Good morning!!!!

[sodamo]

Good question on the trail cam, Ron. Honestly I don’t know. What I do know is when I see them mowing, they tend to be fast. Maybe I’ll have to keep my camera at the ready.

 

[daugen]

Very successful morning. Nice drive past Raleigh on glass smooth highway and no wind. Dealer fixed the rv within an hour.
Then owner came to talk to me.
"Well, the price has reset." Hmmm, here it comes....
However, I got lucky. Due to covid vacationing and rv dealer inventory being one quarter of normal, prices have actually gone up on used rv's and he not only offered me three grand
more than last time, but was willing to drive over here to campground and pick the rv up and take it back, saving me a lot of hassle getting a ride home, finding a place to stay for the night, etc.
So, rv is sold and friends with trailer confirmed they are coming, just have to pin down the dates. Good progress.

Hooked everything back up, am pretty tired, time for a nap.

David, I read that 60 years ago average US BP was 110/70. Has risen over ten points in that time, and for many, much, much higher

 

[sodamo]

Good for you Drew. Things sure coming together.

Soph and I have talked about this many times. Growing up most meals were homecooked. Both coming from large families, there was definitely portion control. Afternoon or maybe midmorning in summer, any snack was likely fruit or maybe if Mom made cookies.
Maybe a glass of milk after supper. Sure we had stuff high in sugar or equally bad but quantity was always limited. And then we were always active.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Good Morning!!!! 75F @ 10:45AM. Abundant sunshine. High 87F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
AQI 127 and 166, inside and out. The air conditioner does a pretty good job knocking down the particulates, but it's been cool enough overnight that it doesn't run much. Gonna try just running the fan for a while this morning.

Between Beta and Beto, I don't know which one is worse. Hope Texas survives...

Your mom probably has many fond memories in her house, Don. Gonna be hard for her when she has to leave.

Glad you got the move details worked out, Drew. Makes your bargaining position at the RV dealership just that much stronger.

Good to see the CV19 wave damping down in your area, Bruce. There was a huge spike here when they opened the college classrooms, so much so that they had to take it back to online classes. Still getting a dozen or so new cases a day.

Sometimes it's just easiest to build a burn pile or three over a stubborn stump, Ken. Hope yours is in a spot that allows that.

Looking at that bird reminded me of my sore neck, Ron...

The days start getting shorter now. Cooler, too. I'm more of a spring person, always appreciated the new green and color when everything starts growing again.

Sounds like a lot of you are really hustling to get ready for winter. I should be, too, but I really don't wanna be outside in this smoke. I'll be out there anyway today, working in the van again. Yesterday I made my mind up to go to a Sacramento smog inspection shop that was recommended on one of the Vanagon forums, and the darn thing failed again. This time it was the EGR valve not working. He passed all the stuff I was worried about, but apparently the EGR has never worked. The valve itself is fine, but the inspector found a plugged steel vacuum line, and the solenoid that controls the valve itself wasn't working, either. Good grief, what next? Over two dozen other inspection items in all; he probably spent an hour with it. I have to give him credit, though, he had the right attitude. He said it was his job to get the vehicle to pass, even if he had to fuss with it, as he did in my case. The other shop I went to didn't even try to figure out what they needed to do for the inspection, where this guy just followed the instructions on his computer screen. Asked me a few questions, and made several calls to his guru who guided him through the rest. The van passed the emissions tests by wide margins, even with the broken EGR. Makes me wonder if all the band aides are even needed. Dug out a few pages of diagnostic info when I got home, so I'm ready to go at it again here in a little bit.

 

[sodamo]

9 weeks old, 10.8 lbs

 

[txdon]

Drew, would love to see some sort of study comparing todays diet to the way we were brought up 60-70 years ago.

One thing from the 50s on but recently have gotten rid of in 2018 was partially hydrogenated oils which we grew up on and will be our demise. Understanding the Partially Hydrogenated Oil FDA Ruling/Ban

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Let the fan run continuously, and the AQI went from 127 down to 81 in about a half hour. I'd say the 3M filters have been doing a pretty good job. I'll let go another half hour and see what happens. Then again, maybe that's not all due to the A/C. Outside air quality improved from 166 to 54. Might get away without a mask today after all. Procrastination pays off!:laughing:

Took some energy readings, too.

The A/C is using 3.8 kW while it and the fan are running, while the fan alone uses 0.8 kW. It's a nice sunny day today, with moderate smoke, and the panels are cranking out 5.5 kW, down slightly from their peak today of 5.6 kW. That's about a third less than their rated output of 7.4 kW.

 

[Thomas]

60F more clouds than sun 10+ mph wind.

Good putter day than wife text me thought I had time do couple things in town for her....I did so I didn't get my hike in looking for the bull moose.
I had good chat with operator running harvester cutting corn fields,he said corn not as good this year because lack of rain but it great cutting no chance getting stuck or the trucks...yep we need least 12" rain.
Not much plan for this evening just numb it I guess.

Enjoy your evening all.

 

[toppop52]

One thing from the 50s on but recently have gotten rid of in 2018 was partially hydrogenated oils which we grew up on and will be our demise. Understanding the Partially Hydrogenated Oil FDA Ruling/Ban

You keep on that diet and exercise you should live to 120! Then you’ll probably die from nothing.

 

[PJSprog]

I think portion control is a big part of it, David. Everything is huge these days. "Super Size!" Back in the '70s and even into the '80s, a large soft drink at fast food restaurants was 20oz. Today, that's the small.

 

[txdon]

I think portion control is a big part of it, David. Everything is huge these days. "Super Size!" Back in the '70s and even into the '80s, a large soft drink at fast food restaurants was 20oz. Today, that's the small.

But it's still 80% ice - at least in Texas.

 

[txdon]

You keep on that diet and exercise you should live to 120! Then you’ll probably die from nothing.

The object is not to live to 120, it's to not kill yourself off early.

 

[wngsprd]

Happy Autumn! Beautiful time of year.

Was 40F this morning, but had frost on the roof again.

Changed the oil in my wife's vehicle today...surprised to see on my log it hadn't been done since December...still under 6K miles since last oil change, but we just haven't been driving as much. She's on the way over to her best friend's who she hasn't seen since March when the Chinese flu started. I roasted 3 types of coffee to take to her.

PJ, I think you're right about portion sizes as well as David's comment about Americans being less active these days...despite all the exercise machines and gyms, the average person doesn't have to move as much at work, or just to get around. Plus, restaurants/food outlets are everywhere. I remember taking a road trip as a kid, and we could drive across the state on 2 or 3 or 4 lane highways and not pass an open restaurant for hours. Did anyone else grow up and start driving where there were a lot of 3 lane highways? I mean the ones where both directions shared the middle lane (for passing only) on the straight stretches. It was the cheap way to avoid/forestall the cost of 4 lane divided highways. There are still some 3 lane highways in the mountains, but the uphill direction gets 2 of the lanes and a double yellow line separates them from the other direction...helps with passing slow trucks, for example.

 

[sodamo]

I think portion control is a big part of it, David. Everything is huge these days. "Super Size!" Back in the '70s and even into the '80s, a large soft drink at fast food restaurants was 20oz. Today, that's the small.

I remember many times riding my bike back from something or other and stopping at Mr Thompson’s store and treating myself to a nice cold bottled coke - all 6.5 oz of it.

 

[sodamo]

US Route 1 in Maine was 3 lane. Even better it was concrete. thump, thump, thump.

 

[toppop52]

The object is not to live to 120, it's to not kill yourself off early.

Understood, just funning you.

 

[toppop52]

I remember many times riding my bike back from something or other and stopping at Mr Thompson’s store and treating myself to a nice cold bottled coke - all 6.5 oz of it.

I also remember 7oz Seven Up and for a short time, Pepsi.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

One of my elderly neighbors just put their house up for sale. The number one reason for leaving the active retirement community is to be closer to their children. I wish I could get my Mom to move into their house. . . it's hard to squeeze in a good days work with a 3 hour commute.

Every work day for me....besides, you need a ride in the country every now and then.

Still busy as heck at work, and they keep upping the amount of work I have, but not extending the time. I don't get paid overtime, so I rarely work it.


RNG, are your panels dusty? Have they ever put out the full amount? Glad you have patience for the subaru vanagon.....and kalifornia's rules. Wish I could ship Beto and Beta out to your state....I know you need the rain.....


The cool air that we had here, has kept ole Bitty from becoming much more than a slight rain event for most. Some have flooded, in areas that are prone to such. We've gotten a bit over 2" since Sunday evening. Rick may have gotten much more?

Take care guys, Prayers for those in need, and our country.

 

[rswyan]

60F and clear @ 20:45, low headed down to 49F. Big cool down coming in about a week, along with the rains.

Box blade and FEL removed first thing, but quick trip up to burn pile with some branches I had trimmed before FEL removal.

Started FS 66 for The Woman so she could cut weeds around back, then hauled Water Buffalo over to the side so it could be refilled.

Then mount MMM so Woman could mow.

I went ahead and cut two passes around the outside of the front and got her started.

After that I filled 3 bird feeders with sunflower seeds and hooked up the WB and set it to filling.

Worked on splitting some hosta clumps and drilling more planting holes for them in the northwest planting bed. Didn't take long before my back was hurting and she and I switched off: I mowed and she got the other sit down job with the chair over in the west planting bed, splitting and cleaning the other roots from the hosta clumps.

Stopped for a couple of BLT's for lunch and then back to mowing.

Got entire front mowed (1/3 her, 2/3 me) ... was a bumpy ride probably due to the ground being pretty dry.

She got another 26 hosta sets planted (with my assistance) after I hauled the WB over to where she was working ... still more that need set out though.

While she was planting I walked around back and grabbed the FS 66 and brought it up and trimmed around 4 evergreen trees. Saw a nice large Wood Frog under the one pine tree ... at which point I quit trimming because I didn't want to inadvertently hit him.

At that point it was around 19:00 so we called it a day and gathered up tools and headed inside.

Had another BLT for dinner and I hear tell that some Nestle Toll House cookies are now out of the oven ... :licking:

Hope everyone had a great day.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

prices have actually gone up on used rv's and he not only offered me three grand
more than last time, but was willing to drive over here to campground and pick the rv up and take it back, saving me a lot of hassle getting a ride home,

Only 3 grand more? I thought he low balled you on the offer before.

Found out my wife’s sister in NC, down near apex has their house on the market due to her husband getting his hours/ pay cut in half. This is the sister that caused all the drama at their dad’s funeral, and then verbally attacked me and everyone else. I just ignored her, didn’t even respond. I am no longer on speaking terms with her. Same sister who wouldn’t go home for weeks after the funeral and stayed with her mom, until her mom finally told her to go home. I’m afraid they will try to move in with her mom.