t2p

a friend won something like $7500 one year with his super bowl block … this was years ago - last digit of the score remained constant for three quarters or something like that

datlas 

The Saturn gets 40MPG on 87 Octane.

genejockey 

We had flickers a couple times, but that was it. Noisy as hell a couple times, and I did fear for the big Oak in the back yard, but AFAICT it's in good shape, with roots dug deep into heavy clay. But come Spring, I'm gonna get a tree guy to come and do some crown reduction and reshaping, and also trim up the Magnolia, which seems to constantly add more mass at the end of long, long branches that lack much structure integrity.

Rango was unimpressed. He either slept, or ate, or went out for a pee with total nonchalance, which I think kept Dory calm. And Dory being calm kept Mrs. GJ calm - once or twice she asked whether we should be hiding out in the hallway - she grew up in Florida, where you worry about windows blowing out. Or in, depending. But we've had worse.

t2p

lol our garden tractor short blocks prob weigh more than that

big john

Way better than a Smart Car, too.

genejockey 

I don't need diesel fumes to get seasick, but the help. The time I went whale watching, I was perfectly fine on the Bay, but as soon as we passed the Point Bonita lighthouse, which apparently marks the division between Bay and Ocean, the neck on my sweater started feeling a little tight... I was mostly okay on the upper deck, out in the wind, but then some joker thought they'd seen a spout, so we started turning circles through our own exhaust, and that was it. I spent the next eternity as close to the center of mass of the ship as possible - lowest deck, inside - doing what one does. At one point, I actually thought, "If the boat sinks, I might die, but at least I won't feel like this."

As soon as we passed the lighthouse on the way back, I started feeling better and within 10 minutes I felt fine. The Bay doesn't bother me. The one time it did was when I was taking a sailing class*, when we were sailing with the wind, which IS fast but FEELS slow, and some gas had spilled, so we were breathing fumes, which of course didn't disperse because the boat was moving with the wind, AND we were just riding the swell. Bleah.

*Long story, suffice to say it was fun but Mrs. GJ and I learned we were not sailors.

t2p

I would often see an old guy with neat / small Toyota awd wagon at a local flea market - was hoping to get it from him if he would sell but was not interested in parting with it

seedsbelize2 seeds has a Honda Fit - I see bikes and all sorts of items stuffed in those cars … seem roomy for small car

indyfabz

I think I remember that year. Some guy at my local bar won 3 quarters.

LAJ

We played a big hand in the VeeWee settlement simply because we have roadside emission testing here. It's called clean screen, and it's usually on highway on-ramps, as there needs to be a rate of acceleration noted. We pick up evaporative emission leaks, and even though it's gas, we read diseasals. We provided plenty of data for the investigation. When it came to spending the settlement money, it was a barfight, and the 'lectrical people won out. The smudgepot program didn't get a nickel, as it all went towards charging stations, and heavy duty vehicle electification.

rjones28 

Just regular veins here. Nothing fancy.

rjones28 

My BIL just got a new set of lungs (still in ICU). Spent a lot of time breathing the nastiness found in auto repair shops during the 60s and 70s.

Mojo31

My one time I went below to talk photography with another guy on the boat. The fumes hit me, and I ran to the deck and puked overboard right next to my wife and kids. My wife commented that it must have hit me hard because I left my camera below unattended. It was a Canon 1D with 300 f2.8 lens that I never trusted out of my sight, except that one time. Tossed it, went back down to get my gear, went back on dock, and was fine.

big john

I had a 4wd Tercel wagon when I lived in the mountains. Great for snow and ice but it was kind of a turd.

MoAlpha

Ohhh, yeah. Bad combination. Changing a fuel filter in a seaway is a special delight too. I get sick reliably offshore without diesel fumes.

genejockey 

The stuff that was used routinely for a number of things... it boggles the mind. Carbon tetrachloride for dry cleaning, all sorts of nasty solvents we later learned were carcinogenic. And of course, un-smogged gasoline engines. We forget just how much pollution those things pumped out, but follow an old car, even one that's well tuned, and you can smell the partially burned hydrocarbons. I can only imagine what they'd use BITD for cleaning engine parts, etc.

Back during The Older Boy's train obsession, we watched a video on Union Pacific's steam engine repair shop, where they showed clips from old promotional films. One was a guy cleaning air filters, on the ground outside the shops, hosing them down with "solvent", the nature of which was not really explained. The video said there were some places around the shops where the ground was heavily contaminated to this day.

bampilot06

Went to RVA to ride single track today on the checkpoint.

I am not a technical rider. Had one good fall and landed on my knee, hopefully it’s not busted.

TMonk

Lilly is having some weird poops (green/mucous-y) and a little GI discomfort so the pediatrician wants Liz to cut out dairy for a couple weeks and then try to ween it back in slightly. I guess a lot of kids grow out of it by 6 months (we're at 4) but we need to eliminate for a bit.

I put some canned unsweetened coconut milk in her coffee this morning instead of half and half, and did mine as well. And I kinda like it.

datlas 

Ugh. I don't mind simple gravel but anything even a bit technical with ruts/rocks/roots gives me the willies. I know you just have to relax and "ride through it" but I still don't like it.

Stick to tarmac is my advice.

bampilot06

a lot of dismounting in my case. Watching JP power through was pretty amazing. A lot of the stuff, just looked deadly to my bike that’s why I would get off. It didn’t look physically possible but he just rode right through. We were both on checkpoints.

TMonk

when u gonna get a supercaliber? its a sick XC bike

TMonk

rain finally started over here. not heavy/exciting yet. I have no windows in my desk/open office area, so I may be making more trips than usual to check out/support the RA's in the lab. but taking the long way so I can see the big windows outside.

datlas 

I got suckered into doing a "gravel" ride with some friends a few months ago.

The true gravel parts were ok, but there were several sections of single-track and even a few areas that were really technical and felt more like MTB type trails. I was on my CX bike and felt VERY uncomfortable. I dismounted several times and got gapped. My friends have more confidence/experience with this and it did not seem to bother them much.

I know more practice would allow me to be more comfortable with this skill set, but at this point in my life I prefer riding on the road and will defer my off-road clinics for the time being.

big john

Dismounting is better than falling off. This stuff takes time and practice. Some people never get there. Stay within your abilities. Get back on descents, keep your elbows up, get off the saddle and absorb with your legs. Practice shifting your weight around and get used to the rear wheel sliding around. Weight the outside pedal, not only in turns, but when the rear tries to pass you.

Start small and get comfortable before you try any obstacles. Your friend has probably been riding dirt for years.

jadmt

I have some ugly ones decorating my legs.

LesterOfPuppets

Looks like 700x28c terrain to me