All I need now is to shed sixty pounds, lost twenty-five years, grow a long beard, and start drinking PBR.
Last night I stopped into the Home Depot on Ponce, bagging the idea of eating at Eats because I was nowhere near hungry enough to do so. I went to Home Depot to look at replacement lawnmower wheels, which are expensive, as well as getting a backup lawn mowing plan. I bought a hipster lawnmower, a $200 push mower (I always buy the top of the line if I can afford it, and in this case I can afford it).
Why?
Because:
1. I have no confidence in my ability to replace the pull cord on my current 17-year-old mower.
2. It will cost me almost $35 to replace the two front wheels on my current mower, because it is front-wheel driven. Of course I could by cheaper wheels that don’t engage with the drivetrain, but why would I?
3. I need to mow the lawn before I go to Raleigh at the end of next week and I due to my schedule am doubtful that I will get the gas powered mower running again before then. As we near the end of mowing season I can push the new mower around the lawn and take my sweet time to repair the other one. If the timetable goes like all of my other fix-it projects the gas-powered mower will return to action in 2027 +/ 5 years.
4. I will no longer have to wait for a “respectable hour” before I mow my lawn. If I want to get out there at 7:00am I can now do so without worrying about pissing off neighbors.
5. The added exercise of pushing a mower will be good for me, right?
ITP Flickr Pic
“Literally Literature” (Atlanta, Georgia, United States)
These were left on a break room table at the office. Is someone trying to tell us something?
The Sound Of Silence
I love silence, maybe that’s another reason I am not in a relationship? Well, at my age I get a close approximation of silence due to the years of allowing extremely loud music to enter into my ear drums. My love of silence is why I am no fan of the “open floor plan” workspace. Hello headphones and noise generating app. Goodbye annoying conversations about everything under the sun, and my neighbor’s music that sounds like mosquitos are encircling his head.
So it’s odd that I am not enjoying silence in one aspect of my life — watching Bundesliga 2 soccer matches. It’s weird, but there has been no audio broadcast for either of the two Bundesliga 2 games that I have streamed through the Fox Soccer Match Pass app. Is this intended? Is this how Fox can stream games without concern of advertising (not that any commercial breaks exist in soccer)? I don’t know. I think the most frustrating thing about the silence is that I was hoping to start getting used to the pace of Germans speaking German, even if I didn’t understand most of what they were saying by watching these matches.
Getting On My Nerves
I rode the trainer in the basement last night for about forty minutes, giving up when my left knee, which has been injured for years, started bothering me. I showered and then sat around doing some coding, and when I got up my hip started bothering me.
This is the second workout in a row where I’ve had pain in my left hip area, I know that you know I injured this hip four months ago, after working out. Thankfully the pain this time around is nowhere near as bad as it was last Thursday/Friday. I’m hoping this stays true all day. Because somebody has German homework to do today for his class tonight, and he’s obviously not going to be able to study by watching soccer matches…
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Push mower?!
(Take it back, while you still can. Seriously)
Sears Outlet deal (lawn mower repair) off Stone Mountain Expressway has “tons” of repaired, but not picked up, mowers for sale. Typically cheap.
In other news, hopefully it won’t break 80F today.
Oh, yesterday was our….35th anniversary.
35th.
Good times.
73 de JG/HamWithCam
It’s still in the box, it is my backup plan.
It may not eclipse 80 F because it’s supposed to rain all day, right?
Happy (belated) anniversary to you!
(I think) August 8 is the auspicious day of my carjacking — thirteen years ago. Man, it seems just like yesterday when I had that gun pointed at my face.
I agree. Take it back. I have one that’s been in my basement for more than a decade. The bloom fades off that rose after about 10 feet of pushing. You can even have mine for free, if you really want to give hipsterness a try.
Thanks, I’ll think about it. I have no intention, nor does the weather appear as if it will allow me to mow before Sunday, so I have time.
Oh, I’ve caught a serious case of “3D printer” bug.
Hand-me-down very entry level (PrintrBot Simple).
Got it working. Actually works pretty well, depending.
Resisting the urge to print a “Yoda” bust.
For now.
73 de JG/HamWithCam
Everytime I see 3D printers I think of the 1970s when we’d go to Busch Gardens in Tampa and I was able to buy an injection-molded wax statue of an animal that was made-to-order by a machine.
A push electric mower? Good for you! As small as your yard is, you need little else. HwC, good to know about used mowers over at the Sears- I may be in need of one soon.
The car is back at the transmission shop. Debbie and I figured it was cheaper to repair than to replace. The owner is thinking computer went south, but we’ll see.
The rain was around so I also rode the trainer last night. I think it was my first exercise in over a week and I felt it.
Games meeting tonight. Getting closer.
-FP
No electric — straight up push mower, with a 21st Century design by Fiskars. My lawns are small, and even when (whenever?) I get someone to clear out the back yard I’m not intending on laying sod, but rather converting the space to gardening beds. If I go through the hassle of fixing up the ITP Estate I intend on living there for awhile longer…
Greetings from San Diego!
I’m awake way too early, because we went to bed early (10pm)
Went fishing with Ultra yesterday a half day trip was on the water from 9-4.
That was a little longer than I needed, wasn’t exactly seasick towards the end, but had a good headache & didn’t feel exactly right.
We all caught a “keeper” or 2, and Ultra gave us his, so we ended up with 13 fish filleted, at $1 a fish. They aren’t huge fish, so they will work for dinner tonight.
Project for today is figure out a recipe & how to cook them.
It’s kind of wild, being with friends that are military & being packed up for Guam while we are here. I keep thinking we are in the way, they have packing to do, but the movers just do everything. They just need to pack suitcases of clothes to live in for a few weeks.
Went out to the Navy base on Coronado to the beach, its funny to see, the Navy side is nice & not crowded, the public section was packed. There’s a guard & a fence. We are staying out there Friday night, as the house will be completely packed up Thursday & Friday.
I’ll add more later
Living the dream! 🙂
I gave up fishing with my dad because of seasickness. I couldn’t handle going out on day trips without chumming the water.
I don’t think I like fishing enough to do it often, but it was fun.
And how is Ultra? Is he enjoying California life?
He seems to be having a blast living out here. Seems very busy with his church (& other churches). He quit drinking quite a few years ago, and that’s been good for him & his family.
I’m sure it would benefit me to quit drinking too, but I just don’t want to do it!
He has some serious issues, that included blackouts
Yikes! I am glad to hear he is doing well, I always thought that he was a decent guy.
And…. happy anniversary John.
My leg/hip hurting more now. I was hoping that by this time today they’d stop hurting. This doesn’t bode well for a return to cycling any time soon. 🙁
Happy to help with any 4-cycle engine starting efforts. Not an expert but I have a track record. Fuel, spark…boo yah.
73 de JG
Step 1 is for me to find time to attempt cord replacement
Step 2 is for me to find space to attempt lawnmower pull-apart
Step 3 is for me to replace cord
If mower not working after that, I’ll holler. It was working prior to cord breaking, so I assume it will work again.
When I work on the mower I also plan to use this as an opportunity to run out the gas I own, replace the oil and perhaps spark plug, and if I get super crazy replace the wheels.
Sounds like a lot of work — which is why I bought backup insurance yesterday.
After running the gas out, only use “Trufuel”.
No Ethanol.
JG
Good fuel helps- I go through so much those “little” cans of Trufuel would be a whole lot of money. You can google “gas stations without ethanol” and find places.
I did not have starting problems, at least until the cord snapped. I can’t blame gas for that.
Not starting, eliminating long term fuel system issues….
Running errands around the military base hospital with Amy getting all her transfer ppwk signed & in order. It’s so different here. I find it interesting.
What does she do in the Navy (?).
Nurse. But a lieutenant commander.
It’s very interesting. Learning a lot.
Hip/Leg pain actually getting worse. DANGEN! I may have to say off a bike for a few weeks and see what’s going on with my body.
WTH? You must have tweaked it somehow.
I must have done quite the number on it using the Spin bike last week. It hurts badly when I move in certain ways, just as a pinched nerve would. Ah the joys of injuries and aging…
Much more likely your body is telling you to get back on your bike!
I don’t think so. This is not sore muscle, it’s pinched nerve.