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Post by B.E. on Jul 5, 2024 22:38:59 GMT
We actually got off early on Wednesday and were off the rest of the week! Normally, the company I work for is NOT this generous. And while I haven't taken a personal or vacation day yet this year, I am going on an actual vacation later this month. We're also getting paid our overtime in two weeks (we only get it twice a year, which is better than not at all, to be sure), so after spending much of the week researching I went down to the local bike shop and bought a new bike today! Unfortunately, it still needs to be built, but I should have it sometime this weekend. And I'm buying all new accessories. I'd been using the same old stuff my entire adult life, basically. So, I'm pretty excited. I'm really hoping to get a ride in on the new bike before this holiday break is over.
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Post by kds on Jul 7, 2024 1:40:42 GMT
I swear to God, no other smell carries like a friggin cigarette. I'm outside enjoying the warm summer air while my neighbors are assaulting their lungs.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 10, 2024 14:36:48 GMT
Every few years, my laundry doesn't drain fully, and little pools remain after a load. (The machines are off the floor for this reason, thanks to the previous owners.) The reason is, the main sewer line (100+ year old clay pipes) have long-since been breached by roots, etc., that need to be drilled out. This is a few hundred bucks, and as I said I have to do it every few years.
There is a risk, though, that the pipes will fully collapse. If this occurs, I'll need to have the front yard dug up to replace those pipes all the way to the street. I can also--BEFORE they collapse--have them drilled and then have a procedure kind of like an angioplasty in which some kind of plastic is pumped down into the pipe in a mold, and then it hardens into new pipes. I was told two years ago this would be something like $15k to do, but that this was about half of what the full yard dig-up version would cost if it came to that. So it makes sense to do it before the pipes collapse.
Well, as you might have guessed by now, the laundry drain is not draining fully, so at best, there are roots needing to be drilled out. And at worst, the pipes have collapsed. Best-case scenario, I'm spending several hundred bucks today (anytime there's a "$100 off" coupon, as there is here, you know you're spending at least a few hundred dollars...) and being convinced that I do need to do that ~$15k process sooner than later. And worst-case scenario, I already need the super-expensive pipe replacement.
Oh, and my new AC seems to be leaking in the basement, too. I'm not 100% sure that isn't related to the aforementioned, so I'm going to hold off until I get that handled before addressing it.
But so far, today really isn't my favorite day. The downside of home ownership...
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 10, 2024 18:30:28 GMT
Well, the good news is that I still can have the "sleeve" process done (which I was calling an angioplasty...). And in fact, while I'm still awaiting the formal bid, it seems to still be roughly the same cost as I remembered from a couple years ago. I was afraid inflation would have dramatically altered that.
Still, it's not exactly what I'd usually call good news. And I am still going to have to figure out what's up with the AC.
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Post by kds on Jul 10, 2024 19:47:00 GMT
I hope everything works out.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 10, 2024 20:09:07 GMT
I hope everything works out. Thanks. It's an annoyance, and something to whine about online. But big picture, I'll be just fine. Big chunk of change, but it's all doable, and I have a roof over my head, food to eat, a decent job, etc. So it's not "woe is me" (except in my posts!).
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Post by kds on Jul 10, 2024 20:11:42 GMT
I hope everything works out. Thanks. It's an annoyance, and something to whine about online. But big picture, I'll be just fine. Big chunk of change, but it's all doable, and I have a roof over my head, food to eat, a decent job, etc. So it's not "woe is me" (except in my posts!). As a fellow homeowner, I can certainly relate.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 11, 2024 13:53:47 GMT
I'm not sure whether to consider this a bonus or a problem: there's some kind of server issue with my workplace, so I am among some number (not all, but also I'm not alone) who is unable to log in to our system. It's now a full two hours after I normally would have logged in, and I just got a call back saying they're working on it but "it might be a while."
So on the positive side, I can't do any work. On the negative side, there's still work to be done, and more piling up. And it's not as if I can just go do something else for any length of time, because once it's up and running, I'll need to log in and get going.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 12, 2024 20:08:57 GMT
And I am still going to have to figure out what's up with the AC. The issue was a broken condensate pump, which was not part of what was installed/replaced 5 weeks ago when I got a new AC. So that meant this wasn't just covered by warranty, I had to pay for it. This summer is NOT going my way! That's three unexpected repairs in the past five weeks. I'm going to have some beers and order a pizza tonight, I'll tell you that much. (Spending money unnecessarily on junk food/drink seems like a stupid, but wholly appropriate reaction to this!)
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Post by B.E. on Jul 20, 2024 0:33:46 GMT
All of a sudden, in the last week, I’ve seen three Tesla Cybertrucks. I hadn’t even heard of them before. One of the ugliest cars I’ve ever seen.
And I’m really starting to develop a pet peeve for all these Tesla's I see without a front license plate - which is illegal in NJ.
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Post by kds on Jul 22, 2024 12:12:48 GMT
Speaking of cars, I wish I was quick enough to snap a picture, but on the way to the beach last Friday, I kid you not, I saw a Dead Head sticker on a Cadillac.
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Post by kds on Aug 1, 2024 14:51:51 GMT
This may sound harsh, but I feel like eating while on the phone should be a fireable offense. I just got a long voice mail from a vendor, where she's chewing the whole time. Lady, just finish your breakfast sandwich before picking up the phone.
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Post by B.E. on Aug 1, 2024 15:08:09 GMT
I think when people talk with food in their mouth has become my biggest pet peeve. And I’m continually realizing just how common it is. Isn’t everyone taught not to when growing up?
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Post by kds on Aug 1, 2024 15:25:09 GMT
Ugh, I hate that too. I feel like general etiquette has been on the decline in recent years, possibly exacerbated by the COVID lockdowns.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 8, 2024 18:16:48 GMT
Since this video was only 1:48, I didn't want to include it in another specific music thread, but I thought it would fit nicely here in The Lounge. It makes you feel good on a summer's day, maybe listening to some Beatles or Paul McCartney music.
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