Saturday, August 30, 2014

if it ain't one thing, ...


   it's another ... 

  finally into town, and access to Internet - time for 'catch-up' ...

  Sybil and I are readying for the BIG TRIP, and one thing after another is happening ... age is creeping up on our equipment, and replacement is needed ... generator, shop vacuum, trailer tires, house batteries, etc. all need to be replaced, and SOON ...

   I 'think' I will order a new Honda 1000i generator this week, it's their smallest model, but I only need it to charge the house batteries, anyway ... I still have my 6-year old Coleman Powermate, powered by a Briggs & Stratton 5.5hp engine ... reliable, starts on one pull (as long as the starter rope doesn't break, we're on our 5th rope now) ... but, it's LOUD and THIRSTY, so I am really hoping the Honda is up to the task ... $800 delivered, they are really proud of those things ...

   if Sybil would just go to bed instead of watching TV all night, we wouldn't even worry about it (late-night Lassie re-runs) ...

   then, today my shop vac went up in smoke - seems the landlord used a 120-volt wall receptacle for the 220-volt air conditioner power source ... 
   the best part, this clown is a Licensed Contractor that built the place ... true 'Kalifornia Half-Assed Engineering' at it's best ... another expense, it's only money, after all ...

   I'm going to take a bit of a chance, and run my present trailer tires down to Lake Havasu City, before replacing them ... I like the Discount Tires store there, they have been more professional than the one I visited in northern Kalifornia ... and, these Maxxis 8008 tires just fascinate me, they have been GREAT TRAILER TIRES ... hopefully, they still build them as solid as they did 6 years ago, when I bought them ... made in Thailand, no less ...

      ************************************

   OK, I know what you're thinkin' -- " what happened to your Bears ? " ...

   yup we lost the last coupla pre-season games, especially beat up by the reigning Champion Seattle Seahawks ... (what the hell is a seahawk, anyway ?)

   once again, it is PRE-SEASON, means nothing, plus, 'da Bears' played mostly with our 2nd & 3rd stringers, while the Seahawks pretty much stayed with their starting players ...

   that's not an excuse, I have to say, those Seahawks played one of the finest games I've seen ... they really did look outstanding ... 

   their Head Coach, Pete 'Sissy' Carroll, however, was one of the most low-class Coaches I've ever seen ... standing on the sidelines laughing at 'da Bears' ...

   laughing ... I'd like to see that punk laugh in 'Da Coach' Ditka's face, they'd still be mopping up the blood ...

'da Coach' Ditka - 120 years old and still deadly !
   well, maybe not 120, but not far from it ...

   pre-season is now over, our first regular season game will be next Sunday , the 7th, versus the Buffalo Bills, in Chicago's Soldier's Field stadium ...

   two points to ponder:

Point 1:
   'da Bears' are still troubled Defensively - we have holes at Safety, confusion at the Linebacker positions, and for the first time in my memory, a weakness in Special Teams ...

Point 2:
    these deficiencies will probably allow the Buffalo Bills to stay within 30-40 points of us ...

   
Sybil Sez:  'da Bears' whup dem Billy Goats !


   

Friday, August 22, 2014

travel plans accelerating ...


   it's looking as though Sybil & I will hit the road again soon, quite a bit earlier than our other Autumn road trips ... as long as I can get my old generator running this week, maybe I can put off the new generator purchase another month, or two ... it only needs a new starter rope & fresh gas, but I haven't been in any hurry to do that ...

   our 'old' generator only weighs about 80#, but the carrying handles are positioned to guarantee low-back pain, every time I hoist it in & out of the van ... plus, it's a bit loud, and kinda gas-thirsty ... so, I haven't been all that anxious to start using it again ... but, if I can put the new one off a bit longer, I can go ahead and get a pair of new trailer tires first, as they are more of a priority ...

   I would like to also postpone the new tires until I reach Lake Havasu City, AZ, where I bought the van's Michelins ... but, we'll see how they do after we head out ... if we do have trouble enroute, I can always have the new tires shipped for free to most local tire stores ...
  'Discount Tires/America's Tire' is a pretty good source for tires, they won't be undersold, and are all over the country ... well,maybe not in some of the crazy places we wind up !

   I couldn't be happier with the 'Maxxis 8008' tires I put on it 6 years ago ... they now have over 20,000 miles on them, and are in perfect condition, to my eyeballs, anyway ... that's very good service, especially if you've ever seen some of the rough, sharp ground we cover with it ... the stock Goodyears would have blown apart years ago - Goodyear Marathons  (Explode-A-Thons) ...

 BUT, then I read this very informative tire info:

  http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/infoTrailerTireFacts.do

   I have always heard it said that trailer tires should be replaced every 3 years, regardless of what they look like, or mileage ... I dunno ...

   I'm the sort of guy that doesn't always believe the sales hype, until it's backed up with some facts ... but, after reading that tire info, I am going to replace them, since my present tires are way past due, in both mileage and age ...

   Sybil doesn't seem to care, one way, or the other ... she's pre-occupied with politics these days ... I don't know where she gets it ...



              **********************************

   tonight, our Chicago Bears will play the reigning Champions, Seattle Seahawks, in our 3rd preseason game ...

   the 3rd preseason games are significant, as it is the only preseason game that the teams will play their starters for the first half, or more ... 
   Seattle is coming into the game with almost their same roster as last year, and are touted as THE team to beat this year ... they really are scary-good ...

   I predict 'Da Bears' will lose tonight's game by 10 points, or so ... again, preseason games mean nothing more than getting a look at the newer players, etc. ...

   of course, while all these guys are pro athletes that hate to lose at anything, they are also coached to hold back a bit, to avoid injuries ... also, any new plays won't be used, as to avoid giving the opposition any advance preparation ...

   hmmm, this long-winded post has given us time to re-think tonight's  results,

  
                 Sybil's Prediction:    'da Bears' 87,  Seattle  2
    
   
sounds about right ...






Tuesday, August 19, 2014

the offline blues ...


   I almost forgot how to sign in for the Blog ... I have been almost 100% offline the last few weeks, (and for awhile longer, too, unfortunately) ...

   the Verizon internet I use has gotten weaker and weaker every summer up here in my canyon, to the point where it's almost impossible to connect ...

   to top it off, my generator gave up the ghost a couple weeks ago ... I will buy a small Honda generator in a couple weeks (still saving up for it, those things are EXPENSIVE !) ... I suspect the ever-increasing tree foliage in my area contributes to the weak internet, and definitely has put the kibosh (is that how ya spell kibosh ??? ) on my solar panel, too ...

   but, today, Sybil & I are in a town for my doctor visit, and can get online, FINALLY ...

   expecting to have a new generator around the first week of September, we will be getting set for our winter migration ... although I'm not too fond of the desert, it will be nice to have both internet & sunshine back again ...

   Sybil could care less - she doesn't use the computer much (mostly just dog/cat computer games), and except for the air conditioner in her doghouse, she's not a heavy power consumer ...

   - until football season, that's when Sybil starts foaming at the mouth to see her Chicago Bears play ! ... 

   Da Bears are doing very well in the preseason, and we can't wait for the regular season to start in 2 weeks ... we will be quite GOOD this year ...

   seriously good, in fact ...

  
 
CAUTION:  BEARS FEEDING !