Good morning!!!!

[PJSprog]

37°F and partly cloudy this morning, steadily dropping to near freezing this morning, then back up around 38° this afternoon, before dropping again after sunset. Wind is making it feel colder.

Last day of work today until Wednesday next week. Going to enjoy another four day weekend. last one for awhile. No scheduled holidays after this until April.

Drew, a 2Ω speaker is incredibly low. I had no idea car stereo manufacturers were doing that. I'm sure it's an attempt to draw the most from the power amp, but it's a risky setup. Probably why your speaker blew; too much power to one single speaker. Most pro audio manufacturers recommend against running 2Ω systems. It's quite taxing on the amplifier's electronic components, and very heat intensive. A cursory Google search shows that Crutchfield does indeed carry them, though (not sure about your specific size).

 

[wngsprd]

43 and rain going to 62 and rain. Everything soggy or flooded, here, too. I guess it beats a NM blizzard that LS is getting, or freezing rain that Roy seeing.

Ron, real nice lift, and nice modification.

RNG, I was wondering about that guy's pose, as well. Looks like desert in the background. I looked up Indio, and that's a long ride from your home...and isn't that the name of the bad guy in Clint Eastwood's "For a Few Dollars More?" Might have to watch that today after roasting some coffee.

CWB, what great Christmas gifts for the kids.

Don, sounds like a big project you have planned. I wish I had a pull down ladder for my attic. Don't store anything there, so have been satisfied with using a step ladder.

Decided yesterday to make one more firewood run before this big rain arrived. Ground still soft, and the creek is about 2 inches above the bridge, but no problem...cut more than I could bring back in one load, so will have to wait until things dry out some, or freezes over to go back because I ran out of time.

Had an appointment for the HVAC guy to come out. Still having Aux Heat mode on my geo system. The ground loop man flushed, purged and reset pressure...hadn't had the loop checked in 14 years, so was a good service, but didn't fix. So had the heat pump guy check...found a "freon" leak from the service valve. Based on its location, he has to come back with a recovery tank before he can replace the valve, and then recharge the system with R 410A. $$$

Then decided to hitch up the trailer and make a trip to the quarry to bring back a ton of gravel...the rock in certain sections of the driveway have sunk to China with all this rain. Got there 15 minutes before they closed, and hand shoveled the gravel and smoothed where needed into darkness. Got done just before my wife arrived back home, so had a nice surprise for her, since that was one of the things she wanted for Christmas.

 

[riptides]

...
Then decided to hitch up the trailer and make a trip to the quarry to bring back a ton of gravel...the rock in certain sections of the driveway have sunk to China with all this rain. Got there 15 minutes before they closed, and hand shoveled the gravel and smoothed where needed into darkness. Got done just before my wife arrived back home, so had a nice surprise for her, since that was one of the things she wanted for Christmas.

Busy day for you! Agree on the China syndrome with the driveway. I have two long strips of standing water, right over my culvert area. That's not good.

Another to-do list chore added.

 

[CWB Wyo]

It's 6° this morning and partly cloudy. Yesterday was in the low 20's with light snow showers most of the day. Today is going to be in the low 20's again with more sun.

I didn't do a very good job on the driveway yesterday. I'll give that a another try this morning.

The grandsons passed their hunter safety this fall and are looking forward to getting out. The oldest one doesn't have any central version in his eyes and is legally blind. But you wouldn't know it by the way he acts. They are going to Nevada this weekend with my daughter and her boyfriend looking for rabbits.

Hope everyone gets a good start to the weekend.
CWB.

 

[sodamo]

68 °F and 0 rain

So starts a busy weekend
Off to airport soon to pick up long time friends visiting from Atlanta. First time seeing them since we moved in 2005.

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great day

 

[jbrumberg]

Good Morning Everyone!!!

The morning started out ~28ºF with sleet and freezing rain. It is now 32ºF and there is still freezing rain falling with ~ .10" of ice glazing everything. Walking on the "grass" still requires the use of my YakTrax. My footing was better than Brogen's walking the perimeter.

RonJH- Nice job on your lift. Thanks for sharing and good luck with the PT.

Roy- I am happy to read Bella is feeling better.

BEF I hope that your finger continues to heal.

Ted- I am sorry to read about the PT induced pain. It is frustrating to read and I am sure it is much worse to experience. “75%“ is still better than 50%. It is a long haul. Enjoy those cookies Hang in there.

Eric- That barn owl looked to be in decent shape. I would think that it would have had decent food resources at your place. Too bad.
Thanks for sharing.

Ray- Have a safe return trip home. You are definitely in this Winter Season’s snow zone on this side of the NA continent.

“… A break tomorrow, then more wet weather.”- Drew I may get the whole weekend rain free and then the “wet” begins again. I am not a happy camper about this weather pattern. Good luck with the podiatrist.

Mike- I really hope 2019 is a much better year for you, your wife, family and farm. I hope your trip to NYC and return got safely and w/o incident, the followup appointment goes as expected (or even better) and your wife continues to mend.

Bill- Take care on the ice and snow…. Do you have a retractable ice crampon on your cane? My ribs are still complaining from my recent falls.

Billy- Good luck with the “China Syndrome.” We finally had to have our entire driveway re-dug, and restored with ballast, geotextile material, gravel, topped with crusher run. We have not had a problem since.

Claye- I hope that your grandsons have a successful and safe hunt.

My + thoughts, prayers, and wishes.

 

[Bird]

Ouch, Thomas, that doesn't sound good at all. Hope it gets better soon.

30 degrees here this morning, forecast to go to a sunny 47. Of course at 10 a.m. it's only 36 degrees. I've been out blowing the little acorns off the driveway, walk, and aound the shrubs out front and now need to get back out there with the rake and shovel and try to get some of those little acorns bagged up. The amount of those nuisance acorns is just unreal.

 

[riptides]

Good Morning Everyone!!!

The morning started out ~28ºF with sleet and freezing rain. It is now 32ºF and there is still freezing rain falling with ~ .10" of ice glazing everything. Walking on the "grass" still requires the use of my YakTrax. My footing was better than Brogen's walking the perimeter.
....

Jay, speaking of footing and falls, be safe.

I recall a few years ago, at night, flashlight in hand, serious icing all over. Went out to check on animals. All I recall is seeing my feet at eye level. I hit so hard, I rolled on my face to keep from passing out. It was bad. I was laying on the ice in a lot of back pain. (What is it with my family and backs? LOL) I recall flashing the SOS sign at the windows of the house. After a few minutes, I crawled to the house and managed to crawl into the great room. Family got a good laugh until they figured out it was serious. Wife calls neighbor and 911. I go into shock right there on the floor. Ambulance ride, ER, bruised kidney. No fractures.

Yeah, footing.... wife got ice cleats shortly there after. Man that happened quick. Fond memory now. Funny story.

 

[daugen]

we just don't take those lumps and bumps so well any more....

warm 66 degrees in light rain. Got a bit wet but finished shopping. Podiatrist said to stay off foot today, gave me more lidocaine shots, which
I think are useless.

Went to Ram dealer and ordered new door speaker. Crutchfield said they had nothing that would fit and sent me back to dealer. Darn....
PJ, I think that was the problem with electrostatic high end speakers, low impedance, took quite an amp to power.
Will be interesting to see what is stamped on tiny oem magnet, exactly what is stock impedance. I agree this is all about cost cutting, and it seems concurrently cornering the market on replacement part sales.

 

[jbrumberg]

Mike- Thanks for sharing your story. I am happy you were not more badly injured. In hindsight after the pain subsides many are "funny." That's a great idea about using Morse code. It would not work around here. My wife can sleep through anything and there are no neighbors. Cellhpnes do not work well around here as well.

Mike- What brand ice cleat does your wife wear? I have a pair of lightweight hiking boots dedicated to my YakTrax this time of year. I am not convinced they are the best pullover ice cleat on the market. If anyone here knows of a better ice cleat I would appreciate any brand recommendation.

I'll be laughing about my recent telephone pole falls. I was surprised just how poorly I saw and prepared for the ice. I wear a Petzl headlamp to leave my hands free; but freed hands did not do much to break the falls. There I was in the dark, on the ice, flat on my back studying the clouds (mixed could decks and cloud types in waxing moonlight) and there was a confused Brogen looking down at me .... Too bad he does not wear a cask around his neck.

We had planned to take in a movie matinee ("Vice") and then an "early bird" dinner at a new, nice restaurant today; but based on the weather we decided to stay home. We're both decent cooks and have plenty of food.

A great day to conserve energy.