Sandy - most of the schools are closed around here tomorrow. My wife's a schoolteacher and her district is one of the only ones still scheduled to be open. Just crazy because the roads are not cleared, nor the storm drains, and we are expecting freezing rain tomorrow am during rush hour. What a mess. I already told her to call in sick, just not worth the risk.

I did not hear about a little boy dying from carbon monoxide poisoning, I will have to look that up. Very sad for sure.

Hope everyone has a good night.

 

.... albeit balatedly.

Fat chance of dat.... How many years of connubial bliss does this make?

Mega-muggy and almost 70* this morning. It's a lead-pipe cinch that parades will be rained on tonite and tomorrow. But at least Endymion and Bacchus (two of the "Superkrewes") went off without a hitch over the weekend.

In fact, the crowds for Endymion (Saturday) were reported to be about the largest in history (Endymion has been parading since '67) . I guess everybody wanted to get his or her fill before the floodgates opened tonite. Too bad about the gunfire on Bourbon St. Saturday nite. As is typical, two couples had some sort of altercation and pulled out pistols. It's a wonder more people weren't injured in the ensuing stampede than were injured by the bullets. But thank the Good Lord, only a few folks were injured and nobody perished.

Did a little gardening over the weekend, since I've been flying solo w/ wiffey in da' mountains. Planted some pansies and dianthus, and pulled some of the seemingly endless weeds in the flower beds. I knew I should've put the weed-block fabric down when I dug those beds.. But I did it the lazy way.

Got the new bulb in the license lite of the Starfire. I know that burnt one was pretty old, 'cause it had a big GE logo and a copper base. New "Wagner" 48-cent ones are made in China and appear to have a stainless base. It seems to work fine, tho... so what the heck.

Anyhoots, Harry Connick Jr.'s superkrewe (Orpheus) is scheduled to parade tonite, but it ain't lookin' too promisin'. The Metairie parades (two of them) have already canceled due to the weather threat. We shall see.

Y'all have a great Lundi Gras!

 

Good Monday Mawnin All

Looks like we need to build that ark Jamesbo We got a couple of inches of the wet stuff Thursday and +2" last night and it isn't supposed to stop completely until Wednesday Prolly close to 7" total rainfall here when it's said and done, all in less than a week.

Marti Gras is on my bucket list but I dunno with all of the mugging and shooting that has went on the last few years I think I'll stick to wanting to drive to Bonneville with my coupe and run her up to 180 mph or so Right now with the drivetrain that's in it my Dad had a sheriff bud clock him @ 160+ So if I take the 3.73:1 gears out of the rear end and put in a 3.08:1 or higher (lower numerically) It shouldn't be a problem

Whelp I gots lots to do amidst all of this torrential rainfall, have a great day Oldsmofriends

 

Morning All!

It's a wonderful 47 degrees out this morning, sun is trying to peek out from behind the clouds. Temps to drop to the 20's by tonight. Hope it's still warm for my lunch time walk. Rain is supposed to move in and turn to snow tonight.

The guys are back.... heaters are blasting! Steve sounds like he's trying to get a cold or something. Clay says he's feeling better but he still sounds very congested. Brian is.... well, Brian.

Nicole's class is going to a horse farm today. She's looking forward to it. I don't know what they'll be doing there.

John..... You're planting flowers already?? I would like that. I love Dianthus'. Pansey's are beautiful too, but they don't seem to last long. They have such beautiful faces.
I told Larry that this summer, I'm buying fake hanging baskets and sticking plastic flowers in the ground, lol. I just don't have time to keep up with the flower beds and water and all that, with the car shows and such. But I'll see. Maybe I'll plant a bunch of low maintenance Hosta's....

Darryl.... hope you all get cleared out soon! I agree... it's not worth a life to go out in that mess. I'd just stay home. Employers should be understanding. I can't believe those 'walls' of snow in Conn.!!! Wow!

Well you all have a great day and stay safe dry and warm!!

 

Kinda wet down ere so no golf dis mawn'in.

GTG My credit card machine is headed out de windown w/o me opening it.

F(%^&(% puters drive me NUTS

 

Scot,

Methinks your odds of living thru Mardi Gras are better than living thru Bonneville at 180 mph.... Maybe time to give dat bucket list some 'tention...

Dare's as much trouble at M.G. as you're looking to find.. As fer me, if I never see another parade for the rest of my life, dat's jes fine & dandy....

 

Yeah your prolly right John But I likes to go fast (legally) and like you, I could care less about parades and beads. Back when I was younger and liked to party hard was when I placed Marti Gras on said list, now that two of the four Daughters are grown and I'll be the big four-oh this year, not so much

And yep I'll have to give my ole bucket list a once over for sure

 

Scot, I'd love to go somewhere and drive real fast.... and since I don't drink, it's amazing how I don't have a good time when everybody else is tanking up.... (e.g., "Marti Gras.")

Triple-digit speeds at a closed course (whether in my Vette or somebody else's car) is DEFINITELY on my bucket list....

Wife wanted to send me to one of the racing schools to unwind after Katrina.... but I bargained with her and bought a motorcycle instead....

There's a place around here called NOLA Motorsports where you pay $500 and have a few hours of instruction and about 3 hrs. or track time in a new "racing" Mustang (300-something horse). It would be fun, but there's a hugh disclaimer you need to sign that essentially makes you liable for any damage you incur. Not wild about that part.

 

Yeah we have or did have the Richard Petty driving experience at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton and it was set up the same way. Not sure if you are liable for any damages you cause to their cars but you definitely have to sign a waiver stating that if you get hurt they are not liable at all. In other words it's fairly safe because you are schooled prior to driving and there is a lead car that you follow and will gradually get your speed up to 130 mph I believe. Also there are pit crew training sessions as well to see if you can cut the mustard Pretty neat but not my cup of tea with someone telling you what to do and when to do it.

To me I like drag racing because it's pretty controlled unless the unexpected happens in which no one can control that. And you have to sign a waiver there too stating you won't hold the track responsible either way spectating or racing.

 

Scot, Ya haven't lived til ya been in a crowd so thick on Burbon Street that your dates starts to scream [cause sum body has got his hand up her dress] and ya cant' do nutt'in 'bout it cause your arms are pined to your side wit de crowd.

Been Dare [in my youth] Done dat, don't want de t-shirt and will NEVER do it again.

I used to think my bucket list wasn't complete til I done done everything Papa [Hemingway] had done.

I've caught Blue Marlin and sail fish in Bimini, Been to Cuba and thought I wanted to go run with the bulls in Pampalona. Finally had a flash of sanity

 

If that's livin, I think I'll stay dead And running with the bulls isn't one of the brightest things to do. I'm glad you realized that before you got the horn in Spain none the less If someone wants to run from bulls, I know a nice brahma would kindly oblige them

 

Kinda reminds me of that sign de farmer put on his gate post

" If you can make it across this pasture in 15 seconds, Dont' try, the bull can make it in 6'

Or of course de ole joke 'bout "Show him yoour badge"

 

Mawnin Y'all

Hmmm, bin readin all de comments about bucket lists. Got me to thinkin. If y'all don't have a bucket list, y'all won't be focused on plantin yersef on de wrong side of de grass. So I ditched de bucket list idea in favor of 'green side up'.

Scot - naw, leave the 3.73's in there. You know you love getting pushed back in the seat more than just going fast.

Jamesbo - wuz dat you witchyer hands up someones dress makin dem scream?? In todays world, I guess dat's one of de shurefire ways to check wedder dey's man or wimmen.

John - I seriously doubt you'll ever find another GE bulb for your car unless you get sucked into those NOS ones for sale on evilbay for stupid $$$. I'm with you - if wagner makes a decent bulb I'll buy it. At this point in time I really don't care who makes it as long as it works.

Darrell - You guys must have got the same storm as the maritime provinces up here. That' just nasty. Hope you guys make out ok.

Anyone hear from Adam? He's also in the storm belt and haven't seen much from him lately?

 

"Yer badge, show him yer badge!"

Ya your right Al I likes to get the feel of it in the seat of course. At 160 mph or so there's no seat of the pants difference unless your in a F-15

 

F15? Heck I can't stand the 'drop of doom' at the fair. I swear if I went on that I'd leave my stomach contents somewhere between the top and bottom. I just like the hole shots myself. Tested out a Dodge Charger with a 440 6 pack once when I was way younger. Started out straight in my lane. Went sideways on the first shift. Definitely a 'eyes like dinner plates' moment....

 

Well it got windy as heck here and it's gettin colder! I only walked for 15 minutes today, temp is down to 40 now and that wind is cold.

That brahma bull pic looks funny with a Cadillac ad in the middle of it, lol. The bull doesn't look much like "The all new Cadillac ATS"!

Whenever I gets to 'Nawlins, I'm gonna avoid the Mardi Gras. Never had the desire to experience it, lol. I just want to take haunted graveyard trips and that kind of touristy stuff. And see plantations. I really want to see some plantations while I'm in the south.

I have to go pick up the Edible Arrangement I ordered last week, after work tonight. I am sooooo looking forward to the fresh fruit! They are expensive, but delicious. I order one of these arrangements every Valentines Day. I had to get this one I wanted early, or be stuck getting one of their Valentine's day special ones, and I didn't want chocolate dipped strawberries, lol. I just wanted plain old delicious fruit.

 

Sandy I cannot see an ad but then again I have Firefox with adblocker+

I am a history buff and I am intrigued at the vast history 'Nawleans has. Not one for ghost tours, voo-doo or hoo-doo (sp?) but it is interesting. Not that I don't believe in the stuff because you would be surprised at what I have witnessed 1st hand and sober as a judge

BTW what a nice basket of fruit

 

Hi everybody.

Lots of good sleep today. I went to bed at 3am and at 8 got up with the dogs. My nieghbor had the mutt out early this morning and I dern near had to give the dogs a bath when I got them back in. That dog goes home tomorrow thank God. She leaves it out all day because she doesn't want it in the house, so I have no chance of my dogs going out without going crazy.

Not raining now but it isn't very nice out. Cloudy and the lake is a nice shade of dirt. I haven't seen what it's supposed to be like the rest of the week, I know we get sun eventually.

Sandy I love chocolate covered strawberries. My neighbor brings them over to me once in a while, which is one reason I don't make a bigger fuss about her son's dog when she's watching it. Of course I love chocolate and would eat nuts and bolts if they were covered in chocolate. Yes like when Klinger was eating the Jeep.

Add me to the list of no Mardi Gras. I don't like crowds anyway and I'd rather see New Orleans without the people so I could actually see something. Is NO the place that's got that doll whose face changes expressions?

Well work tonight. I think I took my Friday off, but I don't remember. I need to look tonight because I'd hate to show up if I didn't have to. My anniversary at work is March 4(19 years) and I had a few days of vacation to use up. I'm going to see my Mom and my sister, and maybe a few other things since I'll have a lot of time off.

Okay! Gonna go do something before I start the evening ritual. Hope everyone is getting along well.

Sandy you should have gotten rid of the heaters while you were there by yourself.

 

lol , It's been awhile since I seen that movie ..... Sorry I'm a little behind on the times here .

 

Yeah we have been watching that show too . lol If I lived in the area , they would have more to worry about then my lawn mower . I'd be cranking inagadadavida by IronButterfly on my half stack.

 

Good evening everyone.

Bryan glad you made it to Monday. I turned on Walking Dead last night to see what all the hoopla is about, and the first scene I saw was people walking over a pile of bricks, next to a huge building that looked computer generated.

Been raining most of the evening, and it seems like it's picking up a little now that it's time for work. I don't know what to hope for. Working inside, which would be a huge job that is messy and complicated, or working outside in the rain which would entail working outside, in the rain.

Where's Paul been? Maybe some of this snow weather has run up and snowed him in as well. I hope not.

Well it's that time again. Hope everyone has a good evening and has a great Tuesday.

 

Happy Fat Tuesday Oldsmobilites.

Spoe to rain but jes spitt'in up ere. I bet Mike and Scot [south of ere] are gett'in drenched.

Walk'in Dead don't do it fer me. From whar I sit death is pretty final.

Mike, Ere's Jamesbo de trip advisor. When ya go see your mom in Pennsecola, go to de Naval Ari museum. De got a F4U Corsair dat looks like it jes came outa de box.

I got a good friend who gives his dog Chaga every day and swears by it. It's Siberian mushroom dats spose to help wit everything.

Welp, Have a great day Olds Friends

 

Good morning everyone.

Not a bad night at work. We were inside taking panels off all night. Dayshift will have a flap overspeed inspection to do today.

Jamesbo I plan on going to the museum this trip. I saw their website and the place looks awesome.

It isn't raining here now but we're supposed to get slammed this afternoon. I wouldn't mind if it missed us. And I keep hearing we're still in a drought.

Time to hit the sack. Hope everyone has a good day. Darrell how you doin' digging out up there?

 

Morning All!

Cloudy and 31 degrees here this morning. Supposed to have some flurries, I think.

Gas shot up here to $3.75/gal yesterday! That's just friggin outrageous! Raised it up 30 cents. No reason for that. And of course, I need some. Some places in Streetsboro it's still $3.45, so yes, it will be worth the 6 mile drive down the interstate for me to save 30 cents a gal., lol.

Quiet in here. Clay says he's feeling better, but he's still coughing all the time. Steve still sounds stuffed up and is clearing his throat all the time. I brought in extra vitamin C to take today. I don't want this crap!

The fruit arrangement is sooooo good! I brought in a big piece of pineapple to munch today. The grapes and strawberries are soooo good and juicy. I am enjoying it!

Don't know where Paul has been?

Well you all have a great day.

 

Good Fat Tuesday Mawnin All

Whelp Elsie refuses to leave with that darned flat rock So far we've had over half a foot of the wet stuff since Thursday We had a 3" deficit before all of this rain and we are still considered in a drought I guess too much has fallen in such a short amount of time that it just runs off and doesn't soak in.

Well my aspiring artist (the middle Daughter) is trying her hand at pinstriping So far she has done really well and I think after a few years of practice, she would be making some great stripes on tool boxes and the like. I don't want her to attempt it on cars until she has some type of insurance though. Here is her very first attempt



Not perfect but hey it's her first one, which is way better than I could do I like it and lots of people in the hot rodding community do as well

Whelp I guess I need to make sure the plug is in the boat just in case

 

Morning all, My yote hunting got disrupted. Now I smell like afterbirth.

Happy fat tuesday. may you toss many necklaces today.

 

Scott, that's not too shabby for a young one! Sandy, we just got hit with 3.89 a gal. the potlickers!! Must be trying to boost oil stock prices.

 

3.75/3.89... is that all? I'll take a hundred gallons. Don't drive in Canada if you like cheap gas.

 

Thanks Dan. I just gave her a pinstriping book yesterday after school and she done this before 8 O' clock Yes these gas prices are pathetic around here as well

 

That's great ! It's probably better then what I could do ! for whatever that's worth

 

Allan R.... I get the feeling you have a lot more money than I do, lol!!

 

Thanks Bryan, I haven't a clue where she gets her talent but she is a natural.

 

Not sure about that doll whose face changes, Mike. Maybe I jes never heard of it before. The big thing when I was a kid was that the rocking chairs in front of Schoen Funeral Home on Canal St. supposedly turned to face you as you drove past them. I'm sure it's because we were kids this got invented in the first place.

Parades are rolling! It's divine intervention that we had a lull in the wet stuff this morning; just enough time to let 'em roll. I really feel bad for all the folks who come from far & wide when they get disappointed.... not to mention the natives.

It's supposed to hit the flat rock this afternoon, both here on the North Shore and in the city. I'm taking advantage of my day off to get some more (minor) gardening done, as well as make some kumquat marmalade. A friend of mine in LaPlace, LA, has a tree with big ripe fruit practically falling off of it, and she hates them. So I've been eating a lot of kumquats lately . I used to tell folks I didn't care for them, but I hadn't tasted one in 40 years. When I popped one in my mouth about a month ago, I couldn't believe how good they were. I've actually converted quite a few nonbelievers (like myself) in the last couple weeks.

I'm taking some pictures of the (very time consuming) process, so I'll post them when the stuff is done. This is really experimental, but I'm sure it will taste good whether it "sets up" correctly or not. I'm not canning it this time; just going to keep it in the fridge and eat. I'll give us an update over the weekend.

Y'all don't fight too bad over dem' doubloons

 

Maybe, maybe not - that's not the point. I just get really frustrated when I see lower prices in the US for everything - food, clothes, electronics, services, cars etc and I don't have the option to get those prices too. Heck even buying in the US and shipping to Canada I end up paying 2X the value of what I bought just to have it delivered because there's this stupid border with tariffs, duty, Gouge and Screw tax and such! Anyway, soapbox aside, I know it's relative to what you're used to, but up here it feels a lot like big oil (and we have it up the wazoo here as an oil producing province) bends us over the table and gang rapes our wallets. Driving used to be fun and cheap. Now it's expensive and a PITA.

If you compare cross Canada pricing for reg gasoline you'll see everything from .99/litre - after gas card discounts - (which is what you're paying now) to 1.45/L. On average Canadian gas costs about 120.9/L which translates to 4.57/US gallon. So when I comment that I'll take a hundred gallons at 3.75 or 3.89? That's a bargain in comparison to local prices which fluctuate the same as yours for no good reason. Call it 'frustration'. 100 gallons is only 5 fill ups ya know. It's only about 8.20 difference but I just don't see why gas prices can't be uniformly stable. Oh yeah - supply and demand. Gas giants supply it and demand a premium for doing so. If I had to drive across Canada? I'd go to the US and then East. Might be longer but way cheaper in the long run.

I hardly think being on a pension means I have higher income or more money. I'm just older than you and have acquired more 'stuff'.

 

Happy belated Anniversary Jamesbo, hope you had a good day with your super model

Take is easy up there in the northeast olds friends, I have been reading about it on twitter.

Turns out if you can be bothered taking the time to learn twitter it can be very useful with up to the minute news. I found out the other night at work within half hour that the pope was retiring sorry I know no religion, just an example.

Yes Allan, we also are in a bit of a crappy spot when it comes to bad weather. We don't get flooded but the main roads out can at times which makes it difficult. Last week when the rain was still here we had a dry spot for a day then in 20 min we got 150mm Living at the bottom of the hill makes my yard look like a water park but there are drains to divert most of the water away from the house thankfully.

Same boat with gas prices over here Allan lol. Road trip in the USA is always fun

Well no rest for the wicked, the work in the shed is calling. Have a good day maties

Adrian

 

WOW!!! 150 mm in 20 min? That's an insane amount of water. Won't sink it though - it flash floods and runs off too fast! For US guys an gals 150 mm is 5.9"

Maybe John would get close to that in Ponchatoula on a bad day.

 

Here in Halifax gas is setting at $1.37.5/l X 3.8l/gal gives me a price of $5.22.5/gal. That's for regular-self-serve. We are hoping that we can soon get a pipeline for crude from the west to here. Our crude price is based on the european market and pay through the teeth for raw matterials. If we were piped crude instead of needing it shipped in, our Atlantic refineries might be able to make a profit.

Adam

 

Adam I feel your pain. I'm hoping the gubment also sees the value of piping crude or even refined your way. Only thing about NS gas prices is there's no difference from station to station - it's all the same price where ever you go.

Just think - for a Canadian gallon - you pay 6.22! FWIW out in Vancouver they're also paying top dollar - up to 1.44/L in Surrey right now. Cheap gas in Van is 130.9/L

The way Keystone is being dragged out there's a good chance you'll see an Eastern pipeline sooner than later.

How'd you guys make out with the snow storm?

 

Happy Tuesday all.

Adrian that's a bunch o'rain. Luckily it's running down the street and not into the house.

Today it rained off and on, and around 11 I got up to let the dogs out, and of course the mutt was outside and my dogs ran after it and got all muddy. I screamed at them and sounded like an idiot. I came this close to screaming at my neighbor. I wish she wasn't so inconsiderate when it comes to that frickin' dog. I don't know why she looks after it when she doesn't want it in the house at all. Well, the mutt goes home tomorrow so maybe I won't have to bathe my dogs every time they come in. I get a pretty good profit sharing this week, so instead of spending it on bills or cars or the house, I'm going to build a fence the length of my back yard so I don't have to put up with this anymore. I'm glad I'm spending my money on annoyances that don't even belong here. Why does that strike me so.

Don't know what gas is here, but I need to get some tonight so I hope it hasn't gone up too much. Still cheep for what it does, still hurts that it costs more than it did for so long.

Well Day Two is upon me. Need to get my lottery tickets and head out. Everyone have a good evening.

 

The government regulates the price, changing it up and or down (ha!) weekly. This was because of a few independant resellers who said the difference in price between wholesale and the big oil resale was to low. They couldn't make any profit. The government also gets to control how much fuel tax the rake in.

I have a friend who just moved from London, UK and gas is so cheaop here to him. Price looks the same, about 1.33 a liter but in pounds. That puts it abot $2.10 a liter or about $8.00/us gal.

I hope sooner, my wife work for a small refinery who's future is unclear with current overheards. If they could drop crude costs by the $13-20 a barrel by having a domestic cost things would be much happier.

We got about 30cm, but with the 80-100kph winds the drifts were larger. Some areas of the province recorder 50+cm. It was raining today and hit 4C today.

Adam