Sunday, July 28, 2013
Making Things Last
In this day and age so many things are a one use only product. Everything that we buy we use and throw the container away. Hopefully to be recycled for further use.
Making things last requires a bit of effort. Not a whole lot of effort if you think about it. Cooking for instance. You can use the same pots and pans for years if you get good ones on the beginning. And clean and care for them properly. The plates and utensils are like wise able to last a lifetime.
But as we are solidly into a fast food generation. Most people do not have any idea of how or why you would want to make things last. Perhaps two generations now. Let's get back on subject now.
One thing to think about is tools. As far as hand tools go I favor Craftsman by Sears. They have a lifetime warratny. Many other brands do now. A good tool will fit and work properly. And again with care will last a lifetime.
Sporting goods will also last a very long time if cared for. It would also be hard to wear out a golf club. I guess guns would last a long time too. Since I do not have any I do not know. My oldest bicycle is 39 years old. My newest is six. The bike shop thinks it is old. I guess it is if you sell new bikes. But with care things will last.
Electronic items can and will last a long time too. Before I moved here I had a 1938 Zenith console radio. It had several bands, short wave and AM too. They didn't have FM yet. But it worked like a charm. Gave it away with a lot of other stuff when I moved here. They however become obsolete with time. Look at all the TVs that do not work anymore because they are not digital. Many cable companies however do have a converter to make them still work. I remember when AM radio ruled. I do not beleive I seen a car with a FM radio till the late sixties. Then FM radio was a big deal. Stereo and quadraphic ( four channel). Quad never really got too far. FM stereo did and still is out there, but not as important with all the iphone stuff. The basic stuff like stoves, refrigerator, toaster, coffee pots, mixers, blenders, waffle irons, and etc. have remained about the same for almost a hundred years.
For one hundred years telephones were just telephones. You had a phone company to choose from. You either had a home phone or you didn't. You actually leased it from the phone company. It was built to last. Someone called you it rang. You either answered or not. You didn't know who called if you did not answer. You either taked to them or hung up. Simple deal. If you didn't want to talk to someone you just took the phone off the hook. Telephones also worked when the electric was off as they had their own power.
Now we have cell phones. The basic technology came about in 1947. Now I don't even need a home phone. I get the internet through cable TV. Thirty years ago you didn't just run out and get a new phone. Why would you. A phone is just a phone. Now with cell phones I have at least four in a drawer that worked fine. But we have this obcession to upgrade to a new one. They do so much more than the old ones. So I do not know if they are built to last. The only problems I have had in the past is battery failure. Then it got to the point that I would take a new phone because the replacement battery was more expensive than just getting another phone. Only in America.
Automobiles and motorcylcles will also last a long time. I had accually hoped the 1989 Chevy Blazer I bought new would have lasted as my last car. I had it till last fall and took as good of care of it as I could with my limited income. I got paranoid and traded it in the fall last year. The A/C, heat, radio had gone out. It got teriible gas milage. But I only drive about 1500 miles a year. So what. But with cash in hand I could have had these things fixed. It wasn't as if I have all these hot dates to take out and inpress. it was merely wheeels when I had to have them. With pateience the money I am spending on payments could have been saved to fix the old truck. The problem was though you cannot see in the rain with a fogged windsheild. Creating a safety hazzard.
Look around at your stuff. I lot of it will last a long time without much effort. Even a cheap watch make start working again with a new battery. $1 at Dollar Tree. Take care of your stuff and it will last.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
AV
In 1974 I joined the AV department at our school. We were originally based in the back of the library. A back spot as we would create a noise when coming to and fro. So we found a new home in the basement of the middle school section. A boiler. All the elecric stuff in that room. But room. And a lot of room. Three windows to the outside. So I brought in a couch, chairs, stereo, 25 inch color tv, coffee maker and a hot plate. Home away from home.
We used the old Bell and Howelll 16mm format. You know. The movies you watched in school. In the wintertime we would show old claais movie shorts. Like the Three Stooges, Abbot and Costello etc. Even a few full feature films as time went on. Charging ten cents. We even make our own movie. Quite a hit at the time but didn't stand the test of time.
AV provided me with a pass to go through the halls at any point in time I wanted to. That was my hall pass. This allowed me to leave the campus in a clandestine way if I wanted to . Come and go as you please. I was also involved in the Boy Scouts. I had a Scout Room uptown. Set up nicely too. Pretty cool huh? A lot of people did not have these luxuries. I did.
Mowing Grass
In 1970 I started my own business I guess you could say. I started mowing other peoples yards or lawns as we would say now. My dad let me use his mowers. A riding mower and an old Lawn Boy push mower. I sickle and hand trimmers. There wasn't any weedeaters at that time. I started with Mrs. Bargers yard. A really large yard that also had a wooded area that I kept cleaned out. Mowing yards seemed to suit me well. As I was the youngest male on the street I would take a good beating from the other boys. And just the little creep to the girls. So the oppurtuinty to do something by myself and understanding profit became a good thing.
At this point in time you didn't get $50 to mow a regular yard. More like $2 or $3. My big yard was $5. As time went on I was constantly picking up business. I worked on the east side of my little town and would take the tractor, trailer and everything I needed with me and did not need a truck. Good thing as I was not old enough to drive.
By 1974 I had nearly 40 accounts. In addition to residential customers I had taken on a lot of local business customers. I was on my third tractor by then. I would however take 20% off the top for equipement. The people I worked for would give me things. They would give me something to eat (I did however pack a lunch and a cooler of water). In the morning I would take off with my tractor and cart with the equipement. My faithful German Shepherd Prince walking along. A full work week at 14 years old. Amazing how much energy you can have at that age. With the schedule I had worked out I could do that days work by about 2 pm.
On getting home I would get cleaned up and Danny, Ricky and I would go to the country club and play golf. One of our mothers would drop us off and we would just walk home when we were done. It was only a couple of miles with short cuts.
I was making $375 A WEEK IN THE SUMMER OF 1974. More money then I usually bring home in a week now. When we moved to Indiana in 1977 I left my little business behind. I did start mowing again. I would call realitors and set up a pretty good deal keeping vacant houses for sale presentable.
When I moved to Louisville I eventually dicided I needed a side gig too. I had a full sized Chevy truck. Went to Sears and bought some ramps. I bought a cool old John Deere Garden tractor. Put ag tires filled with calcium (for weight). This old tractor was cherry. You know the saying "nothing runs like a deere or smells like a john". I found two Lawn Boy push mowers. A 1975 and a 1977. Fixed and tuned them up to a one pull to start condition. As I am mechanically inclined. The fall before I bought a Weber Smokey Joe grill and a weed eater at Target on their fall sale. Got them both dirt cheap as Target was dumping summer things.
By the spring of 1993 I was in the new house I built in 1992. I put an ad in the New Albany Indiana paper and the calls started rolling in. At this juncture the thought of someone to mow a yard was out of style. You had a landscaper or lawn care specialist. Well my little ad paid off. There was one little nieghborhood that I got a call from. This was a nice little post war nieghborhood (world war 2 dummies) that people still took pride in. I took care of one customer and the next thing you know I had ten. The yards were so tiny I only needed the a Lawn Boy and the weed eater. The land scapers did not want to fool with these little accounts. They would ask them a real high price. I charged $10. After helping the older ladies with any other chores they needed help with I could be out of there by about 2 pm. Then go play golf.
I picked up other accounts and made it about a week $200 side business on my off time. Again these people would give me things and a very nice side business. But it does require a lot of physical effort, capital and timing to pull it off.
My father was smart enough to have a coin laundry, inventions and apartments to get extra money. Still trying to figure something out here in Florida. Maybe something bicycle. Who knows? I have to consider my full time job a baseline that pays the regular bills. If I am going to profit in addition to that I have to figure something else out.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Garage Sales And Yard Sales Are Frugal And Green Ways To Find Things
Garage sales and yard sales can be great ways to find something that you need. Somtimes there are not anything that you would be interested in. Sometimes there is. When the economy first went bad in about 2008 there was really some nice stuff at the yard sales near me. As time has went on they have became more and more picked over as the best stuff sells first. You know that times were getting tough when a guy is selling his golf clubs and grill. And the lady of the house was selling furniture and collections.
A few years ago a lot of people were getting forclosed and were just dumping stuff. I found a nice Onkyo stereo receiver that was $400 new and not that old for $30 with the manual and original receipt. There were also some nice bicycles and golf clubs. At the same time I do not make that much money and couldn't just buy everything that was a good deal. Because if you cannot afford it, don't really need it, have something like it, a good deal it isn't.
Somtimes there are nice clothes. A lot of old obsolete elctronics. Sometimes some nice tools. I have found some tools that I did need for a good deal. Many times there are a lot of music on vinyl, CD and cassette. Of which I can use all three. But do I need them? Many times there are books. I have found some nice reference books and coffe table books.
I have found some kitchen stuff. I just found a Caphalon pan for $2. They cost $50 plus new. I have found some high quality knives and other kitchen stuff. I have also found padlocks, rugs, little household stuff. Sometimes there is just a lot of junk and collectable stuff. If you don't really use it, it will just become your new junk. So if it isn't something that you will use it isn't a good deal.
I live near three nice subdivisions. Since I work Saurday nights I will get out on the bicycle on Saturday mornings and take a ride. Hit the local yard sales to see what is out there. I have been able to do a good job of just stopping to look. If it is not truly a deal that I need, just pass.
As time has passed the best stuff seems to be gone. But you never know usless you check.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Honing The Craft Of Guarding The Televison
As I have been sitting at home off from work for almost three weeks now I have been honing the craft of guarding the television. Besides surfing the internet and this blog there isn't much else I can do. For the first couple of weeks I could hardly hobble around the apartment. I have had many doctors appointments. I do not know that many people so I can't spend a lot of time on the phone.
So the television has been my constant companion. My sleep has been irregular at best. I can't seem to find a comfortable position to sleep in. If the sheet hits my toe I wake up immediately. So I have been sleeping here and there a couple hours at a time. Often times just dosing off in a chair as it does seem to be the most comfortable position to sleep at this juncture. Often with the TV on.
I have been somewhat following the Tour de France. I never understood it at all before but now have a vague idea of how it works. The French countryside is also beautiful. And where do all the people come from who line the sides of the roads for them to pass by in about five seconds? I assume they are devout fans or perhaps it is just a big party or something. I am not that big of a fan of anything.
The hand full of channels that I watch seem to play the same show all day long. Most of which I have seen before. The reality shows can get pretty stupid. A couple of the channels that play movies play the same ones for days in a row. I have watched infomercials about vacuum cleaners, cooking devises, health stuff and home shopping network. PBS has some good stuff every once in a while. I can't seem to want to listen to music.
The antibiotics prevent me from going out in the sun. I would feel guilty trying to go out to do something since I am off work over this. Just going to the laundry is a painful chore. I usually walk as it is close but drove today as I could not walk that far. I also realize that I do not know that many people. As only a couple of people have called or stopped by.
I did end up keeping the smart phone. Sort of boxed myself into it as I did not have the money to get it back by the return deadline. Sort of fates way of justifying something that was not a necessity. Not a frugal move on my part. It does have a lot of neat features and have got it hooked up to my wi fi some I can surf the net without using up the allowed data time.
Both of my computers are old. I have had the free time to work on these as I can't do anything very physical. Got the desk top working pretty well. Took the laptop and completely stripped it down to the original state. First removing all the original unwanted programs. They had to add eight years of updates and compatibility issues that have made it a useable machine again. I was convinced that it was beyond usefulness. But a little effort, patience and time on my hands I got it done.
I go back to the foot doctor tomorrow. I wish that he could just wave his magic wand and make it disappear. As my toe is still black and blue with a little blood and stuff coming out of it. Still haven't had a shoe on. Put on socks for the first time in weeks yesterday. It is like a bad dream but in fact reality.
Sitting at home like this has made me realize that 99% of my social life is of or pertaining to work. Pretty shallow on my part but good enough. If I deviate form my routine I just get into trouble or make an idiot of myself. Or both.
I a guarding the television as I write this now.
Is It Just A Bad Dream Or For Real?
We've all had these weird wild dreams. Usually forgetting them when you wake up. Some kind of adventure or a chain of events that are not necessarily where one would want to be. You are in a tight spot and are running from something or someone. Barely escaping if you escape at all. Then bang. It could be a pleasant dream. Where you are in the land of milk and honey. Then bang. You wake up.
You wake to the world of for real. Or the real world. Nothing has changed much from the night before when you went to bed. Wish all you want, but this is it. All the same circumstances. All the same weaknesses and strengths. Those bills haven't went away. You did not win the lottery. The same physical and mental short comings.
In the real world change only occurs when we take it upon ourselves to make the changes or are forced into it by an external force.
Redundancy
I suffer from redundancy among many other things. Not only in the things I say and talk about. But also the things that I do. If one is good then two, three or four would be much better. We can usually justify this under the term of collections or hobbies.
For me take bicycles for instance. I have four. As I talked about in an earlier post two is probably the right number. When I got into bicycling again I went wild about getting bikes. Learning basic repair and upkeep. Just jumped in head first. Then I also thought that I could put this great little group together and have some fun rides.This little grand plan has never came through. But I do have the bikes all ready to go in good shape. About 15 spare tires for all the different bikes. Overkill again. The bike magazines say you can't have too many bikes. That is because they sell bikes. It is not if I am going to take a ride. But which one to ride. Extra storage, maintenance and another decision.
I have done the same thing with golf clubs, sunglasses, stereo equipment, watches,shoes, clothes and bunches of other things. After the either wears off you just have a bunch of redundant material things that have cost you money. It does however keep you occupied if you do not have anything else to do and no one to do it with. All the stuff in the world cannot change the fact that I am just a little creep without social skills that most people do not want to be around. I know that sometimes I have given or tried to give things to people and that would either not accept it or have almost had to force it upon them. Which makes the good deed another point of unhappiness.
So you can just hang out with your stuff and have fun with it. Do not try to bother anyone. Do your job as well as you can. Face the facts. Also try to behave yourself and not get in trouble. Too much stuff will not keep you happy for very long. If you a person that carries debt all that money and effort could have went towards getting rid of some of that debt. In the long run freedom from debt and obligations will make you happier that a bunch of the same things which will only make you happy for a little while.
Well since no one has called or stopped by I'll just hang out with my stuff. Maybe even check out my credit card balances from the stuff. And have a nice little evening.
Spicy Vegetable Soup
I got this recipe from Southern Living about fifteen years ago. It is for a spicy vegetable soup. The original recipe used ground chuck. I have also used smoked, Polish or Italian sausage. It is tomato based. So use one or two cans of your favorite spaghetti sauce depending on the amount you want to make. Chop up two onions. A can of Rotel diced tomatoes and peppers. A few cloves of garlic. In a separate pot or pan cook the ground beef or sausage. Bring main soup pot up to a low boil and back off to a simmer. Add one or two 16 once bags of frozen mixed vegetables. Salt, pepper and other seasonings as desired to taste. Add in the cooked meat and you are done. Goes good with garlic toast and tastes better the second day as most homemade soups do!
Monday, July 15, 2013
Convalesent Central
Here I sit another day. It is two weeks now. I am not even supposed to go out in the sun due to the antibiotic medicine. Let me tell you the whole story so you do not make the same mistakes.
About four months ago I started experiencing sharp burning pain in my left foot and lower leg. Just getting old I guessed. The last time I attempted to play golf I made it about three holes and had to turn back. My leg was hurting so bad I had to rest three times to make it back to the car. Come June the pain was more on than off. On my off days I would basically do nothing.
Got on the internet to check out the symptoms. A big range of possibilities. From an ingrown toe nail to back and circulation problems. So I finally go to my doctor. Of which I could not see my doctor because he was busy. So they sent me to the immediate care in their facility. They took the blood pressure and normal check in stuff. Gave me an x ray. The x ray determined that I have sciatica, degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy. So they told me to schedule an appointment with neurosurgery. They also gave me pain pills and steroids. It was also determined that I needed a MRI. So I go for that.
I was not able to get through to the neurosurgeon. No called me back. At the first examination they could not find a pulse in my left foot. I call the care center and said that I had not heard back from anyone. I also said that judging from the symptoms I may have a blood clot. They said to come in now for an ultra sound. I got there and showed the doctor my left big toe. It was black and blue. He said that it was infected and if I did not do something soon it may spread and lead to amputation.
He prescribes antibiotics and an anti bacterial salve. At this point he says that the foot pain was from the toe and sciatica. He said that the ultra sound wasn't needed. I said while I am here and they have planned to do it let's do it. After doing it he said that I dodged a bullet and have peripheral arterial disease. A or another heart attack or stroke waiting to happen. He then set me up with a cardiologist. This was to determine the likelihood of surviving surgery. Meaning back surgery at this time. He also said that no one was going to touch me until I got rid of the infection in my foot. Gave me a podiatrist to call.
Well I call the podiatrist and they say the fasted I can get in would be Thursday the 11th. So I make this appointment. By the 4th my foot is all red and the toe is almost black. I get on the Blue Cross website and try to find a doctor for this. I find one to get me in on Friday the 5th. They get me in and set me up for surgery that day, now. They also needed $400 now.
They proceeded to take off my toe nail. After being home a couple of hours the medicine wore off. I have never had anything that has hurt worse. It still hurts. Cannot wear shoes. Can't sleep good. Went back for follow up Monday the 8th.
So I have to make a decision here. As far as I am concerned the back thing is on back burner. Now the cardiologist and my regular doctor. Went to the cardiologist Wednesday the 10th. He said I need an Electro Cardeogram. So I had this done on the 10th. Then to my MD on the 11th. He said I need the balloon thing.Angioplasty. So the next day I am to have the EKG.
When I get in there they said I have already had the ultra sounds on my legs. It would be out of my pocket if they done it again. I said that I understand and didn't need it again. But needed the EKG. The tech repeated it again and again as if I could not understand. I told them that I did. I do understand. So now I am waiting for the next move.
On the way home I call the pharmacy for refills. It set off a blaze of phone calls. We are not a pill mill and you cannot get narcotics from us. Why did you cancel the appointment with the back doctor? How come you didn't show up at the foot doctor we sent you to? My doctors office said to take tylonol. Doesn't work . Stayed up all night again. Can't find a good position to sleep in without hitting the toe. This isn't any fun at all.
Now over two weeks missing work. I am still hurting. As this toe thing is terrible. I need the balloon thing. I have been trying to get narcotics. I have cancelled appointments with the best doctors in the county. I have spent over $1000 out of pocket.
At this juncture I will wait on their call. If I ever get one. I need to get back to work. I am still hurting. I have had back problems since 1984. No surprise here. Now the circulatory things. I smoke. My fault. All the exercise and work I do has not off set that. My doctor in the 90's was an old Army doctor. He told me to quit smoking then as I was a small person. And if I quit then I would have a chance.
After about two weeks my left toe, foot and leg is still killing me. I cannot find a comfortable position to sleep. Nothing else can be done until the toe heals. Then the circulation problem. Then eventually the back. I am so ready for this to be behind me. As the lady at the doctors office said. It is a bunch at once.
I am editing this post at 1 o'clock in the morning as I woke up and can not get back to sleep because the toe is killing me. I hope it is healing correctly and is just now starting to scab over. Still can't hardly walk.
A word to the wise. When you get symptoms. Address it. And quit smoking!
About four months ago I started experiencing sharp burning pain in my left foot and lower leg. Just getting old I guessed. The last time I attempted to play golf I made it about three holes and had to turn back. My leg was hurting so bad I had to rest three times to make it back to the car. Come June the pain was more on than off. On my off days I would basically do nothing.
Got on the internet to check out the symptoms. A big range of possibilities. From an ingrown toe nail to back and circulation problems. So I finally go to my doctor. Of which I could not see my doctor because he was busy. So they sent me to the immediate care in their facility. They took the blood pressure and normal check in stuff. Gave me an x ray. The x ray determined that I have sciatica, degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy. So they told me to schedule an appointment with neurosurgery. They also gave me pain pills and steroids. It was also determined that I needed a MRI. So I go for that.
I was not able to get through to the neurosurgeon. No called me back. At the first examination they could not find a pulse in my left foot. I call the care center and said that I had not heard back from anyone. I also said that judging from the symptoms I may have a blood clot. They said to come in now for an ultra sound. I got there and showed the doctor my left big toe. It was black and blue. He said that it was infected and if I did not do something soon it may spread and lead to amputation.
He prescribes antibiotics and an anti bacterial salve. At this point he says that the foot pain was from the toe and sciatica. He said that the ultra sound wasn't needed. I said while I am here and they have planned to do it let's do it. After doing it he said that I dodged a bullet and have peripheral arterial disease. A or another heart attack or stroke waiting to happen. He then set me up with a cardiologist. This was to determine the likelihood of surviving surgery. Meaning back surgery at this time. He also said that no one was going to touch me until I got rid of the infection in my foot. Gave me a podiatrist to call.
Well I call the podiatrist and they say the fasted I can get in would be Thursday the 11th. So I make this appointment. By the 4th my foot is all red and the toe is almost black. I get on the Blue Cross website and try to find a doctor for this. I find one to get me in on Friday the 5th. They get me in and set me up for surgery that day, now. They also needed $400 now.
They proceeded to take off my toe nail. After being home a couple of hours the medicine wore off. I have never had anything that has hurt worse. It still hurts. Cannot wear shoes. Can't sleep good. Went back for follow up Monday the 8th.
So I have to make a decision here. As far as I am concerned the back thing is on back burner. Now the cardiologist and my regular doctor. Went to the cardiologist Wednesday the 10th. He said I need an Electro Cardeogram. So I had this done on the 10th. Then to my MD on the 11th. He said I need the balloon thing.Angioplasty. So the next day I am to have the EKG.
When I get in there they said I have already had the ultra sounds on my legs. It would be out of my pocket if they done it again. I said that I understand and didn't need it again. But needed the EKG. The tech repeated it again and again as if I could not understand. I told them that I did. I do understand. So now I am waiting for the next move.
On the way home I call the pharmacy for refills. It set off a blaze of phone calls. We are not a pill mill and you cannot get narcotics from us. Why did you cancel the appointment with the back doctor? How come you didn't show up at the foot doctor we sent you to? My doctors office said to take tylonol. Doesn't work . Stayed up all night again. Can't find a good position to sleep in without hitting the toe. This isn't any fun at all.
Now over two weeks missing work. I am still hurting. As this toe thing is terrible. I need the balloon thing. I have been trying to get narcotics. I have cancelled appointments with the best doctors in the county. I have spent over $1000 out of pocket.
At this juncture I will wait on their call. If I ever get one. I need to get back to work. I am still hurting. I have had back problems since 1984. No surprise here. Now the circulatory things. I smoke. My fault. All the exercise and work I do has not off set that. My doctor in the 90's was an old Army doctor. He told me to quit smoking then as I was a small person. And if I quit then I would have a chance.
After about two weeks my left toe, foot and leg is still killing me. I cannot find a comfortable position to sleep. Nothing else can be done until the toe heals. Then the circulation problem. Then eventually the back. I am so ready for this to be behind me. As the lady at the doctors office said. It is a bunch at once.
I am editing this post at 1 o'clock in the morning as I woke up and can not get back to sleep because the toe is killing me. I hope it is healing correctly and is just now starting to scab over. Still can't hardly walk.
A word to the wise. When you get symptoms. Address it. And quit smoking!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Where Have All The Old Ten speed Bicycles Gone?
Along about 1971 I was saving up my lawn mowing money for a new bike. I had never had a new bike of my own having hand me downs from my uncle. I had an uncle close to my age. My roller then was a Schwinn Stingray. Candy Apple red with a white banana seat. Rear slick red wall tires. Wish I still had it now. But it was passed back to my uncle for his kids by me. As was the tricycle I used and back to him again.
I went to the Western Auto store. In the little town that I lived in Western Auto was a big deal to me. My mother went to school and was friends with the owners daughter. Do not know why I added this. But in small towns things are different. And everybody knows everything. One more Western Auto thing. Around Christmas the entire basement was filled with toys and the usual hardware and mower stuff was out. A big place to go as a little kid.
Sorry about getting off the subject there. I ramble. So the bike I settled on was a metallic dark green touring bike. Matching fenders and a 5 speed. It was the daddy to me and everyone on the street. All the boys wanted to ride it. I of course liked it too. It was like my uncle's three speed Raleigh.
Almost at that instant ten speeds came out in a big way. A racing looking bike making my touring bike look like something grand pa would ride. My neighbor across the street got a yellow Schwinn Varsity. It was now the hot shot bike on the street. The Western Flyer held up well. Then I got a Schwinn LeTour. Still have it.
There were thousands of ten speed bicycles sold in the seventies and eighties. Most of them rode about seventy five miles and parked in a corner or hung in the garage. These bikes were European, American and Japanese for the most part. The high end being the European. But a lot of these bike were made. The Japanese ended up making the best all around bikes with all things considered. Under many brand names and makers.
So when I got on the bicycle kick many years ago I go wild. The old Schwinn and Western Flyer I had would be enough. Good thing I had the Schwinn because dad donated the Western Flyer to AmVets. So that one bike I have certainly would not do. I need more. I can get more bikes and have all these friends to go riding with.
Visiting Ebay I find thousands of bikes. $20-60. Costs more to ship than buy. So I can make up this fleet to have a bunch of people to go riding with. I buy three bikes on Ebay. Get into the fixing mode. Make them nice. Now when I go to Ebay these same bikes are fetching $200 plus. Used to find them at Goodwill. Yard sales. Now they are hot. Do not find them everywhere for cheap anymore.
For the most part these bikes are bullet proof. Find one your size. Give it a little maintenance and you are set. The brand name does not matter that much. I have found the Japanese ones to be the best. At one time they littered the landscape. Don't even see them anymore. Where have they gone?
I went to the Western Auto store. In the little town that I lived in Western Auto was a big deal to me. My mother went to school and was friends with the owners daughter. Do not know why I added this. But in small towns things are different. And everybody knows everything. One more Western Auto thing. Around Christmas the entire basement was filled with toys and the usual hardware and mower stuff was out. A big place to go as a little kid.
Sorry about getting off the subject there. I ramble. So the bike I settled on was a metallic dark green touring bike. Matching fenders and a 5 speed. It was the daddy to me and everyone on the street. All the boys wanted to ride it. I of course liked it too. It was like my uncle's three speed Raleigh.
Almost at that instant ten speeds came out in a big way. A racing looking bike making my touring bike look like something grand pa would ride. My neighbor across the street got a yellow Schwinn Varsity. It was now the hot shot bike on the street. The Western Flyer held up well. Then I got a Schwinn LeTour. Still have it.
There were thousands of ten speed bicycles sold in the seventies and eighties. Most of them rode about seventy five miles and parked in a corner or hung in the garage. These bikes were European, American and Japanese for the most part. The high end being the European. But a lot of these bike were made. The Japanese ended up making the best all around bikes with all things considered. Under many brand names and makers.
So when I got on the bicycle kick many years ago I go wild. The old Schwinn and Western Flyer I had would be enough. Good thing I had the Schwinn because dad donated the Western Flyer to AmVets. So that one bike I have certainly would not do. I need more. I can get more bikes and have all these friends to go riding with.
Visiting Ebay I find thousands of bikes. $20-60. Costs more to ship than buy. So I can make up this fleet to have a bunch of people to go riding with. I buy three bikes on Ebay. Get into the fixing mode. Make them nice. Now when I go to Ebay these same bikes are fetching $200 plus. Used to find them at Goodwill. Yard sales. Now they are hot. Do not find them everywhere for cheap anymore.
For the most part these bikes are bullet proof. Find one your size. Give it a little maintenance and you are set. The brand name does not matter that much. I have found the Japanese ones to be the best. At one time they littered the landscape. Don't even see them anymore. Where have they gone?
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Gave in To A Smart Phone, I Think
A few weeks ago I made it to the light at the end of the tunnel. Like the rat in the trap. I was no longer interested in the cheese. I just wanted out of the trap. My phone company was OK with letting me continue month to month. The old phone is working fine. Checked a lot of the options of other plans and companies. My deal was spot on with most everything. Never go over on minutes. Long distance. Since I have no social skills all the sharing and media stuff is no big deal.
So I get an email from the phone company. Free i phone. Unlimited minutes and text. So many gigs. etc. Two year hook.
Happened to be driving by the phone store which is on the other side of town on another mission. Guess I'll just drop by and take a quick look see. My two and a half year old kerosene phone works just fine. Dial and call. Rings and answer. The few text messages I would receive or send cost 20 cents each. No big deal.
Forgive my ignorance and not caring. I did not care or know what these phones do. This one is free. This one is a hundred dollar upgrade and works internationally. Both obsolete I am sure. But spiffy to me. Since I have only been out of the county I live in about four times in a year the international thing wasn't really necessary. Again grandiose feelings pop up. Somebody's gonna call me if have one of these phones. I can even text them back for free. A hundred times if I want.
My little two and a half year old faithful and kerosene powered LG right there in my nerdy little holder. Charge it about once every two weeks and works like a charm. I spilled a glass of milk on it a few weeks ago. Was drying it off and the face bubbled up. You did it now dummy. Just got out of the trap and ruined your phone. It was the plastic cover on the front. I thought I took that off a long time ago.
So I can get the holder, car charger (which I hardly ever drive), the scratch package and something else for another $50. Or just the holder for $45. I'll take the package, smart shopper that I am! Those two text messages I receive every month will be no charge. The hundred or so minutes I use will not come close to the unlimited minutes I now have. I know right away when every worthless email hits. I can even read the mullet wrapper (local newspaper) with it. The GPS will tell someone somewhere what side of the commode I'm hitting while taking a pee. I have weather, internet connections and a million other things available to me.
That new electronic smell. Pretty package. All these features and a pleura of options and apps. Move in the twenty first century man. I can whip this out and really be cool (although it is about twelve phones behind the time and won't work in Nicaragua anyway). And when these new medical bills start rolling in they can wear me out in every way shape and form. Everyone who fries chicken at the local grocery store needs all this tech and features.
All for a two year contract and about twenty more dollars a month. I'm going to quit smoking anyway. That will more than pay for it. Did I not mention that it has a calculator? Well I have about three days to take it back and revert to my month to month basic plan. Pay a $35 restocking fee. I do not know if I can get the $50 back for the holder, car charger and scratch package. It however may be like a prophylactic. Invaluable when new and worthless when used.
I guess that tomorrow on the way to (yet another) doctor I will swing by the phone store, pay the $35 dollars. The little nerd reared up and came out of his hole. Realizing that the hole is where he belongs.
So I get an email from the phone company. Free i phone. Unlimited minutes and text. So many gigs. etc. Two year hook.
Happened to be driving by the phone store which is on the other side of town on another mission. Guess I'll just drop by and take a quick look see. My two and a half year old kerosene phone works just fine. Dial and call. Rings and answer. The few text messages I would receive or send cost 20 cents each. No big deal.
Forgive my ignorance and not caring. I did not care or know what these phones do. This one is free. This one is a hundred dollar upgrade and works internationally. Both obsolete I am sure. But spiffy to me. Since I have only been out of the county I live in about four times in a year the international thing wasn't really necessary. Again grandiose feelings pop up. Somebody's gonna call me if have one of these phones. I can even text them back for free. A hundred times if I want.
My little two and a half year old faithful and kerosene powered LG right there in my nerdy little holder. Charge it about once every two weeks and works like a charm. I spilled a glass of milk on it a few weeks ago. Was drying it off and the face bubbled up. You did it now dummy. Just got out of the trap and ruined your phone. It was the plastic cover on the front. I thought I took that off a long time ago.
So I can get the holder, car charger (which I hardly ever drive), the scratch package and something else for another $50. Or just the holder for $45. I'll take the package, smart shopper that I am! Those two text messages I receive every month will be no charge. The hundred or so minutes I use will not come close to the unlimited minutes I now have. I know right away when every worthless email hits. I can even read the mullet wrapper (local newspaper) with it. The GPS will tell someone somewhere what side of the commode I'm hitting while taking a pee. I have weather, internet connections and a million other things available to me.
That new electronic smell. Pretty package. All these features and a pleura of options and apps. Move in the twenty first century man. I can whip this out and really be cool (although it is about twelve phones behind the time and won't work in Nicaragua anyway). And when these new medical bills start rolling in they can wear me out in every way shape and form. Everyone who fries chicken at the local grocery store needs all this tech and features.
All for a two year contract and about twenty more dollars a month. I'm going to quit smoking anyway. That will more than pay for it. Did I not mention that it has a calculator? Well I have about three days to take it back and revert to my month to month basic plan. Pay a $35 restocking fee. I do not know if I can get the $50 back for the holder, car charger and scratch package. It however may be like a prophylactic. Invaluable when new and worthless when used.
I guess that tomorrow on the way to (yet another) doctor I will swing by the phone store, pay the $35 dollars. The little nerd reared up and came out of his hole. Realizing that the hole is where he belongs.
Ways Daily Lives Have Changed.
As time goes on life is getting easier. At least physically. As society spends less its effort to survive we end up with leisure time. Of which I will refer to as free time henceforth. Time you are not really forced to do a particular thing.
Years ago the work days and weeks were longer. Most of the work was more physically demanding. incomes were less. Shorter work weeks and technology has changed that.
Even when I was a kid eating out was not a regular experience. Two or three times a month maybe. When people were working these long hours and weeks they also ate the majority of their meals at home or at the home of a relative or friends. In many cases the some of the food was grown themselves in there garden. Some people have farm animals for meat and eggs. etc. People hunted and fished. Not just for sport, but consumed the game and fish for food.
Obviously everyone can't have their own little farm with a nice garden and the ability to produce and preserve the food generated. Each generation seems to more further from being or choosing to do for them selves. Grow, produce, raise or gather. Prepare, preserve, consume. To grocery. Take home to prepare and consume. Or buy prepared and consume.
Also we are not as manufacturing, raw material or industrial as before. High on the end of the service economy. They serve people with more free time. Also the preference to have things done for them rather than do it themselves.
Just about any time you walk out of your door you will spend money on something. Many times for something to do. They go to the gym and pay someone else to mow their yard. Buy bottled water when the water that runs out of your tap is the same thing.Or just get a drink from the water fountain. Same water, no bottle to throw away.
Watching a lot of the old movies on Turner Classics. You get an idea of the households of the time. one home phone. Kitchen with stove, fridge, toaster and other small appliances. A home phone. A radio. No TV on the older ones. Here we sit now on the computer with the television on. Air conditioning on. Cell phones, i pads games etc. It is a wonder how the electric companies can keep up. more efficient appliances and light make a big difference in power consumption though. the old stuff really used the power.
Most families were one car families. Now most are multiple car households. I know I couldn't wait to get a car.They say younger kids aren't as interested in driving as much anymore. Driving may incur responsibilities like taking care of the car and maybe having to get a job. Much easier to sit home and guard the television, be on spacebook and eat some fast food.
All the old movies had people smoking. I would say that more people smoke now than would like to admit. Surely not as many as before. Just like drinking. Seemed like they drank like fish then.
Narrow choice of products vs. wide range of products. Indecision gives me the blues. I lock up in a decision mode. I waste too much time on making choice and have a good chance of making a bad choice. Do you want a hot dog or not. Not fifty different hot dogs to choose from. Seizes me up. Drives up prices too.
Things change. Who knows. For better or worst? I don't know as I cannot make a decision.
Years ago the work days and weeks were longer. Most of the work was more physically demanding. incomes were less. Shorter work weeks and technology has changed that.
Even when I was a kid eating out was not a regular experience. Two or three times a month maybe. When people were working these long hours and weeks they also ate the majority of their meals at home or at the home of a relative or friends. In many cases the some of the food was grown themselves in there garden. Some people have farm animals for meat and eggs. etc. People hunted and fished. Not just for sport, but consumed the game and fish for food.
Obviously everyone can't have their own little farm with a nice garden and the ability to produce and preserve the food generated. Each generation seems to more further from being or choosing to do for them selves. Grow, produce, raise or gather. Prepare, preserve, consume. To grocery. Take home to prepare and consume. Or buy prepared and consume.
Also we are not as manufacturing, raw material or industrial as before. High on the end of the service economy. They serve people with more free time. Also the preference to have things done for them rather than do it themselves.
Just about any time you walk out of your door you will spend money on something. Many times for something to do. They go to the gym and pay someone else to mow their yard. Buy bottled water when the water that runs out of your tap is the same thing.Or just get a drink from the water fountain. Same water, no bottle to throw away.
Watching a lot of the old movies on Turner Classics. You get an idea of the households of the time. one home phone. Kitchen with stove, fridge, toaster and other small appliances. A home phone. A radio. No TV on the older ones. Here we sit now on the computer with the television on. Air conditioning on. Cell phones, i pads games etc. It is a wonder how the electric companies can keep up. more efficient appliances and light make a big difference in power consumption though. the old stuff really used the power.
Most families were one car families. Now most are multiple car households. I know I couldn't wait to get a car.They say younger kids aren't as interested in driving as much anymore. Driving may incur responsibilities like taking care of the car and maybe having to get a job. Much easier to sit home and guard the television, be on spacebook and eat some fast food.
All the old movies had people smoking. I would say that more people smoke now than would like to admit. Surely not as many as before. Just like drinking. Seemed like they drank like fish then.
Narrow choice of products vs. wide range of products. Indecision gives me the blues. I lock up in a decision mode. I waste too much time on making choice and have a good chance of making a bad choice. Do you want a hot dog or not. Not fifty different hot dogs to choose from. Seizes me up. Drives up prices too.
Things change. Who knows. For better or worst? I don't know as I cannot make a decision.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Great Chicken Soup Recipe
A chicken soup that will work nicely in the summer as well as the winter. Soup that will stand up well alone as complete meal. Just some garlic toast and you're set.
I use chicken breast meat. The boneless and skinless is much easier to use. The bone in with skin renders the best flavor as bones are used to make stock and the only fat on a chicken is the skin. I use about two pounds of chicken. Make a big batch and have plenty to share and freeze for another time. Use two pots. One for the chicken and one for the rest. Put the thawed chicken breast in the pot and bring to boil. Drop back the temp and let cook fully. It is almost impossible to over cook chicken. Put in some salt and pepper.
Fill a large stock pot about a third of the way with water and bring to a simmer. As the stock pot is warming up you can be working on the vegetables. You will need a bunch of carrots, a stock of celery, two medium onions, a few cloves of garlic, and three medium potatoes. Wash and peal the carrots. Cut into medallions and add to the stock pot. Wash and cut the celery in to about half in slices and add to the stock pot. Wash and peel the onions. Cut them length wise and not too small so they do not boil into oblivion as I like to have them visible in the finished soup. A few cloves of garlic peeled and crushed or even minced garlic will do. Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut into about half inch or so pieces and add to pot. If you are using boneless skinless chicken breasts add four or five chicken bullion cubes or a can of chicken stock. Add them to the cooking stock pot with the vegetables. Season with salt and black ground pepper. Add three table spoons of balsamic vinegar. About the same amount of hot sauce. Take it up to a steady boil for about fifteen minutes and drop it back to a simmer.
When the pot with the chicken cooks about 40 minutes or 180 degrees and up it is done. Shut off that pot and let the chicken cool in the pot. Take out the boneless breasts and pull them apart by hand in about 1 inch or a little smaller pieces. Not too small so they don not disappear in to the soup. So that there is many chunky pieces As you want the soup to be chunky. The bone in breasts render the most flavor but are much more labor intensive. First remove the bone in breasts and put them on the cutting board. Take the liquid remaining in the chicken pot and pour it into a glass or stainless steel bowl. Add this to the cooking vegetables in the stock pot. Carefully separate the chicken and chicken skin from the bones. Putting the meat in one bowl and the skin in another. Again pull the meat into reasonably large chunks. Toss the bones as you have basically got the stock out of them. Stressing to make sure and be careful separating the bones. Finding a bone in your soup ruins the experience. Add the skin for a little more flavor and a homey look if you choose. tearing it up into small pieces. Discard if you want lighter looking finished soup.
In another pot get some of the no egg needles. The wide ones. After cooking put in a large tupperware container and put in the fridge. I do not add to the soup leaving that option to the ultimate dinner as the soup already has the potatoes for carbs and a little different recipe.
At this juncture check your vegetables for softness. Not too firm but not falling apart. At this point you are almost done. As the chicken is fully cooked. This is a good time to take a sample. Add seasoning if needed to taste.
Serve with garlic toast and enjoy. Put the noodles out in a bowl if someone wants to add them their portion of the soup. Being cold they will warm up quickly with the rest of the soup. Take some to your neighbors. Portion some out in lunch size containers and refrigerate. Enjoy.
I use chicken breast meat. The boneless and skinless is much easier to use. The bone in with skin renders the best flavor as bones are used to make stock and the only fat on a chicken is the skin. I use about two pounds of chicken. Make a big batch and have plenty to share and freeze for another time. Use two pots. One for the chicken and one for the rest. Put the thawed chicken breast in the pot and bring to boil. Drop back the temp and let cook fully. It is almost impossible to over cook chicken. Put in some salt and pepper.
Fill a large stock pot about a third of the way with water and bring to a simmer. As the stock pot is warming up you can be working on the vegetables. You will need a bunch of carrots, a stock of celery, two medium onions, a few cloves of garlic, and three medium potatoes. Wash and peal the carrots. Cut into medallions and add to the stock pot. Wash and cut the celery in to about half in slices and add to the stock pot. Wash and peel the onions. Cut them length wise and not too small so they do not boil into oblivion as I like to have them visible in the finished soup. A few cloves of garlic peeled and crushed or even minced garlic will do. Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut into about half inch or so pieces and add to pot. If you are using boneless skinless chicken breasts add four or five chicken bullion cubes or a can of chicken stock. Add them to the cooking stock pot with the vegetables. Season with salt and black ground pepper. Add three table spoons of balsamic vinegar. About the same amount of hot sauce. Take it up to a steady boil for about fifteen minutes and drop it back to a simmer.
When the pot with the chicken cooks about 40 minutes or 180 degrees and up it is done. Shut off that pot and let the chicken cool in the pot. Take out the boneless breasts and pull them apart by hand in about 1 inch or a little smaller pieces. Not too small so they don not disappear in to the soup. So that there is many chunky pieces As you want the soup to be chunky. The bone in breasts render the most flavor but are much more labor intensive. First remove the bone in breasts and put them on the cutting board. Take the liquid remaining in the chicken pot and pour it into a glass or stainless steel bowl. Add this to the cooking vegetables in the stock pot. Carefully separate the chicken and chicken skin from the bones. Putting the meat in one bowl and the skin in another. Again pull the meat into reasonably large chunks. Toss the bones as you have basically got the stock out of them. Stressing to make sure and be careful separating the bones. Finding a bone in your soup ruins the experience. Add the skin for a little more flavor and a homey look if you choose. tearing it up into small pieces. Discard if you want lighter looking finished soup.
In another pot get some of the no egg needles. The wide ones. After cooking put in a large tupperware container and put in the fridge. I do not add to the soup leaving that option to the ultimate dinner as the soup already has the potatoes for carbs and a little different recipe.
At this juncture check your vegetables for softness. Not too firm but not falling apart. At this point you are almost done. As the chicken is fully cooked. This is a good time to take a sample. Add seasoning if needed to taste.
Serve with garlic toast and enjoy. Put the noodles out in a bowl if someone wants to add them their portion of the soup. Being cold they will warm up quickly with the rest of the soup. Take some to your neighbors. Portion some out in lunch size containers and refrigerate. Enjoy.
Getting And Setting Up A Bicycle For Commuting And Transportation
When you decide to start riding a bicycle for fun, commuting and transportation you of course have to have a bicycle. That is if you do not have one. Just about any kind of bicycle will do. A lot of it depends on the terrain you will be riding. In practice the type of tires will make the biggest difference on performance regardless of the type of bike. Road bikes are a little faster by nature. They do not handle the grass, dirt, sand and gravel as well. Mountain bikes regardless of tires will not be as fast as the road bikes but position the rider better for the rough stuff. The middle of the bicycle types are the hybrids (city or urban) type bikes. Then there are the single speed or fixed gear bikes. With the single speeds you can still coast, fixed gears have the pedals moving whenever the bike is. I have never tried to ride a fixed gear bike.
Tires. I have tried narrow tires on mountain bikes. Fat tires on road bikes Fat and narrow both on hybrids. Again tires and tread seem to have the largest effect on performance. As if my speeds could fall under the term performance. On the Trek 800 mountain bike I ride to work mostly and close by I have settled on Bike Nashbar brand Streetwise. Nashbar has a really neat website with all kinds of bicycle products. Performance Bicycles is a sister company to Nashbar I believe. As many of their house brand tires are tantamount. Just labeled differently for each company. I have both brands in stock (at my home). Have had good luck with them. I was on a Continental and Michelin kick for a while. While a nice product, I did not have Miss America come over and oooh and ahhhh at them on my thirty-nine year old Schwinn with Michelins begging me to go to dinner with her. Her treat. So with more tires than can be worn out by me I am on the house brands for a whle. The Trek 800 was purchased on Ebay from Brooklyn, New York. So I has spent it's life as a commuter. When I got it had some Tioga City Slickers, big and fat. Looked cool. Had a flat one day. Tried the Nashbar 26x1.5 Streetwise. Still on bike. Ride nice through wet, grass, sand, dirt and pavement.
One of the other bikes is a 2007 Trek 7100 hybrid. Put a trek rack and have the grocery panniers for it. I usually just use a backpack regardless of which bike is used. The racks and bags are nice for a heavy load however. Brought home a stereo receiver from a yard sale with them. Nashbar had an anniversity sale a while back Bought four tires for the hybrid 700c size for under $30 with shipping. Using original tires on the hybrid now. As I took off the other Nashbar 700c tires I bought for $5 a peice on sale before. They performed well. No reason to change other than I decided to finish off the factory tires instead of letting them rot hanging at the patio.
You will need to get a couple of locks for your bike. I like to use a U-lock and cable and padlock combination. Locking the rear tire to a sign post and the front wheel to the bike itself so someone will not make themselves welcome to it. This is a factor as the guy that works at a local convenience store stopped someone trying to take his front wheel. Mountain and hybrid bikes generally come with a quick release seatpost. Making the seat and post any easy target. I have a little cable lock to lock the seat to the frame to help prevent that. I do not think that the majority of bicycles are stolen because of what brand or type they are. Just someone needing a quick ride somewhere to abandon it or a juvenile prank.
Another must are lights front and rear. These are required by law. I like the Cat Eye brand. I have found them effective and reasonably priced on Ebay. Also do not leave your headlight on your bike, especially if it is of the quick release type. I learned that the hard way. I have also got the lights that hook onto your spokes. Adds a little extra attention to you as they create a circular lights motion. I ride down a state highway at night and being seen is just as important as seeing. Again I will be happy when the construction is completed and will probably elect to ride the sidewalk late at night to avoid autos that may accidentally swerve into the bike lane at night for various reasons.
Three other things that are usefull are a bell, undersaddle bag and pump. Keep extra tubes and patches in your under saddle bag. The pump for obvious reasons. I like the bell too. For areas require a bell or horn by law. Sometimes I just ring the bell. People usually smile. Contributes to the old goof on the bike thing.
Some folks always wear a helmet and reflective wear. This is certainly important for safety too. I just mostly not use them. I do not go that fast. If a concrete truck runs me over the helmet isn't going to help much.
As far a lubricate goes spend a little on a bike specific cable lube. Gummed up the cables with a different WD-40 type lube resulting in mechanical failure and cable replacement. Chain lubes that I have used has varied. From regular motor oil, WD, bicycle chain lube to nothing at all. Someone I knew had a Schwinn store. He said do not use any lube at all. It attracts dirt and grit which is more abrasive than not lube at all. I am trying that now after thoroughly cleaning the chain. De greasing, brushing it with an old toothbrush (everybody always says old toothbrush not the one you are using dummy). Wiping it as clean and dry with a rag. Then take a little ride to work out any crud that may work its way out. Wipe it down again for a clean chain. In practice so far this has worked well. The chain doesn't seem to be collecting the sandy, dirty oily crud that it has before. It also keeps the sprockets clean. Only time will tell. If you degrease to clean to lube so that it will get filthy and gritty again. Why get it filthy and gritty again? Well a lot of us bicycle folks
need something to do anyway.
Tires. I have tried narrow tires on mountain bikes. Fat tires on road bikes Fat and narrow both on hybrids. Again tires and tread seem to have the largest effect on performance. As if my speeds could fall under the term performance. On the Trek 800 mountain bike I ride to work mostly and close by I have settled on Bike Nashbar brand Streetwise. Nashbar has a really neat website with all kinds of bicycle products. Performance Bicycles is a sister company to Nashbar I believe. As many of their house brand tires are tantamount. Just labeled differently for each company. I have both brands in stock (at my home). Have had good luck with them. I was on a Continental and Michelin kick for a while. While a nice product, I did not have Miss America come over and oooh and ahhhh at them on my thirty-nine year old Schwinn with Michelins begging me to go to dinner with her. Her treat. So with more tires than can be worn out by me I am on the house brands for a whle. The Trek 800 was purchased on Ebay from Brooklyn, New York. So I has spent it's life as a commuter. When I got it had some Tioga City Slickers, big and fat. Looked cool. Had a flat one day. Tried the Nashbar 26x1.5 Streetwise. Still on bike. Ride nice through wet, grass, sand, dirt and pavement.
One of the other bikes is a 2007 Trek 7100 hybrid. Put a trek rack and have the grocery panniers for it. I usually just use a backpack regardless of which bike is used. The racks and bags are nice for a heavy load however. Brought home a stereo receiver from a yard sale with them. Nashbar had an anniversity sale a while back Bought four tires for the hybrid 700c size for under $30 with shipping. Using original tires on the hybrid now. As I took off the other Nashbar 700c tires I bought for $5 a peice on sale before. They performed well. No reason to change other than I decided to finish off the factory tires instead of letting them rot hanging at the patio.
You will need to get a couple of locks for your bike. I like to use a U-lock and cable and padlock combination. Locking the rear tire to a sign post and the front wheel to the bike itself so someone will not make themselves welcome to it. This is a factor as the guy that works at a local convenience store stopped someone trying to take his front wheel. Mountain and hybrid bikes generally come with a quick release seatpost. Making the seat and post any easy target. I have a little cable lock to lock the seat to the frame to help prevent that. I do not think that the majority of bicycles are stolen because of what brand or type they are. Just someone needing a quick ride somewhere to abandon it or a juvenile prank.
Another must are lights front and rear. These are required by law. I like the Cat Eye brand. I have found them effective and reasonably priced on Ebay. Also do not leave your headlight on your bike, especially if it is of the quick release type. I learned that the hard way. I have also got the lights that hook onto your spokes. Adds a little extra attention to you as they create a circular lights motion. I ride down a state highway at night and being seen is just as important as seeing. Again I will be happy when the construction is completed and will probably elect to ride the sidewalk late at night to avoid autos that may accidentally swerve into the bike lane at night for various reasons.
Three other things that are usefull are a bell, undersaddle bag and pump. Keep extra tubes and patches in your under saddle bag. The pump for obvious reasons. I like the bell too. For areas require a bell or horn by law. Sometimes I just ring the bell. People usually smile. Contributes to the old goof on the bike thing.
Some folks always wear a helmet and reflective wear. This is certainly important for safety too. I just mostly not use them. I do not go that fast. If a concrete truck runs me over the helmet isn't going to help much.
As far a lubricate goes spend a little on a bike specific cable lube. Gummed up the cables with a different WD-40 type lube resulting in mechanical failure and cable replacement. Chain lubes that I have used has varied. From regular motor oil, WD, bicycle chain lube to nothing at all. Someone I knew had a Schwinn store. He said do not use any lube at all. It attracts dirt and grit which is more abrasive than not lube at all. I am trying that now after thoroughly cleaning the chain. De greasing, brushing it with an old toothbrush (everybody always says old toothbrush not the one you are using dummy). Wiping it as clean and dry with a rag. Then take a little ride to work out any crud that may work its way out. Wipe it down again for a clean chain. In practice so far this has worked well. The chain doesn't seem to be collecting the sandy, dirty oily crud that it has before. It also keeps the sprockets clean. Only time will tell. If you degrease to clean to lube so that it will get filthy and gritty again. Why get it filthy and gritty again? Well a lot of us bicycle folks
need something to do anyway.
Life Revolving Around An Appliance Or Hobby
People tend to get on a kick and really go with it. It makes them who they are. Boat people, Harley people, church people etc. You get where I'm going here. As time goes on the speciality or grouping seems to be growing. Very cliche' too. Everybody fits into their little stereotypical slot.
It is if society is being splintered into the groups. And they run in herds. Take car people for example. They spend a lot of resources worshipping for what for all practical purposes is an appliance. Lined up at he drive in restaurant with the cars lined up. Other people looking around and talking about all the little details and that. Did people do that with covered wagons years ago? "Yeah, this is a 1844 Conestoga special edition!". Or how about going up to the the local Sonic and having a bunch of people checking out all the vintage washing machines. "This baby's got chromed knobs, stainless steel braided hoses and a turbo agitator!" Seems kind of silly in my off the wall way of looking at it.
Then there's the boat people. Well need to get some things to go out on the boat. I put $500 worth of gas in the boat. Do you have a boat? I'm getting a new boat. I need a new prop. Everybody is going out on their boats this week end. Boat, boat, boat.
The Harley people spend $20,000 on an appliance that sits all week till Sunday. Not all of them. I may get to that later. Dress up in the appropriate regalia a ride around to the different Harley shops to buy Harley shirts and a chrome cover cover (not a typo but referring to a cover to cover an existing cover). Maybe some shoe strings that say Harley Davidson on them. I have had several motorcycles. No chaps.
Don't forget church people, rednecks, gamers, gang members (groupers), etc. How about nerds. I'm just a natural. Bumper stickers. One can get the drift of the driver from that. God, Guts and Guns. Do you think that driver may have a gun. Big wheels? What do you think? Profiling., no reality.
We all tend to wear things and do things that put us into the particular slot. Breaks us down into little groups. Some folks have to be in a group. Kind of ties into a older post called Not Missing Out. I am to the point that I try to wear nothing with any writing on it. I'm just me. What ever that is. I have a General Electric stove. Maybe I'll run out and get a GE tattoo.
It is if society is being splintered into the groups. And they run in herds. Take car people for example. They spend a lot of resources worshipping for what for all practical purposes is an appliance. Lined up at he drive in restaurant with the cars lined up. Other people looking around and talking about all the little details and that. Did people do that with covered wagons years ago? "Yeah, this is a 1844 Conestoga special edition!". Or how about going up to the the local Sonic and having a bunch of people checking out all the vintage washing machines. "This baby's got chromed knobs, stainless steel braided hoses and a turbo agitator!" Seems kind of silly in my off the wall way of looking at it.
Then there's the boat people. Well need to get some things to go out on the boat. I put $500 worth of gas in the boat. Do you have a boat? I'm getting a new boat. I need a new prop. Everybody is going out on their boats this week end. Boat, boat, boat.
The Harley people spend $20,000 on an appliance that sits all week till Sunday. Not all of them. I may get to that later. Dress up in the appropriate regalia a ride around to the different Harley shops to buy Harley shirts and a chrome cover cover (not a typo but referring to a cover to cover an existing cover). Maybe some shoe strings that say Harley Davidson on them. I have had several motorcycles. No chaps.
Don't forget church people, rednecks, gamers, gang members (groupers), etc. How about nerds. I'm just a natural. Bumper stickers. One can get the drift of the driver from that. God, Guts and Guns. Do you think that driver may have a gun. Big wheels? What do you think? Profiling., no reality.
We all tend to wear things and do things that put us into the particular slot. Breaks us down into little groups. Some folks have to be in a group. Kind of ties into a older post called Not Missing Out. I am to the point that I try to wear nothing with any writing on it. I'm just me. What ever that is. I have a General Electric stove. Maybe I'll run out and get a GE tattoo.
Old Educational Films
Sometimes when I get home from work I find that there isn't anything that I want to watch on TV. Or do not want to hook up with a two hour movie. So I'll just punch something up on You Tube.
Some how I ran into these 1940' and 50's educational films. A lot of these I seen at school in the sixties. The more I watched the better they were. They still have a lot of relevance today. As what was a fact then is still a fact now. Basic truths never change. Smart people figured it out long ago or they wouldn't have survived. We would still be in the dark ages.
Some of us never figure it out although we think we have it all figured out.I know that I can suffer from indecision from something that is a waste of time thinking about. Then rush right ahead with a decision that is really important without carefully considering all the ramifications.Need to adjust my thought patterns here. I can get grandiose with my thinking.
Watching the old films are thought provoking. They are truly educational. Inspirational. Maybe even teach me something.
Some how I ran into these 1940' and 50's educational films. A lot of these I seen at school in the sixties. The more I watched the better they were. They still have a lot of relevance today. As what was a fact then is still a fact now. Basic truths never change. Smart people figured it out long ago or they wouldn't have survived. We would still be in the dark ages.
Some of us never figure it out although we think we have it all figured out.I know that I can suffer from indecision from something that is a waste of time thinking about. Then rush right ahead with a decision that is really important without carefully considering all the ramifications.Need to adjust my thought patterns here. I can get grandiose with my thinking.
Watching the old films are thought provoking. They are truly educational. Inspirational. Maybe even teach me something.
Always On Vacation
About ten years ago I took a weeks vacation. It wasn't a real vacation in the sense that most people take a vacation. Not a cruise or theme park thing. Just some time off from work scheduled for a week. I guess I pioneered the staycation. It seemed though I was always having to deal with work in some fashion. Whether I really needed to or was it in my mind. Whatever the reason I did anyway.
So at this place I used to hang out the hostess said that she thought I was on vacation. I would tell her that I had such and such to do and had to go in for a while. Was I bragging or complaining?
So a thought entered my mind. Why not enjoy things as they are and be always on vacation. So many people have such a rigid schedule on vacation they may as well be at work. Why not try to develop a life in which you are happy with what you are doing all the time.
Every once in a while I see this women. She will jokingly ask. Still on vacation? And I just say always on vacation.
So at this place I used to hang out the hostess said that she thought I was on vacation. I would tell her that I had such and such to do and had to go in for a while. Was I bragging or complaining?
So a thought entered my mind. Why not enjoy things as they are and be always on vacation. So many people have such a rigid schedule on vacation they may as well be at work. Why not try to develop a life in which you are happy with what you are doing all the time.
Every once in a while I see this women. She will jokingly ask. Still on vacation? And I just say always on vacation.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Thank You For Basic Cable And Internet
For over the last month or so I have been spending a lot more time at home doing very little. I just haven't felt like doing anything. The anythings that I do would not seem like much to most people. Just regular chores.Cooking. Maintaining the bicycles. Cleaning work shoes. Playing with my model railroad. Ebay. Bike riding. Ebay (looking to buy or sell). Reading. I usually like to walk nine holes of golf once or twice a week. This is inexpensive at about $7 in the summertime here in Florida where I play. All of these things that seem boring to most are my fun as I have a low threshold of excitement.
This would seem like self-imposed home incarceration to a lot of people I suppose. Using a golf club as a cane to limp around my little apartment I have still been able to remain amused. According to the surgeon I will be limping around for the next several days at least I am truly ready to get moving again as I have a hard time sitting still. When I stand the blood seems to rush to my right leg and really hurts. It has given me new insight for the handicapped people who are not in this situation temporarily. Then later I can clean and redress the point of surgery. Still trying to figure out the best way to do this. A hot bathtub isn't.
This off time gives me time to reflect on the good things. The dumb things I have done and what I am going to do about it. When else would I have taken the time to strip an old laptop down to original and update it with eight years of programs and updates? Catching up on TV. I mean really catching up on TV as on work days I do not watch it during the day. A treat for my off day you know. Not a sports watcher or network watcher my choices are further condensed then the basic cable I have.
But that's OK. I can read. Sit and think. Cook something as one still need to eat. Clean up after that. All of which is a bit of a physical challenge at this juncture. That adds excitement doesn't it. Well thank you for my Internet and cable. It keeps me busy.
This would seem like self-imposed home incarceration to a lot of people I suppose. Using a golf club as a cane to limp around my little apartment I have still been able to remain amused. According to the surgeon I will be limping around for the next several days at least I am truly ready to get moving again as I have a hard time sitting still. When I stand the blood seems to rush to my right leg and really hurts. It has given me new insight for the handicapped people who are not in this situation temporarily. Then later I can clean and redress the point of surgery. Still trying to figure out the best way to do this. A hot bathtub isn't.
This off time gives me time to reflect on the good things. The dumb things I have done and what I am going to do about it. When else would I have taken the time to strip an old laptop down to original and update it with eight years of programs and updates? Catching up on TV. I mean really catching up on TV as on work days I do not watch it during the day. A treat for my off day you know. Not a sports watcher or network watcher my choices are further condensed then the basic cable I have.
But that's OK. I can read. Sit and think. Cook something as one still need to eat. Clean up after that. All of which is a bit of a physical challenge at this juncture. That adds excitement doesn't it. Well thank you for my Internet and cable. It keeps me busy.
Missing Bicycle Commuting and Riding Daily
For the majority of the last five years a bicycle has been my primary transportation. Over time I have set myself up in a way that this can work for me. Most everything I need is in a three mile radius. I work two miles door to door. Enough stores and services nearby to get by. It has became the norm.
As long as every peice in the puzzle remains intact this will work perpetually. Same appartment. Same job. Resonable health.. No new pursuits or obligations that take me out of my little three mile loop. In fact local road work will make my commute all the better. With a bike lane, a sidewalk and new street lighting the entire round trip. To be done soon I hope. This has been one of the liitle things I have been waiting for that most people could care very little about.
As far as being able to stay in a three mile area most of the time check out these older posts called What Else Do I Have To Do?, Nerds and not missing out. Kind of a European existance. Green too. That should make me feel good about it.
It is said that most things have a large mental component to them. As long as we do not create any new or unnecessary wants or obligations. This plan works. Seven months ago I got it into my mind the my old 24 year old truck was on it's last leg. Maybe it was. Might of still crawled around another ten years. Who knows? So one day without a great deal of long term thinking I decide that I should consider another car. Even when my budget was already near max. I only drove about 1500 miles a year. Plus the American fear that you can't be without a car. So I got one. $300 a month with insurance and gas. Now I just have to pay for it.
I usually work in the evenings. So when I get home, stay up a bit and go to bed. Get up around 7am. Gives me some time to kill in the morning and get things done. Most of the time I have time to take a little bike ride. That is my free time to run errands and get a little fresh air. I have came to enjoy it.
I have four bicycles. At this time I would say two too many. I think two is the right number. After that it becomes redundant and a lot of additional maintenance. But when I get on a kick, find good deals, fix old junk I end up with a lot of the same thing. Although all of them together aren't worth much money. But have utility all the same. Most people only see a bicycle and do not really seem to care about what brand or tires it has. Shame is for a while I actually thought people did. Also in reality you get this warm and fuzzy feeling that you are getting exercise, saving money, saving fuel, being green and iconoclastic. While again in reality I am just the old goof that fries chicken at the grocery store that probably doesn't have a license or car. That is most likely the popular thought.
So get your tires aired and chain lubed (although an old customer of mine who owned a Schwinn store said lubing the chain causes more problems then it fixes) and get out for a ride. I will be getting lonely. That is when I can get riding again.
As long as every peice in the puzzle remains intact this will work perpetually. Same appartment. Same job. Resonable health.. No new pursuits or obligations that take me out of my little three mile loop. In fact local road work will make my commute all the better. With a bike lane, a sidewalk and new street lighting the entire round trip. To be done soon I hope. This has been one of the liitle things I have been waiting for that most people could care very little about.
As far as being able to stay in a three mile area most of the time check out these older posts called What Else Do I Have To Do?, Nerds and not missing out. Kind of a European existance. Green too. That should make me feel good about it.
It is said that most things have a large mental component to them. As long as we do not create any new or unnecessary wants or obligations. This plan works. Seven months ago I got it into my mind the my old 24 year old truck was on it's last leg. Maybe it was. Might of still crawled around another ten years. Who knows? So one day without a great deal of long term thinking I decide that I should consider another car. Even when my budget was already near max. I only drove about 1500 miles a year. Plus the American fear that you can't be without a car. So I got one. $300 a month with insurance and gas. Now I just have to pay for it.
I usually work in the evenings. So when I get home, stay up a bit and go to bed. Get up around 7am. Gives me some time to kill in the morning and get things done. Most of the time I have time to take a little bike ride. That is my free time to run errands and get a little fresh air. I have came to enjoy it.
I have four bicycles. At this time I would say two too many. I think two is the right number. After that it becomes redundant and a lot of additional maintenance. But when I get on a kick, find good deals, fix old junk I end up with a lot of the same thing. Although all of them together aren't worth much money. But have utility all the same. Most people only see a bicycle and do not really seem to care about what brand or tires it has. Shame is for a while I actually thought people did. Also in reality you get this warm and fuzzy feeling that you are getting exercise, saving money, saving fuel, being green and iconoclastic. While again in reality I am just the old goof that fries chicken at the grocery store that probably doesn't have a license or car. That is most likely the popular thought.
So get your tires aired and chain lubed (although an old customer of mine who owned a Schwinn store said lubing the chain causes more problems then it fixes) and get out for a ride. I will be getting lonely. That is when I can get riding again.
Breaking Monthly Expenses Down To Hours And Days
Most of us break our expenses down in monthly amounts in dollars. And in a perfect world we have a reserve in the checking account. Pay the bills and move on. A lot of us live close to their maximun budget. So to put things into perspective, Let's break some major expenses down to hours and days.
I am going to use round hypothetical numbers for illistration and simplicity. You make $10 per hour. After deductions you are $7.50 per hour. Rent is $500 per month. It takes 66.7 hours or 8.34 days to pay the rent. Auto payment is $200. 26.7 hours or 3.34 days. Auto insurance is $100. That's 13.34 hours or 1.67 days to pay. Electric, phone and cable $50 each. That breaks down to 6.7 hours or .84 days each to pay. So for every $100 you spend it takes 13.34 hours or 1.67 days of work to make the expense.
Most of us work 40 hour weeks or 160 hour months. So at $10 an hour that's $1600 gross pay or $1200 net pay (the money you bring home). So I believe this is where the term "not enough hours in the day" comes from. We run out of hours and days.
If you push your budget to the max (as I and most Americans do) little or large unexpected expenses can put you in a bad position quickly. You can go along real good for a long while. A couple mis-steps can then come up and hurt you badly.
I seem to do it again and again. Perhaps a post on insanity in the future.
I am going to use round hypothetical numbers for illistration and simplicity. You make $10 per hour. After deductions you are $7.50 per hour. Rent is $500 per month. It takes 66.7 hours or 8.34 days to pay the rent. Auto payment is $200. 26.7 hours or 3.34 days. Auto insurance is $100. That's 13.34 hours or 1.67 days to pay. Electric, phone and cable $50 each. That breaks down to 6.7 hours or .84 days each to pay. So for every $100 you spend it takes 13.34 hours or 1.67 days of work to make the expense.
Most of us work 40 hour weeks or 160 hour months. So at $10 an hour that's $1600 gross pay or $1200 net pay (the money you bring home). So I believe this is where the term "not enough hours in the day" comes from. We run out of hours and days.
If you push your budget to the max (as I and most Americans do) little or large unexpected expenses can put you in a bad position quickly. You can go along real good for a long while. A couple mis-steps can then come up and hurt you badly.
I seem to do it again and again. Perhaps a post on insanity in the future.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
How Fast Things Can Change
A short time back I was getting plenty of hours and no unusual expenses. Resisting to buy very many stupid things I was able to pay ahead on some bills. No big shopping sprees. No big restaurant outings. Just bills paid. A full refrigerator, air in the bike tires and a crappy golf game. A couple bucks in my pocket. Bought a new pair of work shoes as mine were shot.
Even with a full weeks work my budget does't have much wiggle room. Starting the last two weeks in June my trips to doctors began. With that work missed. Co-pays, deductables, prescpiptions and gas to get there. All this costs money. Also a great deal of physical pain and mental distress.
Just goes to show you how fast something can happen to rain on your parrade. Could be an accident. A relative's health. Income loss. Theft or a natural disaster. Anything that disrupts your normal (or abnormal) routine.
I'm a pretty boring guy. Satisfyed to mostly do the same boring things. When a bump comes up in the road it usually hits me hard. Because I over think things. Sometimes before an event (anticipation). Sometimes after the fact (regret). In reality before it matters or too late. In contrast to real time. I have issues.
Just like the bug that hits the windsheild you never know when it may happen. Everything happens because of cause and effect. Sometimes we have control of the cause (most of the time), sometimes we don't. Although you always have to live with the effect.
I will have missed a little over a weeks work when this it passing. Hopefully that is all the time. After some surgery on my toe yesterday I could not sleep for the pain. I mean not sore, really hurting. Last night and today I can barely walk to the kitchen or bathroom. A I guess I have several more days ofthis not even able to wear shoes. This is just the toe issue. That doesn't take the disc and artery thing
yet. Or the amounts the insurance won't cover.
I just want to get back to get back to my nerdy little no-life life without all these real life issues. That I usually choose not to deal with. No magic wand. Just have to deal with it. And guess what? Every doctor says, "you smoke, don't you".
I have been able to tune up the computer, guard the television and hopefully quit smoking. Be careful and have fun!
Even with a full weeks work my budget does't have much wiggle room. Starting the last two weeks in June my trips to doctors began. With that work missed. Co-pays, deductables, prescpiptions and gas to get there. All this costs money. Also a great deal of physical pain and mental distress.
Just goes to show you how fast something can happen to rain on your parrade. Could be an accident. A relative's health. Income loss. Theft or a natural disaster. Anything that disrupts your normal (or abnormal) routine.
I'm a pretty boring guy. Satisfyed to mostly do the same boring things. When a bump comes up in the road it usually hits me hard. Because I over think things. Sometimes before an event (anticipation). Sometimes after the fact (regret). In reality before it matters or too late. In contrast to real time. I have issues.
Just like the bug that hits the windsheild you never know when it may happen. Everything happens because of cause and effect. Sometimes we have control of the cause (most of the time), sometimes we don't. Although you always have to live with the effect.
I will have missed a little over a weeks work when this it passing. Hopefully that is all the time. After some surgery on my toe yesterday I could not sleep for the pain. I mean not sore, really hurting. Last night and today I can barely walk to the kitchen or bathroom. A I guess I have several more days ofthis not even able to wear shoes. This is just the toe issue. That doesn't take the disc and artery thing
yet. Or the amounts the insurance won't cover.
I just want to get back to get back to my nerdy little no-life life without all these real life issues. That I usually choose not to deal with. No magic wand. Just have to deal with it. And guess what? Every doctor says, "you smoke, don't you".
I have been able to tune up the computer, guard the television and hopefully quit smoking. Be careful and have fun!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Comments Anyone?
I have been posting for a while now. I have not seen any comments. I would think that after this long I would have heard something form someone. I do not care if they are good or bad. Just some feedback.
Maybe the posts I have are uninteresting. Someone stumbles upon in and goes away. A little feedback would go a long way with me now.
This would point me in a direction that you want to hear about. If you want to hear about anything at all. I would really like to keep this going and get a large audience. That also gets back with me. Questions and so forth. My theme is living without a large income. Many material things. Bicycles. Living Green.
I have had readers from around the world. The United States, Russia, Poland, Netherlands, UK, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Rumania, Spain, Sweden, Armenia, Ukrane and others I do not remember.
Someone get back and let me know how I am doing. And I do appreciate you.
Maybe the posts I have are uninteresting. Someone stumbles upon in and goes away. A little feedback would go a long way with me now.
This would point me in a direction that you want to hear about. If you want to hear about anything at all. I would really like to keep this going and get a large audience. That also gets back with me. Questions and so forth. My theme is living without a large income. Many material things. Bicycles. Living Green.
I have had readers from around the world. The United States, Russia, Poland, Netherlands, UK, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Rumania, Spain, Sweden, Armenia, Ukrane and others I do not remember.
Someone get back and let me know how I am doing. And I do appreciate you.
Thrift Stores Mean Being Frugal And Green
I have shopped at thrift stores for many years. There used to be Goodwill, Salvation Army and St Vincent DePaul. Now a lot of churchs and independents out there too. I usually go to Goodwill. Here in my area in Florida the Goodwills are really clean and professional.
Mostly a trip to the thrift store is a hunt and peck. I generally go in with an idea of what I'm looking for. If I can find it fine. Also you never know what you might run into. In this economy many people must be employed in the food industy. Which usually requires black pants. Can't find them. But shorts and golf shirts galore. Like new and brand names. Score. Kitchen stuff. pots, pans, bowls, gadgets, tools and dishes etc. Some of this stuff is also available at the doller stores.
Sporting goods and bicycles can be found there too. I have found some decent golf clubs at Goodwill. As I do not need the latest and greatest. Years ago there used to be some nice bicycles. Now it's pretty much just department store junks. But you don't know if you don't look. Eight years ago you could go on Ebay and buy a nice older bike. name brands like Schwinn, Raleigh, Puegot, Fuji etc for $30 to $50. Plus shipping. Shipping of a bike runs about $75 and up. So with an uptick in interest in old bikes I feel that people are taking the time and trouble of selling them on Ebay and Craigslist. The older Schwinns are bringing $200 plus now. The Varsity, Continental, Collegegiate, Subaurban, Breeze and later models like LeTour, World, Sport are in demand. Someone would give you one of these bikes before. No more.
I have also found a lot of old music. Vinyl, cassettes and CDs. In varying condition. You have to open them up and check. Also in the media theme, books.
When you by at a thirft store you can find things you need at a good price. That's frugal. You are also (even if temporarily) saving something from a landfill. That's green. Also bear in mind they usually hire people with disabilities and other issues. Helping them with their lives. So all and all it's a good thing. Also gives you something to do when you are looking for something to do. You just never know if you will find that diamond in the rough.
Mostly a trip to the thrift store is a hunt and peck. I generally go in with an idea of what I'm looking for. If I can find it fine. Also you never know what you might run into. In this economy many people must be employed in the food industy. Which usually requires black pants. Can't find them. But shorts and golf shirts galore. Like new and brand names. Score. Kitchen stuff. pots, pans, bowls, gadgets, tools and dishes etc. Some of this stuff is also available at the doller stores.
Sporting goods and bicycles can be found there too. I have found some decent golf clubs at Goodwill. As I do not need the latest and greatest. Years ago there used to be some nice bicycles. Now it's pretty much just department store junks. But you don't know if you don't look. Eight years ago you could go on Ebay and buy a nice older bike. name brands like Schwinn, Raleigh, Puegot, Fuji etc for $30 to $50. Plus shipping. Shipping of a bike runs about $75 and up. So with an uptick in interest in old bikes I feel that people are taking the time and trouble of selling them on Ebay and Craigslist. The older Schwinns are bringing $200 plus now. The Varsity, Continental, Collegegiate, Subaurban, Breeze and later models like LeTour, World, Sport are in demand. Someone would give you one of these bikes before. No more.
I have also found a lot of old music. Vinyl, cassettes and CDs. In varying condition. You have to open them up and check. Also in the media theme, books.
When you by at a thirft store you can find things you need at a good price. That's frugal. You are also (even if temporarily) saving something from a landfill. That's green. Also bear in mind they usually hire people with disabilities and other issues. Helping them with their lives. So all and all it's a good thing. Also gives you something to do when you are looking for something to do. You just never know if you will find that diamond in the rough.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Hurtin' Unit
Some time ago I had a post named Sick And Tired. Well the leg thing has gotten worse. Went to the doctor on June 19. Took x-ray of back. sciatica. Had to go back two days later for a MRI. Been waiting two weeks to hear back. Finally got through to someone today. Had me come in today for an ultrasound. Found out I have peripheral arterial disease. Narrowing of the atreries. Oh boy. And for a kicker in infected ingrown toe nail.
I got a doctors order off work for ten days. Have to quit smoking. I am paying out for co-pays. Prescpiptions. Loss of work. At this rate I will be broke soon. Do not get me wrong. I want to work. I want to pay my bills. I am at the mercy of my employers to pay me sick pay and vaction pay. They have already filled out forms so I can get through this. It's nice to work for a good company.
As it has been all my life, work is the main focus in my life. I hate to put them in a bind. But I am sure they are going to bare with me though this. And will be back better than ever.
I have another ultrasound tomorrow. Cardiology, neurosurgery, and podiactc in the next week. You would think that that was enough to make you feel better on your own.
I got a doctors order off work for ten days. Have to quit smoking. I am paying out for co-pays. Prescpiptions. Loss of work. At this rate I will be broke soon. Do not get me wrong. I want to work. I want to pay my bills. I am at the mercy of my employers to pay me sick pay and vaction pay. They have already filled out forms so I can get through this. It's nice to work for a good company.
As it has been all my life, work is the main focus in my life. I hate to put them in a bind. But I am sure they are going to bare with me though this. And will be back better than ever.
I have another ultrasound tomorrow. Cardiology, neurosurgery, and podiactc in the next week. You would think that that was enough to make you feel better on your own.
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