Those look nice, and I prefer stain myself, even so.

I had to look up razzleberry, it sounds like something a flamboyent cowboy would endorse. I bet it's good.

 

John - I much prefer natural wood stains myself. All of the antiques I inherited from my Mom are natural wood stained, and also the pieces I've done myself or bought. I'm partial to Golden Oak, Red Oak, and Cherry woods, stained their natural color. However, my wife keeps up with a ton of market research, and painted pieces are what's selling these days. The most popular colors are grays, blues, grayish-blues, or multi-color combos. She paints the pieces with chalk paint, then coats them with multiple coats of flat or satin polycrylic for durability.

Don't know what you found when you looked up Razzleberry, but the Marie Callender's Razzleberry pies have Blackberrys, Raspberrys, and of all things Apples, listed by volume. I have never seen a piece of Apple in the filling. I suspect Apple is listed because Apple pectin is used as a thickener. The filling itself reminds me of a slightly sweeter Blackberry pie, but it is still on the tart side, that's why I like to have some Vanilla ice-cream with it. It's my favorite store bought pie.

 

VW Bugs IMHO are death traps. Cool well built but the design of putting the gas right in front of the driver doesn't sit well with me

My sister rolled one several times just as The Shangri Las were singing 'Leader of the pack" when singing " Look out, Look out, look out"

https://www.google.com/search?q=lead...hrome&ie=UTF-8

My ex's father had one of the older ones with the flipper turn signal in the B pillar After several engines were replaced and several floor boards were replace he eventually bought another one. I think he had 2 or 3 VW bugs for 30 years commute to work at NAS Pensacola. I wasn't ever very clear what he did there but tested potential pilots [ to see if they were afraid of snakes I guess] I once tried to calculate how much he had save [ not spent] buying a new car every 3 or 4 years but gave up. He was one weird eccentric dude

Norm, I also had my last slice of pumpkin pie this afternoon. Kinda an end to T day, Something flung a crav'in on me for raison pecan pie with a little "kick" of bourbon. I may have to put this one on hold for a while

Chris, As usual, Your brides work looks wonderful. I'm not sure how she has the time to nurse your pup and restore BUT I had a dear friend whose wife took her bull dog to work with her every day "Elvis" developed nasal problems from the hair spray and other aromas associated with hair salons. I might be careful with your 4 legged family around refinishing

 

Great stories, guys. I remember a friends brother had a VW bug with the gasoline heater, it would roast you out. I would be worried about carbon monoxide now a days. Chris, my Dad also knew more than he let on. I was hell on his cars. One night I tried to do a reverse curl in his 70 Impala, broke off the driveshaft. When I explained how it happened-" I just backed up and put it in gear, Dad". He just mumbled "uh huh" .

 

Greg - Identical story for me. My Dad's 1964 Buick Wildcat Burgundy White Top convertible. I'd done it several times on previous occasions except that one night when the driveshaft broke. My same lame story to my Dad.

 

Just for you Norm



Also found a floater ( not pictured) this morning. It really works

 

James - Thanks for the compliment, again, on my wife's work! I am doing 90% of the nursing for Maggie right now since I don't have much on my plate, but my wife keeps track of her meds. Good point about the fumes and other hazards potentially being a danger to the dogs. They usually spend a fair amount of time down in the basement with her. They will run upstairs and stay if she is using power equipment. I have mentioned to my wife that the fumes could be a potential long term issue for the dogs and her, I kinda got pooh-poohed on that and have not brought it back up. Might have to find a tactful way to try again???

 

James - Far, far, far better (in focus) picture. I can actually tell there is a tractor in the picture, and I'm sure others can see one, as well.

I'm addressing the CJB (fuse panel) I purchased. I'm not so certain there is ANYTHING rebuilt about this rebuilt CJB I purchased. It appears it was rapidly removed from a salvage yard, most likely nothing more than a resistance test possibly continuity test to the circuit board. I'm not overly enthusiastic about the rebuilt CJB they sent to me. It had two labels on the actual fuse cover itself which stated WARRANTY VOID IF OPENED. WTF! WARRANTY VOID IF OPENED? Asshats - that's how you replace fuses. They're only covering their asses. Oh well, this damn thing had better work is all I can say. I removed their stupid labels, removed all their relays and fuses and inserted my own relays and fuses which are in far better shape than the ones in the rebuilt CJB they sent to me. For $220 you'd expect they'd have actually rebuilt the thing. My guess is they did nothing to it. I didn't remove the circuit board panel so this thing had better work.

I ordered a new (aftermarket) windshield cowl and fasteners this morning which will be about one week to arrive. These cowls get beat to death by mechanics who just don't give a **** other than the time clock to get things done. Small stuff but stuff which shouldn't otherwise get damaged by people who are supposed to know what the Phuque they're doing. **** knockers is what they all are.

I'm on a roll baby - don't get in my way!

 

You go Norm, kick it's **** and let it know who's boss! Keeping my fingers crossed for ya!

 

Supposed rebuilt CJB (fuse panel + GEM) installed & the F250 tractor fired up. Allowed it to run ~15' to re-learn/negotiate electronic modules which are incorporated into the PCM/ECM. All the electrical/electronic components are working. Dash panels re-installed, steering column cowlings re-installed & we're trending in a very positive direction. I'm being the world's best skeptic at the moment. I understand the windshield was unsealed & the windshield removed, re-sealed & re-installed. I highly SUSPECT the windshield seal issue was in fact the problem resulting in the leak and damage to the CJB. Again, I'm being the worlds' best skeptic at the moment. The greater test will be several good rainstorms to ensure that leak is GONE.

I'm going to button down the existing broken pieces of the what remains of the windshield cowling (bottom of windshield into engine compartment - like any other cowling) then take it for a 10 - 15 mile ride to again allow it to re-learn driving characteristics. FWIW, if anyone is interested, aside from the main power cable to the CJB there are 12 wiring harness plugs which plug into the CJB. Each plug contains ~8 - 10 wires/pins with one larger wire bundle containing 24 wires/pins for a total of ~124 wires leading to/from the CJB. That's a goober full of wires.

At some point I should (I think) remove the actual instrument cluster from the dash and send if off for a solder re-flow. Gas gauge isn't working, oil pressure gauge isn't working, lights dim when headlamps engage, etc. I have a working gas gauge in the roof center console which works fine it's the instrument panel gauges which require attention - a known issue with Ford trucks. We'll see how it goes as the winter progresses. I want to change out the PS box in the 71 CS convertible this winter.

I think I smell a hint of Bourbon ***** wafting through the house.

 

I love the smell of Bourbon ***** cooking in the morning, it smells like . . . it smells like . . . VICTORY!

Wish you continued luck with the CJB shakedown cruise!

 

Thanks, Chris.

Shakedown successful. I'm not really amazed by electronic module technology, but I'm always impressed with the evolution of electronic (both analog & digital) technology & how it has overtaken previous iterations of strictly mechanical, mechanical-servo onto complete digital electronic technology in nearly every facet of engineering - probably an electronic paradigm honestly. From the first fly-by-wire aircraft we've seen this technology hurdle in a new age of systems in virtually all aspects of modern technology.

At any rate, as the initial shakedown drive began, you can tell how the PCM, ECM, GEM/VSM and all control modules begin re-learning and synchronizing with each other. Example: On a five speed overdrive transmission with tow (haul) transmission step-down you can feel & hear the engine over-rev (RPM) as it shifts from 1st>2nd, then a slight over-rev from 2nd>3rd - not so much the remaining gears; then, an ever-so-slight hesitation in stepping down from the same gears. All of this needs to be re-learned as the FICM (Fuel Injector Control Module) balances it's readings with the EGR, HPOP (High Pressure Oil Pump), etc. including the ability to navigate seamlessly w/ the ESOF (Electronic Shift On The Fly) 4x4 functionality. Literally a whirlwind of separate information which requires input to ensure the system operates nominally in all aspects of normal operating conditions. Finally, after a complete re-learning - it works flawlessly.

Enough of that B.S. I think I'll spend some time cleaning the interior of the truck and call it a day.

 

Congrats Norm! I'd welcome your help on any of my vehicles anytime!

 

Chili morning turned into a beautiful day to smack whitey around, Unfortunately my 20 year playing partner has the big 'C" and had to quit after 14 holes but I enjoy ever minute of his company

Yesterday, 4 "pre need" [ planning ahead] sales people from the same funeral home came by to look the place over [ we do alot of "at need" business with them]. So being the host I am I have everyone of of them a store bought Bear claw. I had 2 left and was sort of looking forward to having one for breakfast NOT, the Super Model had 2 bear claws for dinner last night

I've sold 500 graves and everyone thinks I know them. Soooooooooooooooo [while I'm playing golf. I get this phone call.] After we finish I check my voice messages and the recording says " This is Patty, I'm coming up in 45 minutes to bring a tree to put on mon's grave. I hope the gardener is there" No phone number, no last name nada I guess I need to search the cemetery for an unplanted tree and try to figure out WTF is going on

Norm,

I may beat cha to the avocado Crab Louis. I bought the ingredients today. Unfortunately all my grocer has is pasteurize lump carb. Your's should be better [with fresh crab] I also bought sum shrimp to make the buttered BBQ shrimp a la Pasqual Manales in the "Bug easy" and of course from French bread to sop in butter/onion/spices

If i go into a coma, you know where to plant me

Mike, You and Tiger oughta come up to the lake this weekend, Good Vitals

 

James - Sorry to hear about your golfing partner's condition. I hope you're able to have many more outings with him!

As for the lady who called while you were on the course, shouldn't her number be in your phone under "Recents" as an incoming call???

 

James - Glad you were able to get out & play/enjoy the awesome weather; esp. w/ your friend. Bummer about your buddy & quitting after 14. Is it a mild moderate case? Basically normal symptoms of COVID-19 (other than extreme/critical/immuno-compromised)? Loss of smell &/or taste? Is he trending from infection>recovery stage right now? Hope he mends quickly.

You're killing me w/ the cooking/food. I'm not going to catch my own crab then clean my own fresh crab. I'm going to examine some alternatives to evaluate my options. I'm not 100% they'll come from this area (w/in a 5 - 10 mile range). I'm modestly skeptical and cautious regarding shellfish (filter-feeders) consumption. I'm aware of various water inlets (tributaries, creeks, streams) and various land-use activities(primarily feedstock but organophosphate rich soils, as well) which can contribute to certain pathological (physical) diseases - several of which can be serious w/in certain age groups & esp. those w/ lowered immune response for any reason (e.g. aged/elderly - I think I'm becoming one). I am not immunocompromised, I am 69 yrs old - I know our immune system response diminishes w/ age. Is my immune response better or worse than any other male my age? Who knows. I know some stuff from virology, microbiology, bio-chemical molecular genetics & immunology to make informed decisions regarding how a person becomes ill and the causes of many illnesses. Long story for something as simple as crab - eh?

A coma isn't worth the enjoyment it takes to get there. You want flowers? I heard someone is dropping some off?

 

Sure, had to get all logical on us didn't you?

 

It's Not covid, it's cancer

Sorry

Yes, She is in recent call but I want her to explain not baby sit

 

Yep, just calling 'em like I see them, and where in the hell have you been, the "Big C" has always been cancer!

 

Hi everyone.

Nice day on the south side as well. Ran a couple errands after work and have been puttering around the house.

Jamesbo I'd love to come up but I'm headed to see my friends in Alabama this weekend. Remember the blind guy that wants to use the chainsaw? Ya I need to go.

The tractor looks good in the shed, along with everything else. I think you made it too small.

Is this the same guy you talked about a couple years ago who had just lost his wife?

Norm hope the new ECU works out. From the description of the part it sounds like you're lucky you got it at all. There's a guy on the board here, who hasn't surfaced in awhile, who does that exact thing. Damn what's that guy's name. HIs favorite trick is to sell a part that he doesn't have and then go look for one to buy to send out.

I never tore up my Mom's car when I was a young driver. Couldn't, really. It was a big Caprice Classic with a small 6 cylinder. It barely moved. If my Dad would have been around my first car would have been an 81 Cutlass Supreme coupe. Pretty car, I mourned when we had to give it back to his company. It had a small 6 as well.

Early for work again tomorrow. Looks like we'll have a good start, so I hope we get done early so I can hit the road. The intersection of 285 and I-20 going West is a disaster at any time, and a bigger disaster on Friday afternoon. Hope for the best I guess.

Okay everyone have a good evening.

 

Good evening guys,

Well, the good Lord sure blessed us with a dandy today, especially for December! We had full sunshine and a high of 76° F. My wife went shopping with her neighbor friend, and the dogs and I went out to the backyard and enjoyed the weather for +2-hours. Maggie is now running in the grass, with no trace of a limp, boy am I relieved. She's still getting her heat treatments 3-times a day, but I now believe she's going to be fine.

Momma made poor man's Beef Stroganoff (burger vs. shredded beef) over extra broad egg noodles, with homemade crescent rolls. Excellent! I ran to Dollar General before dinner and picked up two staples, ice-cream and beer. The ice-cream to go with my Razzleberry pie.

Hope everyone had a wonderful day and has a relaxing evening.

 

Glad you got it fixed Norm. Well about the solder reflow- I have never heard of that.... Not that I have seen it all or know it all, but I was a mechanic back in the day. The first I ever heard about resoldering anything was on this thread when someone mentioned about something on a house. So I suppose it does happen, but as I said I never heard of it, of course I have had electronic parts go bad and I know about buying "rebuilt" computers, modules, etc.

 

Mike - I've been @ I285/I20 plenty of times on a Friday afternoon. I put in the IT network infrastructure Monitoring & Management system for the new at that time (2006?) Georgia Aquarium just North of I20/I285. It was a concealed location (by design) in Riverview area. Several large structures which held numerous large aquarium tanks and the newly created IT network infrastructure for the Aquarium - it was a staging area prior to going live. It was hidden because of (primarily) animal activist groups, hate mongers, hackers & possible vindictiveness towards Bernie Marcus &/or Home Depot. Most every week I flew direct (via UseLess Airways) into ATL from EWN (my home airport) - easy peasy - 1 hour direct flight. When on numerous occasions during the warm months of the year (I was there during the summer) I'd often drive (10 hours) to ATL just because I could and I never really like being under the control of TSA. I always played Alan Jackson as I began my ride home on a Friday afternoon since I crossed the Chattahoochee as soon as I turned Southbound onto I285.

I've experienced two of my worst delays in ATL.

(1) On a flight to Calgary, Alberta in the winter. Pulled out of the gate after a one hour delay, onto the tarmac & the pilot indicated there would be an additional 2 hour delay possible 3 hours as there were 116 aircraft ahead of us waiting on de-icing (it took us 3 hours to get to de-icing). Snow storm of the millennium (2004/2005?). Add to this Calgary, Alberta airport was announced as closed as we were approaching (at altitude 31,000') Billings, Montana. Next, we're circling Billings airport. We land @ Billings where the airport is now also closed. The intention was for the crew to wait out the snow storm in Calgary @ Billings, then proceed once the Calgary & Billings airports both opened (depending on the storm). Well, I think I was on a United flight, and we arrived at a different airline gate - United has no designated gates @ Billings and whose ever gate it was those personnel were already home - albeit, no passenger disembark allowed - no airline personnel. I'm sitting 1st row 1st class listening to the pilots. I recall distinctly hearing the captain sign-off on the aircraft in ATL stating he'd accept the aircraft without a functioning APU. You get to know what to listen to on flights when you have the background. Well, now we're in Billings @ 2:00 am in the morning and he can't turn off the engines - there are no ground crews anywhere in the terminal or airport. Oh boy we're in a pickle now aren't we? We sit on the plane (engines running) for another full hour when the pilot states the crew's work day has ended and there are no pilots or crew to take the aircraft and there are not other aircraft available. There is however, a United aircraft in the next gate (earmarked for an early morning flight or whatever who knows I can't recall maybe it was heading to maintenance, furlough solo, or whatever). We're told a temporary skeleton crew has come in to assist in offloading our tired asses from this aircraft to the adjacent aircraft if they get clearance (Clarence). Well, they don't get clearance and they have to take all our tired asses to a hotel. I get to the hotel at 4:00 am and I have to be on a next morning flight @ 7:30 am to Calgary (having already been rebooked via UseLess Airways Chairman Club).

(2) The afternoon (it must have been a Friday although it might have been another day) the arrested guy pulled the gun from the Sheriff's officer and shot & killed the judge in the ATL courthouse. I was just getting onto I285 Southbound going to head Eastbound on I20 when all downtown ATL traffic came to a complete standstill for what seemed like an eternity but in reality was no more than 2 hours. Still, it was extremely not knowing until I could see GA DOT freeway billboards displaying information regarding be on the lookout for this car (can't recall - Datsun, green? doesn't matter). It took me another full hour to crawl from the courthouse Eastbound on I20 just to get out of ATL city limits. I never saw so many federal, both marked & unmarked, GA FBI, State, County & Local LET vehicles in my entire life. Two to four posted at every interchange Eastbound on I20 - as I sit there in the F250 tractor looking for a green Datsun (or whatever).

I think I know which C.O. Parts For Sale member you're referring to.

 

Greg - Thanks, me too glad it's (hopefully) behind me. Yeah, the non-lead solder goes bad on the circuit board(s) in the Ford instrument clusters - cracks e.g. loss of contact = intermittent gauges or gauges quit entirely as the cracks widen and become more numerous. Several companies provide re-flow soldering services for instrument cluster panels. It's not like Ford is the only company plagued with these issues, there are others - however the F-Series vehicles are plagued.

https://circuitboardmedics.com/2002-...luster-repair/

 

Heading north .Have a great weekend olds friende

 

James - Enjoy the weekend. Tee time for me @ 8:38 am this morning.

 

Norm keep them where the mowers go

 

Hi everyone.

Friday. Get done and get out. So what time do we leave? 1:15 . Clowns.

Since I had a lot of time not doing work, I went to Page 1 of our esteemed get together. I did that many years ago and read all the way through, so I thought I'd do that again. I'm on page 4. March of 2011. The Colonel is still with us, Sandy, Blue, Bulldog as well. Some guy named Byron that lived in Thailand. Darrell, Don. Everyone is fawning over Jamesbo's tater soup recipe and also tomato burger soup. Ralph(the wonder dog) is recovering from a blood infection. This is actually before I showed up. I think I started on the website in October of 2011. Pretty interesting and humorous.

The General had some digital dashes in the 80s that after a couple years would just quit lighting up. I think it was probably solder that cracked. There was a place by me, if you took the dash out yourself and sent it to them, they'd fix it. I suspect they resoldered some places. I had a 91 S-10 pickup for four years that had the digital dash. Never had a lick of trouble out of it.

Chris your therapy sessions were a success. You're hired. Glad Maggie is able to romp and frolic once more.

Oh, also Ken from western Canada and Paul, the guy who started the "new" Good morning thread. Only by posting, what happened to the Good Morning Thread? Pat had inadvertently deleted the thread while trying to bounce some spammers. Omnicrom the site administrator tried to retrieve it but couldn't. By the way, I looked that guy up, he was the head honcho of the whole place, and he hasn't been on since 2016. Odd.

Okay, gonna take Tiger to jail then come back and get ready and hit the road. I should have plenty of 285/I-20/Douglasville traffic to keep me company. Hope everyone has a good weekend, see you Sunday or there 'bouts.

 

James - 41/42 - I am not worthy. Playing again tomorrow morning @ 9:29 am. I have to - it's going to be 73°F, 0% precipitation light winds.

Disappointing day grocery shopping. I stopped at both Lowe's Food Store & Harris Teeter Food Store specifically for Razzleberry pie - both of them did not have Razzleberry pie. I'm hoping maybe WalMart might have it, but that's going to have to wait because I was not going to come home empty handed. Instead, I have a blueberry cobbler and a chocolate satin pie now in my possession. I had shrimp quesadilla for lunch & I'm having crab cake for dinner. The blueberry cobbler + vanilla ice cream will be a welcome treat after dinner this evening.

Mike - Drive safe and enjoy your time helping your blind friend.

 

Mike - Thanks, we're glad to see her doing so well. Safe travels to Alabama, those folks will all be buzzing about the SEC Championship game on Saturday afternoon. Another rough day for me, see my next post!

 

Good afternoon guys,

OMG, I just get one dog better, and now we have another issue. Monty started having loose stools 2-days ago, and today they look like they have blood in them. Called the vet and they wanted us to bring a fecal sample in as a 1st step. Just got back from dropping it off and they hope to have the results back tomorrow as a first step. It could be something as simple as an infection of some type or could be something as bad as something he ate that he can't pass and is irritating his stomach or bowel. Ugh, I guess the saying when it rains, it pours, also applies to pets too! Right now the good signs are he is not too lethargic, and is eating and drinking. Saying some prayers and keeping our fingers crossed!

Norm - I always get my Marie Callender's pies (including Razzleberry) at Walmart, I'd be really surprised if they don't have it.

Gotta get a shower and head off to basketball practice at 1645, then our 1st game tomorrow morning at 1100. I'll post an update on Monty when we hear from the vet, hopefully tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a great evening and weekend!

 

Hopefully the bloody poo is nothing to worry about. Our Red Heeler girl dog had a minor oral surgery a few weeks ago, and the next day she had runny poo that at some point turned bloody. Scared us, so we brought her back to the vet for a warranty diagnostic check and everything was fine, and she cleared up by the following day.

Good luck and well wishes for Monty.

 

Thanks Kenneth, your well wishes are much appreciated! Love these pups, but they're making a nervous wreck out of me and my wife!

 

Good morning guys,

Wow, it hit 79° F yesterday. Much cooler today, only supposed to get to about 50°.

Got our basketball game at 1100, I'll have to leave out of here at around 1015 for that. Waiting to hear from the vet today (hopefully) on Monty's fecal sample analysis and next steps for getting him well.

My BIL and SIL are supposed to come today sometime to get the furniture my wife refinished for them. I'll believe it when I see it, they already begged off on coming to get it last weekend, and I wouldn't be surprised if they don't show again today. I already told my wife I won't be here to help carry it up and load it between 1015 and 1245, and to let them know accordingly if they want my help loading.

I'm looking forward to watching the SEC and Big 10 Conference Championship Football games this afternoon, both should be dandys!

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

I think I'll do yardwork today maybe.

I took yesterday off, drove to Terre Haute and cleaned out and closed the family's safety deposit box. Mostly abstracts and legal letters of people passing ownership. Stopped by my grandma's house, talked to some masons. The brick wall is back, and the chimney is going up. Real roof might not be there till the spring, but the new owner is making progress. All I have left to do is pay the remaining couple sewer bills to catch up to the closing date, then I am fully done.

 

Good evening guys,

We lost our basketball game 22 to 16, but had a great time in defeat. The boys played hard and I was very proud of them. A refreshing group of boys!

We never heard from the Vet today about Monty. He seemed a little lethargic yesterday, but he is perkier today, he's eating better, and his stool is firmer with no sign of fresh blood. I hate to say he's better, cause I sure as hell ain't no vet, but he just seems better.

Enjoying the SEC Championship right now, pizza just came out of the oven and waiting for it to cool a bit. The barley pops are waiting in the fridge to go with it.

Hope everyone has a great evening!

 

Roll Tide - The Sabanizer

 

Uh Oh! Living on the edge, James may ban you for that perverse post!

 

GO BLUE! - Hail, Hail to Michigan the Champions of the West!



Grandson Gabe was raised on the correct side of the ball from day one!

 

I ain't no bulldog fan. If you live here long enough you get tired of them wolf wolf

Norm, I enjoyed my Manele;s BBQ shrimp [that doesn't have anything to do with BBQ. ]The should be called shrimp swimming in spiced butter with onions But my avocados still aren't ripe stay tuned