Sept 2021 Home Front Activities

[Oldfart9999]

Good morning!!! 66 supposed to stay in the 60s, raining, supposed to becoming harder rain this evening into tomorrow, looks like I may get the boat out Friday, maybe. The trailer is done, sort of, the rear cross member that is bent needs to be replaced, it'll work for now but I'll see what I can do with it in the spring, I know I can buy crossmembers but I need a welder, might see about renting a mig welder, a 120 volt will handle the job using 030 flux core, messy but it's what I have an angle grinder for. I really don't want to do this job again, the old joints just don't want to move and bend like that, I need the frame higher off the ground which I cant do in the driveway. On the good news side it looks like my shoulder injection is working, at least short term.
Bud, sounds like you have a good service guy, if his business is growing that's a good sign. Hope the infection is cured quickly!!!
Dog, unfortunately I can't afford to have the work done so it's me or nothing, it's done so I'm happy. Never welded upside down, not really that great right side up. Yes, safety gear is very important, don't forget it.
SHC, hopefully you'll be awake enough to look surprised when it's time to open the gift. Seeing as how you just need to step out the door to fill the freezer, If you get the chance do the safety class.
Top, keep working that arm, do the therapy work at home and at work, you'll improve.
Donald, you need to convince Mrs. Donald that fishing is part of Dwayne needs fishing as part of his therapy.
I'd give those 2 boys a pair of tweezers and a fork and have them police the grounds. Hope they're sending the patents the bill for the repairs. I would ask your Doctor for a referral to an orthopedic Doctor, they know the joints and won't guess. I've also found they won't do any cutting unless nothing else will work. Can you go to a VA Doctor, their Orthopedic surgeons have become some of the best in the world, the same for their therapists.
Have a great day, be well!!!
Rodney

[SHC286]

I asked Connie if she was gonna wrap my gift.

[Dog]

Rodney if we didn't live on opposite sides of the country I would be more then happy to do the welding for you.
I just got careless only had a section about 17 inches left to weld where it went under what I was working on and have done this a million times over the years will it got me this time lol.
sch looks like something my wife would of done. lol
Well time to get to work have a bunch of aluminum piping to weld today. All ground work so it will be easy.

[Bud Kennedy]

Rained out this morning for the mobile repair technician.  He set another appointment for tomorrow so we will see how that works out.  Supposed to be sunny and dry and hopefully we will make some progress.  He may decide not to do this job since he is a one man band so to speak.  That will be ok with me as I have another more traditional source to install the new steering.  Otherwise it was a wet morning here and still humid but temps only reached the low 80s today.  Big changes overnight tonight with temps dropping down into the upper 50s by morning and the humidity will be completely gone for a few days.  Supposed to get warmer about mid week next week but still cooler than summertime.. 

[SHC286]

Y'all, I ate pizza and chased it with ice cream.
Bad, very bad decision. I ain't a kid anymore.

[topdsm0138]

Y'all, I ate pizza and chased it with ice cream.
Bad, very bad decision. I ain't a kid anymore.

Our hearts still think we're 20. Our bodies think our hearts are retarded..

[Oldfart9999]

Good morning!!! 66 headed to 68, rain, rain and more rain this morning then it starts clearing. Shopping day, guess I'll get my flu shot while I'm there. I was out in the shed checking to see if any of my outfits needed new line, I was checking the BPS REVOLUTION bait caster that Mike tuned for me, I pulled the spool tension knob to see if it was dry, I haven't used it in a couple of years and darned if the knob slipped from hands and now I can't find it, I need to pull everything out to check the floor.
Dog, I appreciate the offer, but I should have someone here if I can't find a neighbor with a mig. I know all about that "never had a problem now boom" stuff. I never had a problem sliding a liquid off the tailgate of the truck until the day I had one tip over sliding it onto the tailgate, full liquid oxygen, no matter what I did I couldn't get it back up right until another truck driver saw me and came to my aid, at least nobody got hurt.
SHC, that's sure enough purdy looking bow. Ice cream and pizza, I wouldn't think it would be that bad, what kind of ice cream and what did you have on the pizza?
Bud, hopefully the tech will get your steering done so you don't have to take it to a service station, I know you don't want to leave it. How's the fall bite down there?
Top, my heart thinks my body is retarded, my BP was 117 over 62 at my Doctors appointment yesterday, it's the only part of me that doesn't have any problems. The Doctor was happy with that and my weight is down another 4 pounds, I'm finally under 200 pounds for the first time in 50 years, I've dropped 50 pounds in the last 6 years. No special diet, just better eating habits.
Donald, hope all is well at work and you're planning a fishing trip soon.
Have a great day, be well!!!
Rodney 

[SHC286]

It was cheese pizza with some ham and onion on it, and chocolate fudge brownie ice cream. Totally not something I should be eating to begin with, but it's the only thing I had yesterday besides sunflower seeds and a sugar free energy drink.
Man I had indigestion all night even after taking tums.

And dang it's getting chilly! I'm sitting on the front porch with the youngest boy, my phone says it's 54 degrees. It's almost beanie weather in the mornings. I've gone back to a high and tight haircut because my hair is falling out my noggin is COLD.

[topdsm0138]

Morning guys.

My bp is usally in the 140's/80's but I'm usally surrounded by idiots all day so..

39 days left of this insanity. Received a link from the Sgt Maj of the Army today. Thought that was odd, but I opened it and it was an open discussion page, non-judgmental as well (odd), asking "Why have we elected not to re-enlist/extend our contracts". After reading, I guess retention rates are soo low along with low enlistment numbers. The Army is listening for preventable ways they can get people to re-up. I'm reminded of that Star Wars quote: "It's a TRAP!!"

I planned out my break in route for the Suzuki. I'm not taking any fishing gear, just a cooler w/snacks, my wife n son, we will launc at Lake Osbourne, go north through Lake Clarke & The Palm Beach Canal all thd way up to Airport Lake. Then head back south through Osbourne, into Lake Ida, then back up. That will be an all day trip at 1/2 throttle max, yet give me the hrs needed to break it in.

Have a good day guys!

[SHC286]

Top, I'd decided not to reenlist because a small engineer attachment to my unit lost three men the day I found out my ex was pregnant with my son.

I changed my mind at the last minute. Literally, I was sitting in front of the career planner for him to sign off on my discharge package and said "ya know what? I think I'd like to stay."
He said nope. He'd already looked through all my records and decided I wasn't fit for reenlistment. Too beat up and too much drinking and fighting. I'd made it back to E-3 in less than six months after making E-5.

I left his office and went to a reenlistment and promotion formation for a guy I knew who'd had a habit of drinking and beating on his wife and kids and waking up at PMO.

[topdsm0138]

Top, I'd decided not to reenlist because a small engineer attachment to my unit lost three men the day I found out my ex was pregnant with my son.

I changed my mind at the last minute. Literally, I was sitting in front of the career planner for him to sign off on my discharge package and said "ya know what? I think I'd like to stay."
He said nope. He'd already looked through all my records and decided I wasn't fit for reenlistment. Too beat up and too much drinking and fighting. I'd made it back to E-3 in less than six months after making E-5.

I left his office and went to a reenlistment and promotion formation for a guy I knew who'd had a habit of drinking and beating on his wife and kids and waking up at PMO.

Funny thing, I'm an Engineer. Both Army and Civilian.

[Bud Kennedy]

The mobile repair guy was here today.  He is not equipped to change the steering cables on the boat.  He did perform a complete cleaning of the cable bars and lubed every thing and the steering is much improved but still not where I would like it.  I will have to take the boat to a service shop that is set up to do this kind of job.  It turns out the motor needs to be unbolted from the jack plate enough so the cables can be re run.  I had heard about this requirement from others and now having watched today, I fully understand. 

Van Nguyen is a master motor mechanic and is particularly strong on the older 2cy motors.  He has diagnosed problems with the coils and is ordering what I need along with two new thermostats.  Hopefully that will help some of the problems I am having with the motors performance after it has not been run in a week or so.  Only time will tell.

Anyway I do have the new set of steering cables not it is just taking the boat to the shop so they can do the work.  I am not gonna do this now but will likely have it done over the winter.

Tomorrow, me and the mrs are headed to the river for a bit of fishing.

[SHC286]

My birthday present!

[topdsm0138]

My birthday present!

1) Happy Birthday.

2) If you complained about Ice Cream n Pizza, I can only imagine the "aftermath" of that jalapeño SPAM.

[SHC286]

Once upon a time I would've eaten it right out of the can. Now, to be honest, I'm kinda scared of it!

[Oldfart9999]

Evening all!!! 50 when I got up, never got out of the 60s, very little sun, lots of wind, over 10 mph, got pushed around a lot. I had issues with my new to me hook reveal, after a hard reset I think it's good to go, I'll find out tomorrow hopefully. 4 hours of fishing or should I say 4 hours of being pushed around and dealing with my sonar and half to three quarters of an hour trying to fish. The trailer is in good shape, I still want to do some more but that will be next spring.
Rodney

[Bud Kennedy]

nice trip to the river today.  Highs today only got to 80 but stayed mostly in the 70s except for a little bit.  Water temp is 78 on the river and we fished the incoming tide today.  Blue bird skies after a coldl front ant the results were as one would expect.  We did not even get a bite today but it sure was nice to be on the water. 

Tomorrow gonna do some old fashion paste wax on the top cap of the old ranger just to spruce her up a bit.  Nothing else planned all day.  Wife is going to the beach in the morning and I am just gonna play with the boat for a while.  Sounds like a very pleasant day with temps maybe to 80 with clear skies once again.  Just a nice sunny day here at the beach.

Got some pricing from the mobile boat repair guy and I had to tell him no thanks.  His parts pricing is just too high, I will take care of the thermostats and coils myself.  I am not gonna do anything with the steering on the boat until this winter and I will have my local shop install the cables.  Unfortunately you have to unbolt the motor to do this job and I have no way to do that.  I'll let the experts have the pleasure.

[Bud Kennedy]

Saturday went exactly as planned.  Wife went to the beach and I headed out to mess around with the boat.  Re secured the trolling motor mount and then completely waxed the boat.  It looks good even though the gel coat is a bit worse for the wear on the topcap.  Put the batteries on the charger and while they were charging headed to Walmart to pick up some prescriptions and a whole bunch of other stuff.  Even gassed up the expedition when I saw fuel for $2.67  Most stations around here are 2.98 to 3.02  The cover is now back on the boat and just waiting for the next trip to the river that will most likely be on Tuesday

Hope you folks had an enjoyable Saturday.

[Donald Garner]

Good evening to everyone,

We had a bright sunny day across Central Texas today.  Our forecasted temps were 58-87dgrs with 29% humidity and an E wind at 6mph.  There are some chances of rain later on this week. 

Dwayne and I wanted to fish Nolan Lake this morning but the lake level is down 4ft or so and it's impossible to launch the G 3 there now.
We headed over to Belton lake to fish Cowhouse Creek but the launch ramp up in the creek was high and dry.  We went back home and mounted the 25hp Yamaha back on the G3 and headed over to Stillhouse lake to fish the Lampasas River.  The run up the river wasn't to bad I noticed the lake level was lower than last trip.  We bumped a couple stumps that weren't present before due to the water level. 

We fished for about 3hrs and called it quits.  All the places Carl and I fished earlier on last month are high and dry now.  The powers to be are pulling a lot of water and shipping it down to Austin.  So we had a skunk riding in the G3 on the way back to the ramp.

Bud; Hope you're not going to have sore shoulders and arms in the morning from waxing.  I've waxed my Stratos a couple times and man what a workout.  Glad you had a peaceful day just you and your Ranger.  Good luck with getting the steering up graded this coming Winter.

Rodney; Glad to hear the trailer is back up and you had the opportunity to get out and wet a line.  Is your electronics 100% operational?

SHC; What a Birthday Present.  I enjoy a Spam Sandwich every now and then.   Fry it up and put a little mustard on it and we're good to go.

To everyone I hope ya'll have a pleasant weekend whets left of it.  Be safe out there.

[SHC286]

I came home from work to a surprise party!
I got out of my truck, back and hips and knees popping from being on the road all day, my left knee said "nope" and decided it wasn't gonna move which lead to some loud and creative cussing as I fell down. And that's when I noticed my front porch done filled up with folks and a couple were taking video. All I could say was "AW F'N CHIT!"
It wasn't my finest moment.

We had fun. White Russians, beer, vodka and RedBull, good music, games, real good food. I got some nice gifts, a little camping tool set, a nice bottle of wine, some housewarming decoration wall hanger that's really nice, and a backyard game set.

[Donald Garner]

Good morning to all,

We're starting the day off with clear skies and forecasted temps of 60-90dgrs with 68% humidity and a SE wind @ 2mph.

We're off to church her shortly our lunch location has yet to be determined.  Plan on spending the rest of the day relaxing.  Yesterday the wife told me there were some bees in the front hedges.  I went out there to investigate and wound up getting ambushed by 3 of them.  One got me on the bridge of my nose it flew up under my glasses.  Had another one got me in the shoulder.  The most painful one was the one that got me on my middle finger.  I had to pull the stinger out of my finger.  This morning my left hand is all swollen up as is the area around my nose and eyes.

I went and got the power washer fired up and come to find out there is a huge nest of them inside of one of the columns.  They found a small opening and started nesting.  There looked to be a huge nest inside of the column.  We having our yard and house sprayed tomorrow so that area will get hit with an extra dose of spray.

SHC; Tks for sharing your party with us again Happy Birthday buddy.

To everyone have a relaxing Sunday.

[SHC286]

Did you fuss at your wife for not telling you those bees were so mean? lol, hope the swelling and pain goes away quick! First time I was ever stung by anything thatI can recall, I was driving a tractor with a bush hog when I was around ten, got stung right on the eyelid. I assumed ran over a yellow jacket nest. It swelled and bruised, I looked like I went twelve rounds with Mike Tyson. I'm still leery of those freaking things.
We have honey bees hanging around here, we're thinking of getting some hives and whatnot.

[Oldfart9999]

Good morning!!! Happy Monday!!! 57 headed to mid 70s, rainy at least this morning, breezy, ugh. Got out Saturday morning for a while, I need to update my Lowrance units, I also need to do an overhaul of my hook setting.
SHC,  I must say, you do  know how to make an entrance.
Bud, I admire how you have fun with your boat, I'm at the point of cussing mine out every time I walk by it. At least the trailer is in good shape again.
Donald, The problems I have with my sonars now is supposed to be cleared up by updates. We had problems with a yellowjacket nest in a raised bed, my wife got stung once I got it 8 or 9 times, I picked up 2 buzz bombs and drenched the nest then buried it, end of problem. I got out Saturday and proceeded to lose 5 fish at least 1 had some real weight, the problem is my mechanics with the hook set, at least I have something to work with now.
Have a great day, be well!!!
Rodney   

[SHC286]

Rodney, at least you know what's wrong. I've already discovered it's been so long since I've caught a fish that when I see my line moving sideways I'll literally shake it loose. This lack of fishing SUCKS!

[Bud Kennedy]

Great almost fall like weather continues for this area.  It is warming up to the mid 80s in the mid afternoon but the mornings are oool and dry.  We are heading to the river again in the morning.  Launching on the outgoing tide and a light wind out of the WSW at just 2-4 mph.  Should be a fun morning with a few clouds beginning to roll in but mostly sunny skies expected.  Our plans are to once again head up river about 5-6 miles and fish the river channel just off the shoreline and the cypress trees.  Most likely will be a light current at first and then pick up a bit as the tide gets closer to low.   The area we are going to did have quite a few deadheads in the water that are a bit easier to see at low tide.  Just gotta be careful out there.  Need to stop for some fuel before launching as the old fast strike has a big thirst.  Fuel economy was not a big consideration 30 years ago when this motor was built.  Most likely I have a half tank in the port tank but you sure can't tell by the gas gauge.  It bounces around so much I either have a half tank or I am on E.  At least the starboard tank is full and the Aux tank by default is also full.  Not too many of this model of Ranger (365V) has an aux tank but this one does.

Just put a meatloaf in the over for supper tonight.  Also having some fresh corn, mashed potatoes and some biscuits.  Should be a right tasty meal tonight.  All this topped off with you guessed it Sweet Tea just made a few minutes ago.