to get there. My brother was positively mortified at just HOW far out in BFE they were (I seem to recall the phrase "OMG ...I can already hear the banjo's playing" as we were getting nearer). The funniest part was that it was sunny and clear right up until we drove into the town, and then suddenly it clouded up. Bro's hubby remarked on it, and I told him that was what happens when "Teh Ghey" comes to East Texas. I guess neither of them have hung out in the same dark corners of the internet that I have ...they had never heard "Teh Ghey" before (I need to send the bro some links). My other brother called while we were on the way back and he suggested they get some flannel shirts QUICK!
When we were loading the truck, my brother was remarking to my sister about just HOW far out in the sticks they were ...and my sister exclaimed about just how much they LOVED it out there! He said that he guessed that was why they made Ford's and Chevy's ...but the older that HE got, he wanted to be CLOSER to the hospital ...not further away! The look on my sisters face was priceless ...it was obvious that she'd never thought about it along those lines. A couple of years ago she had a pretty severe accident and had to go to the emergency room at the local hospital(over 30 miles away); she remarked shortly after that she was so glad to get back to the metroplex to go to a "real" doctor. I suspect that scene was probably playing in her head when he said that.
Funnier still, as soon as we drove out of the city limits, the sun came out again. Brother in law said "Yep ...I ain't EVER comin' back HERE again!"
...he also remarked that he was very happy that at least my sister's husband got to see us drive off (he lovingly refers to sisters hubby as "the douche" most of the time). I told him that his staying away was actually better than the "best case scenario" I had in my head. My sister was very cordial with all of us, and he didn't even show his face ...MUCH better than what I had expected (4 flat tires not withstanding ...but I carted out the BIL's air compressor to air them up, soooo).
I don't think I'll mess with it today, but I already have the kit for the carburetor; I'll just need to try to remember how to put it in and hope it's like riding a bicycle. I haven't rebuilt a carb in probably close to 20 years ...give me fuel injection any day of the week. One thing about 1949 though ...things were a lot simpler then. Brakes will be no big deal; they're simpler than the fuel delivery system by a long way.
It's a pretty sharp old truck ...and I need a project. I just wish it wasn't nearly fucking January! (I guess that's why they make space heaters)
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
Wow, so back to this again
|
Posted:Dec 28, 2014 11:27 am
Last Updated:Dec 30, 2014 3:57 pm
10206 Views
|
I just washed the dishes for the first time in a week or so; it didn't amount to very much since I haven't exactly been doing a lot of cooking in the context that I used to. Cooking for one sucks and is a little difficult to do without either filling up the fridge with leftovers (not an entirely bad thing) or overeating (not sure on this one; I overeat a fair bit, but now that I'm back to just myself, I'm losing weight again). The whole "single guy" thing is certainly coming back to me easier than I could have imagined.
So anyway, since AuntiE left, I've just been filling the sink and wash everything by hand. I did that when I first moved in with Mom a fair bit since it was mostly what I was used to, but the real turning point came about when somebody mentioned that the dishwasher was the best way to sterilize dishes. Given that the maternal unit had cancer that depressed her immune system, suddenly sterilizing dishes seemed a lot more important than maintaining "single-guy habits" and I started using the dishwasher regularly.
Hell, since AuntiE left I don't think I've even generated enough dirty dishes on my own to justify using the dishwasher (maybe once when siblings were over for dinner). I'm even falling back into my habit of using the same coffee cup all week (I just rinse it out when I'm done and set it by the coffee maker). I have a bit of laundry to do today, but even THAT isn't such a big deal anymore.
Tomorrow will be a busy day ...we're going to East Texas to pick up my Dad's truck and store it here for a while; while the brother is here he'll take back a load of furniture that I won't have any need for anymore. I can't say as I'm looking forward to either "project" but I guess I'll take it as it comes.
The New Year is almost upon us ...once again waffling a little bit about what my plans might be though.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
It could have been worse
|
Posted:Dec 25, 2014 5:00 pm
Last Updated:May 23, 2024 7:37 pm
10239 Views
|
Well, I did my first ever Christmas with my sister-in-law's family, and it actually wasn't a bad time at all. I guess I really didn't know quite what to expect; my brother's wife is a little bit "out there" to say the least, but compared to my own family gatherings in years past, it was actually almost refreshing in its own ways. I had forgotten how refreshing it was to spend time with a largely Christian family who actually knows how to celebrate Christmas without having to turn everything into a sermon every five minutes. Political talk was off limits although I noted that pretty well every point on the spectrum was present. THAT part was awesome; I guess I've just grown a thick hide with my own family ...it was actually refreshing to be around people whose idea of manners was to just not start the fight in the first place rather than be offended when people disagree AFTER you've already climbed on the soapbox.
Before I left the house, I DID get a text message from my brother that struck me as just a little bit weird though. He asked that if I hadn't left yet, that I wear black jeans and a white shirt. Okay ...dress code is different, but what the hell. I gotta admit, a part of me expected to show up and see all the crazy Christmas sweaters and I'd be there in black & white and my brother says something like "I didn't really need the prosthetic leg" ("Guardians of the Galaxy" reference there). Turns out that they color coded the family for Christmas pictures ...it was their first Christmas together in something like 20 years. My own family did weirder shit than that on a good day without even trying.
Everyone was great though ...my little mutt was more the life of the party than I was, but we both did fine. I will really need to try a blog sometime about the Meyers-Briggs personality test (I was asked about my own recently); there used to be a day when I was a rather extreme introvert (20+ years ago), and anymore I kind of straddle the line between introvert and extrovert. I figured I might be leaning more towards the introvert lately, but I was of no shortage at all for things to talk about or people to talk to. I'm a repository of useless knowledge as it is, so there was never a dull moment. The curious roll reversal was that I seemed more talkative with everyone than my brother ...who is usually the life of the party. Between the move to Florida and the death of my Mom, I suspect he's struggling a little bit more than he's letting on.
I hear the first one is the hardest. I guess one can hope, but all in all I think it went pretty well.
Hope everyone else has had a Merry one!
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
There can be only one.
|
Posted:Dec 24, 2014 11:52 am
Last Updated:Dec 25, 2014 4:13 pm
9280 Views
|
Given my tendency towards cheese lately, I may have to do the "Highlander" movies again in the nearer future ...I remember LOVING the movies when they came out (and I remember last time I saw the first one thinking "Wow ...I actually LIKED this last time I saw it"); not so much anymore. Tastes change for sure and being a moody bastard, I never REALLY know what's going to tickle me at what time.
But as for "the one" headline ...I thought I had largely succeeded in skipping Christmas this year. My brother's said NO GIFTS, and I never do exchanges with ...well, both of my "good" friends in meatspace. My sister called and said she wanted to drop by the house today and give me and the our Christmas presents.
So crud. It might have actually been easier to have just "set a precedent" and given her nothing in return; there's been a longstanding aggravation about her tendency towards trying to "outdo" everyone with Christmas presents (my two brothers just quit with it some time ago). Truth is, I had bought their present back in the summer though, so I didn't even need to DO anything except wrap it. Problem is ...between my sister and oldest brother, all the Christmas stuff is gone, so no wrapping paper. I looked around all over this morning and found exactly ONE item missed by everyone else which was simply a bag of bows ...that just happened to have some tissue and a few ribbons in the bottom of it.
So ...the sister and BIL got a boxed Bluray set of "The Mummy" trilogy in a rather sloppily tissue-wrapped package with ribbons and a HUGE bow. I mean really ...I probably should have taken a picture, because it probably could have won a "worst job" award or become a meme or something ...it looked THAT bad! The upside is that when the sister came by to drop her stuff off, I was out picking up the part for my car. I had honestly thought I was going to get away with not having to do a SINGLE present this year, but c'est la vie I guess.
Okay ...guess I'd better start doing something ...I just have to figure what that something IS!
Merry Christmas, or a very Happy Holidays for my fellow heathens!
Cheers all, and hope it's a great holiday!
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
A whole bunch of randomness
|
Posted:Dec 23, 2014 8:11 am
Last Updated:May 23, 2024 7:37 pm
9400 Views
|
Yes, the Canus "reality blog" has a ton of randomness in it today.
The Highlander-zit apparently lost out to a greater zit and it moved on to a somewhere in Peoria.
I skipped the Christmas party anyway on Saturday, stayed home and did a suck-movie marathon instead (and I did some doozies: "Ghost Rider" "Fantastic Four" and sequels). I DID make plans for Christmas Day though ...I will be spending it with my next older brother and his wife's family. It's not really what I would tally up to my idea of a "fun Christmas" but it's better than staying home alone I guess. I really do miss my brother since he moved to Florida, so I need to take advantage of when he IS here.
I'm not sure where all my motivation came from yesterday, but I guess I just decided that I had a little bit. The high for the day was supposed to be 61 degrees, and it was about 66; the sun was shining, the birds were singing ...and I've been procrastinating on a bunch of car work for a very long time. My old car had a battery that was no good, wiper blades that wouldn't pass an inspection, and a broken rear-view mirror mount. The new car ...well, lets just say that in the last ten years, auto shop guys haven't become any less full of shit.
Back when AuntiE was still here, I took her to a doctor appointment and when in the parking garage I heard the brakes making some funny noises ("and not of the "...so a duck walks into a bar" variety). It wasn't the sound of metal on metal, but it wasn't a good sound either; just the squeaking/rubbing sound that usually means it's time to at least have a look at them. Last week I was driving by the place that put the tires on, so I stopped in to see if they could do a balance and rotate and let me have a look at the brakes; as luck had it, they were able to get me in at that very moment.
I guess that it should have been a bit of a clue when they called me out to look at one of the rims that they told me it was bent. I went out and looked at it while he spun it ...and well ...it wasn't bent. At all (not even a LITTLE). At first, I thought maybe he had the wrong tire on the machine ...he asked if I wanted an estimate, and I told him no. I looked at the brakes and they looked fine as well, but the same guy said that the inner pads were worn really badly. The whole "this is the same guy that told me the rim was bent" didn't really occur to me since I already thought it probably needed brakes anyway.
So back to yesterday, when I was getting the battery adjusted ...oh, and this is great! I hadn't driven my old car anywhere since well before Mom passed away (I jumped if off to move it once when I needed the spot it was parked in, but other than that, nada); I put it on the charger a few days ago and it wouldn't even light the lights the next morning. I took the thing in and it had exactly one week left on the "free replacement" period, so I got the battery for free. Given that it's been toast for months and I've just been lazy about it since I haven't actually needed it ...I'll just count myself fortunate. I also picked up the brakes for the other car.
When I got back here to the house and jacked the car up and pulled the brakes off ...they were fine for the most part. Maybe 50% worn at the worst; already having the new brakes in hand, I figured I might as well just put them on and not worry about it later. Honestly, it took longer to take the tires on and off than it did to swap the brake pads, and like I said ....now I won't need to worry about it. Still a bit aggravating that I took the shithead at the tire place at his word though; I usually know better.
The battery in the other car turned out to be a little bit more of a pain. Before I pulled the battery out the trunk of the other car, I noticed how bad of a shape one of the cables was in, so I decided to run back to the parts house and get a new cable end. Aggravating, but I got back, replaced the cable end, and when I went to put the battery in ...they had given me the WRONG ONE! So I had to turn around and go right back ...he didn't input the change into the computer, so I hope it won't come back and bite me in the ass later, but meh (it'll show the exchange, and it will be obvious from the numbers that it was the wrong one to anyone with half a brain ...which unfortunately rules out about half the employees there). I brought the correct one back, put it in and the car fired up on the first try; I didn't like the looks of the time, so I didn't mess with taking it in for an inspection ...that much can wait a few more days I guess.
The last order of business still kills me. The mount for the rear view mirror has been broken on the old Nissan for ages. I had used epoxy on it and it held for a year or two, but it finally broke again a little while before I stopped driving it (it was actually in the heat of the summer and the epoxy literally melted out of it). For grins, I looked it up online ...and for the record, this particular car has a very unusual and model-specific mount. Most of the search results were for aftermarket replacements (that wouldn't have worked anyway), but the one that stood out was a picture of exactly what I needed on "Flea-bay" ...and was also exactly the reason I tell people to fucking avoid Flea-bay. They wanted $35 for it! ...this tiny little piece of plastic with four holes in it, and they wanted $35 for a USED piece of plastic. Some dummy apparently knew exactly how specific it was and wanted to make a buck or thirty.
I called the dealer ...they'll have it in tomorrow and it cost less than eight bucks brand fucking new. There was a day when I hated the dealerships, but when it comes to parts I've become a bit of a convert over recent years for this very reason. You know the part will work when you get it from the dealer. Sometimes they are even cheaper depending on the part.
So the car business is done for the most part ...I will have both cars able to be moved so I can park the old pickup in the garage next week and hopefully get it running soon. That's a story for another day and a point of angst, but I needed the other cars out of the way, and I had the perfect weather day to do it. Figures that it's been raining all morning, but tells me that I made an awesome call on getting it all done yesterday.
Cheers all!
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
Return of the
|
Posted:Dec 19, 2014 4:01 pm
Last Updated:Dec 23, 2014 6:31 am
9762 Views
|
I wrote a blog quite a few years back about the "Highlander Zit" and I'm tempted to go back and see if I can find it. The gist of it is that I managed to go through my years relatively acne-free, and didn't start having trouble with zits until after I turned 30.
Trouble was, they were like ...super-zits. It was as though all the lesser zits in the world battled each other until the strongest zit won out ("there can be only ONE"), and "the prize" was apparently MY face. I've been putting hot compresses on all day today, and it's finally trying to come to a head, but GEEZ! Granted, this one isn't as bad as the super-zit's I got in years past; I used to have to go to the doctor for those and they'd often swell half of my face up. Maybe I've just learned better ways to take care of them, but they're still no fun. I was considering attending a Christmas party tomorrow, and I'm having reservations about it given how I look today.
Other news ...I had considered just blowing off the whole "condo offer" thing, but decided to at least give the guy the benefit of a phone call. I did, and it went about like my buddy there at the complex said that it would. He was positively incredulous at such a low offer ...he actually didn't balk at the 25K in renovation estimate though (which I was a bit surprised about given all his talk of "only a couple of hundred dollars"), but just said that the lot was worth more than my offer. I held in the snark about good luck in selling just the lot, but he wasn't even willing to consider it anyway so there wasn't any point in saying anything rude.
He did appreciate that I called back at least; I think he also got a little bit of appreciation about just HOW bad a shape the place is in. The second bedroom is the only room in the entire place that doesn't need fairly extensive repair work on the walls, ceiling and/or floor. I guess if he finds somebody willing to do a lot of the work themselves, he might be able to get a higher price ...but I suspect he'll just try to rent it out again to somebody with really REALLY low standards.
Scary stuff, but the search continues.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
...that sound you're hearing.
|
Posted:Dec 18, 2014 4:19 pm
Last Updated:Dec 19, 2014 4:02 pm
9474 Views
|
Yeah, that's the sound of the expectations hitting rock bottom. I've mentioned the Realtor-dude, and how he sort of sidelines in flipping homes; well he had a look at the condo today.
He confirmed the very reason I needed a guy like him to have a look. My own first impression was pretty poor (as compared to the owner's overly rosy outlook), but the guy who actually DOES this sort of thing had me write up a list as we went room to room. At the end of the whole thing, the tally came up to about 25K ...and that was doing it on the CHEAP! (single guy ...simple tastes, nothing fancy and just the basics) ...he also implied that if I was truly serious, I would need to hire an inspector to come in and do a FULL workup, and they might not be as liberal as he was.
He suggested that I make an offer of 10K, and be willing to go up to 15K ...but not to go a dime over that or else I'd probably be looking at a losing proposition in time and money. As an investor, he said he wouldn't touch the place with a ten foot pole (the exact adjective he used was "shithole"). Oddly enough, the MOST major turn-off for me was that it had a hot water heater under the stairs (unfortunately, after a flooding incident here at Mom's and an exorbitant amount to fix it, I became a little familiar with what it takes to meet code ...and that heater wasn't even close). The closet and storage space under the stairs is actually one of the things I LOVED about the unit I used to live in. It has storage space galore, but that one was my favorite. My friend said that building was the only one in the complex that had them; he wasn't sure why, but thought it might have been at the end of the circuit for the boiler, so it needed "help" for the hot water (but he said that was only conjecture on his part; both he and the lady on the opposite end have been there since it was new though).
I'm not as bummed out as I thought I'd be though. If anything, I'm a little bit relieved that I got the more informed opinion. I haven't even made up my mind if I want to even bother with the low offer since it would be so extensive (that, and my friend said there was no way the owner would go for that offer ...he'd more likely just try to rent it out again). Scary place ...the Realtor said if a city inspector saw the place, they'd probably say it was a health hazard.
So I'm afraid that I'm back to square one at this point. Time to start looking for a "plan b" and maybe a "plan c" as well.
I don't particularly like the Realtor guy, but I DO trust the figures I got out of him. We both agreed that the owner is a bit of a scumbag though ...neither of us were quite sure if he was actually sincerely as naive as he seemed to be, or was just lying through his teeth about parts of it. Probably a mixture of both, but at this point I think the place is more work than I want to go through with.
C'est la vie
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
Butterflies
|
Posted:Dec 17, 2014 4:31 pm
Last Updated:May 23, 2024 7:37 pm
9007 Views
|
Wow ...so it all finally came together that I'll have a look at the condo tomorrow with somebody who has a little better idea than I do about these things, and I'm more than a little bit nervous.
The honest truth is that I really WANT a green light on it. Like the wonderful Ms. Tickle said in a comment on another post: it's an opportunity to turn it into something that could be a real "Chez-Canus" and there's a lot to be said for that; that I actually have the finances to DO it is a pretty big deal too. It's a location that I love, and neighbors I already know for the most part. It's hardly a great part of town, but the neighborhood is quiet and people look out for each other.
Given that the owner wasn't too picky about who he rented to (and it came back on him) assures that I'll be a pretty welcome addition to the complex and the HOA. I have talked with my siblings a LOT about it; the oldest brother (and the eternal skeptic) really thinks I should do it; he's gay, married, and his hubby is an interior designer (and I would most definitely be putting his talents to use). The brother said that both his hubby and the hubby's family are in complete awe at the price. He actually warned me about trying to talk him down too much on the price. Less is better, but it's not a bad deal even at what the guy is wanting.
It's reasonable. There is one BIG variable that is the main reason for wanting the realtor opinion, and I'm anxious to hear what he has to say. If it's a green light, then I guess the adventure will begin.
More later ...but keeping fingers crossed.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
To link to this blog (Canus2011) use [blog Canus2011] in your messages.
|
|
|
| Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
81
|
91
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
141
|
15
|
161
|
17
|
18
|
191
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
261
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
