74F and 99%RH.
October that is… Fall is here, there and everywhere, but we’re rushing through it racing headlong into winter.
Short time this morning. I’ve got to do a pickup or two, and go to the rent house and investigate two new issues- water leaking out under the house, and a dryer that doesn’t heat. The current dryer is about 19 or 20 years old. So is the plumbing under the tub…
The joys of homeownership are double when you own a rental.
More later, but for now, I better get breakfast started and people awake.
n
Subbed yesterday, got a phone call at home, teacher’s kid got sick so I got called in to work. English class, not too bad as far as students. Arrived at 10:00, left at 2:00 as the last period is the teacher’s planning period. Got paid for the entire day for only 4 hours. But don’t get excited, a full day is only $60.00.
Got called again this morning by the wood shop teacher, arrived at 9:00, will leave at 2:00 as his last period is also his planning period. He is also the football coach so having last planning allows him to get ready for football practice and on Fridays prepare for the game. So a 5 hour day for me this time and will get paid for the full day.
There is an online system for asking for subs. Teachers don’t like it, staff does not like it, no one likes it. The district is paying a lot of money to use the system (I smell kickback). For my wife and I the school just calls us directly then after we arrive they put our assignment in the system.
Found out myself and my wife are at the top of the list for calling for subs. The school starts with us first. The teachers like us as we make the students do their assignments and don’t let them goof off. We are also reliable. We can generally be at the school in 15-30 minutes which the school likes.
My wife has been subbing at the school (elementary and high school) for 29 years, this is my fourth year. Neither one of make a lot of money, perhaps $3K each a year. We only do one school as it makes no sense to drive the distance to the other schools with the fuel cost and the time. Here I can ride my bicycle which is convenient.
I have told everyone here (on this board) about my scholarship for trade school. The metal shop is making the trophy that will be presented along with the financial award at graduation. Bigger than I thought. About 10″ tall. All machined aluminum. Square base, four pillars about 4″ tall, square platform, then another smaller platform rotated 45 degrees, then another pedestal, will have a flared top, then a ball on top. The ball will be painted purple (one of the school colors). The bases are all attached with machine screws, recessed.
The entire thing has been machined on equipment in the metal shop. Seems appropriate for an award for vocational school. I suspect it was used as a learning tool. The shop teacher really took on the challenge and went much beyond what I had hope.
Should be humorous at graduation to have the principal announce the “Purple Ping Pong Ball Scholarship” award and present the trophy. A scholarship for vocational is long overdue in my opinion. Lot of young adults with skills that will really help society much more than a liberal arts degree in some fluff category.
I have purposely left my name off the award. Other families that have funded scholarships have their names on the award. Not I. I do not want to want my name to be broadcast. My name has not been kept secret, just don’t want the award to be about me but rather the school and the student.
H Day + 1 year, at least around here. Still picking up the pieces, and a very long way from what used to be normal. More later, when I’m not stuck on hold at work.
Threat of power outages returns today as winds are in the prediction. Two local high schools are doing 2 hour delays including the one covering my neighborhood. I don’t get that – must be dense.
PG&E stock plunges but due to bankruptcy court ruling.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/pacific-gas-and-electric-company-bankruptcy-judge-ruling
Gov bloviating as usual.
Sept electric bill over $600
Gov bloviating as usual.
Grey-out Davis was bloodless during the 2001 rolling blackouts.
Wasn’t PG&E an Enron subsidiary? One of the Chinese cousins’ wives worked for them back in the day, and she convinced everyone to buy into the stock right before it fell apart — something The Family is still steamed about.
The cousin’s wife’s name pops up in the Enron email corpus as the execs exchange notes about her salary demands during her transition from being a temp.
You’re confusing Portland Gas and Electric with Pacific Gas and Electric. PGE and PG&E is confusing.
You’re confusing Portland Gas and Electric with Pacific Gas and Electric. PGE and PG&E is confusing.
I just assumed PG&E was the same company.
Are almost all journalists on Adderall?
Yes, and that on top of being infected by the SJW mind virus.
This country is doomed.
Are almost all journalists on Adderall?
Depends on where they live.
When my wife worked private practice in Austin, the amount of Adderall she wrote monthly was easily an order of magnitude higher than in Florida or Washington State. And she was penalized by her employers for not handing over the scrips to whoever showed up in the office asking for the drug.
Well, temporary break while glue dries.
Supply line to shower at rent house sprung a leak inside the wall, where the supply attaches to the tub faucet mixer. I can see primer purple on the joint, but it pulled apart in my hand after I cut the pipe loose.
Also the tub drain had come loose. Not sure how that happens.
I’m headed back over there to finish the glue up and install an access panel for next time. No way I could just drywall, as the wall is very wet. I don’t want to leave a hole in the wall for a week, and have to return to finish.
Oh the joy of rentals.
n
Oh the joy of rentals.
One of my co-workers was just in my cube talking about becoming a landlord, renting his current house when he moves into his new place.
I rented from a first time landlord in Portland. Never again, especially when the house is purchased with a settlement check from a divorce.
Sept electric bill over $600
Wow, I thought mine was bad at $425. And that was at 10.0 cents/kwh after energy, distribution, and taxes. I am looking forward to the days without a pool sucking down $100 of electricity a month.
Are almost all journalists on Adderall?
Yes, and that on top of being infected by the SJW mind virus.
This country is doomed.
Yes, we are living in a doomed country. Financial apocalypse coming. Drug abuse apocalypse coming.
https://www.amazon.com/Borrowed-World-Novel-Post-Apocalyptic-Collapse/dp/1511974419/?tag=ttgnet-20
Mine is not even close to that amount, maybe $30.00 a month. 1hp pump that I run 12-14 hours a day. My normal electric bill at my house averages $160.00 a month. Summer is higher, peaked at $240.00. Winter is about $90.00 a month.
I am looking forward to the days without a pool sucking down $100 of electricity a month
Mine is not even close to that amount, maybe $30.00 a month. 1hp pump that I run 12-14 hours a day. My normal electric bill at my house averages $160.00 a month. Summer is higher, peaked at $240.00. Winter is about $90.00 a month.
My primary pump is 1.5 hp. My cleaner (Polaris) pump is 1.5 hp and runs 2 to 3 hours per day also. The pool and spa are around 35,000 gallons.
Lets say that Eleizbeth Warren is our next president. Maybe Bernie is the VP. I wonder what kind of damage that they could do to our economy ? After all, two Senators who have never run a state or a business should not be able to do that much damage.
“Opinion: Ban billionaires? What progressive Democrats don’t understand about the economy”
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ban-billionaires-what-progressive-democrats-dont-understand-about-the-economy-2019-10-10?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo
A federal property tax would be a nightmare. All of the real money and assets are in the middle class. The federal property tax will be expanded to the middle class in a couple of years.
Stolen from
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2019/10/07/what-if-there-is-no-climate-emergency/
“An additional note to readers: every carbon atom in your body was once atmospheric CO2. Every molecule of oxygen that you breathe was once atmospheric CO2. That is how necessary, not just “beneficial”, that CO2 is to all life.”
“WARMER IS BETTER. FIGHT THE ICE.”
Threat of power outages returns today as winds are in the prediction. Two local high schools are doing 2 hour delays including the one covering my neighborhood. I don’t get that – must be dense.
PG&E stock plunges but due to bankruptcy court ruling.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/pacific-gas-and-electric-company-bankruptcy-judge-ruling
Gov bloviating as usual.
The stockholders may own the company but the bondholders own the assets. I will be amazed if the stockholders get a penny.
Lets say that Eleizbeth Warren is our next president. Maybe Bernie is the VP. I wonder what kind of damage that they could do to our economy ? After all, two Senators who have never run a state or a business should not be able to do that much damage.
Warren will need a VP from outside New England. The idiot Castro brother (ok, they’re both idiots) is making noise like he’s interested, but Hillary passed on him for a reason — the scions of La Raza no habla. Maybe Robert Francis if he stops talking and posting videos now.
How much damage Warren could do would largely depend on the kind of Congressional majority she carries. Doh-bama was The Chosen One and ended up carrying the House and a super majority in the Senate until Ted Kennedy croaked. I don’t see that happening again next year.
The next time the Dems control the House, get a Senate super majority and occupy the White House, count on six new seats being installed on the Supreme Court. And that will just be the opening act.
But who really likes Warren? C’mon, really likes her?
The stockholders may own the company but the bondholders own the assets. I will be amazed if the stockholders get a penny.
The GM bond holders got smoked in favor of the union. GMAC and Chrysler Finance became Ally, and the government owned 85% of the financing company until recently.
The stockholders may own the company but the bondholders own the assets. I will be amazed if the stockholders get a penny.
The GM bond holders got smoked in favor of the union. GMAC and Chrysler Finance became Ally, and the government owned 85% of the financing company until recently.
Actually the employees have the ability to step in front of the bondholders and the shareholders for the company asests. Plus, the GM bankruptcy was political. And truly bankrupt, there was really nothing left of value there. They probably should have put GM down which would have broken the stranglehold of the UAW.
“New Law Requires You To Listen To Greta Thunberg Lecture Before Purchasing Gasoline”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2019/10/08/new-law-requires-you-to-listen-to-greta-thunberg-lecture-before-purchasing-gasoline/
“U.S.—A series of new bills working their way through state legislatures in New York, California, Oregon, Hawaii, and several other progressive states will require you to listen to a Greta Thunberg lecture before purchasing gasoline.”
“Motorists will be required to watch a 20-minute lecture by the 16-year-old climate activist before they purchase gallons and gallons of harmful fossil fuels.”
Cruel and unusual treatment by several states upon their populaces. I would move.
“Reposted with permission from The Babylon Bee”
https://babylonbee.com/news/new-law-would-force-drivers-to-listen-to-greta-thunberg-lecture-before-filling-up-their-cars
I just ordered more bags for the FoodSaver. One gallon size. 200 for $52.20 plus tax. 26¢ each.
If my sloppy math is correct, I can buy rolls and make my own for about $10 less. For $10, let’s save the time and wear and tear on the FoodSaver.
I’m a repeat customer. Seller is filmtechcorp03 . Store is VacAndPac.
Amazon prices are higher than on eBay.
Actually the employees have the ability to step in front of the bondholders and the shareholders for the company asests. Plus, the GM bankruptcy was political. And truly bankrupt, there was really nothing left of value there. They probably should have put GM down which would have broken the stranglehold of the UAW.
GM has bits and pieces which would have been valuable if sold off 10 years ago, starting with OnStar.
Nowadays, GM’s tech is obsolete, and, with the exception of the Corvette line, no one is going to want to take on the remaining vehicle brands.
Amazon prices are higher than on eBay.
It is my experience that the Amazon prices are higher than just about anywhere else. Especially Sam’s Club whom I order directly from. But Amazon gives you a single place to order and a snappy website so they can charge a little premium.
Amazon gives you a single place to order and a snappy website so they can charge a little premium.
“Free shipping with Prime” doesn’t mean much when the item is a buck more than on eBay, where the seller has “free shipping” and you have already paid $119 for Prime.
But yes, Amazon has a snappy website.
“Free shipping with Prime” doesn’t mean much when the item is a buck more than on eBay, where the seller has “free shipping” and you have already paid $119 for Prime.
I am ashamed to admit that I am addicted to Amazon Prime shipping now.
@ dkreck and JimB: Lacking predicted big winds down here in coastal OC so far, anything were you folks are?
@ dkreck and JimB: Lacking predicted big winds down here in coastal OC so far, anything were you folks are?
Got electricity ?
We have electricity. Mild to no wind in the valley. Friend who came through Filmore then down Grapevine encountered strong winds today (his evaluation – might just be his evaluation).
“Is impeachment now inevitable?” by Pat Buchanan
https://www.wnd.com/2019/10/impeachment-now-inevitable/
“”There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader,” is a remark attributed to a French politician during the turbulent times of 1848.”
“Joe Biden’s Wednesday declaration that President Donald Trump should be impeached is in that tradition. Joe is scrambling to get out in front of the sentiment for impeachment in the party he professes to lead.”
Listen to Greta. Yes, satire but here in Cali I really wouldn’t be that surprised.
Is America Entering a Dark Age?
Is America Entering a Dark Age?
https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/344883/
My grandmother grew up with coal oil lamps in the house here in Texas and no electricity. We may be back to no electricity when they destroy our power plants and fossil fuel industry. Maybe I will be gone by the time the damage is completed.
“Suspects arrested on campaign finance charges after having lunch with Giuliani”
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/465256-suspects-arrested-on-campaign-finance-charges-after-having-lunch-with
Trump don’t need this crap.
Hat tip to:
https://drudgereport.com/
Is America Entering a Dark Age?
https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/344883/
“Eternity Road” by Jack McDevitt
https://www.amazon.com/Eternity-Road-Jack-McDevitt/dp/0061054275/?tag=ttgnet-20
“The Roadmakers left only ruins behind — but what magnificent ruins! Their concrete highways still cross the continent. Their cups, combs and jewelry are found in every Illyrian home. They left behind a legend,too — a hidden sanctuary called Haven, where even now the secrets of their civilization might still be found.”
Some more thoughts on Hurricane Michael, and by extension other crisis / prepping lessons, one year later:
1. Don’t be there. Earthquakes don’t give any lead time, hurricanes do. Hanging out at the corner of Stokely Carmichael Blvd and H. Rap Brown Avenue at 3 AM is also ill advised. Various biker gangs in Texas have an actual dislike for one another, even before the police try to stir things up. The lesson being, if you don’t have to be at the scene of the trouble, don’t be. This goes triple for people who are living on the edge, health & security wise. We had a lot of people with kidney troubles die, or get terribly sick, because they couldn’t get their scheduled dialysis.
2. Don’t put your eggs in one basket. When most / all of the police agencies in an area rely on 1 cell phone carrier, and that carrier fails, the police are back to the 1970s. This also applies, of course, to other organizations, and even to loose associations. Don’t use your cell phone for a do everything device; if it fails you can’t do anything. Dedicated GPS boxes and even paper maps will work. https://xkcd.com/2212/
3. When you find yourself in the middle of a crisis situation, and you are offered relief, take it. I know more than one person who, after the storm, refused to trade their partially damaged domicile, which had neither power nor sewer nor running water, in favor of habitable shelter 10 miles away.
4. Don’t count on emergency services being able to help you. An immense number of phone calls were placed to the local 911 system as the storm was making landfall, saying “Come help me!”. Sorry, too late, we can’t go out in 150 mph winds to rescue you. After the storm, there were exactly 0 usable hospital beds in a county of 175,000+ people. And in very short order, every hospital within at least 150 miles was overwhelmed with patients, new injuries from the storm, etc. We still have less than 1/2 the available hospital beds that we had on October 1 2018.
5. The capabilities of private charities and ordinary people to help are immense. A tip of the hat to the “Cajun Navy”, the “Chain Saw Army”, “Mercy Chefs”, and a lot of people that I’m forgetting, or wasn’t even aware of.
6. Even today, there are still a staggering number of damaged buildings that haven’t even been addressed. Our definition of “normal” went right out when the roof got torn off, and won’t return for at least 10 years.
7. One particular prepping lesson: The small bottles of unrefrigerated orange juice are not viable for long term prepping. I bought a 6 pack, 10 oz each, while evacuated. Since I had power when I got home, I just put them on a shelf in the pantry to experiment. Their “best by” date was March 2019, but having popped one in the fridge last night, they failed the color & smell test tonight.
8. To recap: Don’t be there if you don’t have to be. Especially don’t be there if you have to worry about yourself under the best of conditions. If you are there, it’s not a bad idea to get out once you can do so. If you are there, a reasonable stash of water, food, medicine, etc. is a real boon. Work gloves, boots, and eye protection can make a huge difference.
Re; the winds…. Best site to see where the winds are is https://www.windy.com . Great graphics; other layers are good too (like the radar one that also shows lightning strikes).
Give yourself at least 30 minutes to wander around their site.
We had a lot of people with kidney troubles die, or get terribly sick, because they couldn’t get their scheduled dialysis.
I am amazed how many people are on dialysis nowadays. And their common complaint is that their three sessions a week at three to four hours each are all they can do.
Our new neighbor on the east side of the new used house is on dialysis. He is 77 years old, smokes, drinks, and scoots around on his walker in his back yard.
1. Don’t be there. Earthquakes don’t give any lead time, hurricanes do.
Yup, leave early if you can. That is why we are moving to high ground, 11 ft higher in elevation. We may not move until 2020 but at least we are moving away from the river. If I could just get my new windows in (all 36 of them) then I could get the rest of the show on the road. The window dude told me maybe next week today. He said his guys can install up to 25 windows per day. Some of the windows are huge (6 ft by 6 ft) which I doubt can be quickly installed.
I did get the five of the 10 ft by 12 ft wide driveway panels and front sidewalk raised and leveled today by the concrete raising guys. $1,354. I still have the cracks in the middle of the panels though that I will need to fill in to keep the water out. And one of the driveway panels is broken into four pieces. I suspect that I will have to get the driveway panels replaced sooner rather than later at $1,250 each.
My cousin in law is a nurse and he’s training people on the home dialysis machines. He told me they had to go to home machines because they couldn’t build centers fast enough. He also agreed that they have no incentive to cure or reduce diabetes because huge numbers of people get huge money from it.
n
I don’t know what our electric bill is here at the house but my secondary location has 8tons of AC (a 3 and a 5) and during the summer, the bill is over $300 and got up to $500 last month when I set the 3 ton to 75F for the month. Just running the 5 ton to hold 85-90F is a killer. Of course, during the winter, the bill is $15 and I don’t run any heat or hot water.
n
Well, I haven’t heard from my tenant, so I guess my repairs held. I didn’t get the access panel installed, as I forgot a critical adapter for my battery saw. The construction of the walls in that house is “Shiplap” boards for internal walls. In other words, a fat 3/4 inch of solid wood with 1/4″ drywall over it for looks. NO WAY was I going to cut that with a drywall saw, by hand.
Found another leak on the supply side so will be meeting a plumber there tomorrow. I’m too big to fit under the house, and don’t have any desire to do the work, even if I could, in the skinny little crawlspace, in the mud and dead stuff.
Will be replacing the dryer and range in the coming week too.
That should eat any profit for the year to date….
n
@paul, I haven’t tried the non-branded bags. I usually get plenty when they go on sale $30 off at Costco, or I buy them at estate sales and thrift stores.
Are they just as tough? Melt and seal right?
n
Now we have a wind advisory for Friday from 11 am to 7 pm.
https://www.wunderground.com/severe/us/tx/richmond
“* EVENT…North winds 15 to 20 mph gusting to near 30 mph in the wake of a cold front.”
They changed Friday night’s low to 52 F. Sweet !
Will be replacing the dryer and range in the coming week too.
That should eat any profit for the year to date….
Houses are money sinks. But you gotta live somewhere and nice is nice.
Yeah, even going to sears outlet, and facebook trading groups, money is gonna get spent…
Turns out Home Depot has a sale this weekend on ranges, and they are cheaper than scratch and dent! Sweet!
n
Of course, none of this was on my schedule. I have some other unscheduled travel and commitments this week. I’ll be headed to Chicago again Sun- Wed. The world is a little bit darker, as an old and dear friend of the family has died. She was a great help to my mom this last year, and now she’s gone. Collapsed on the steps of her dialysis center.
I don’t like this feeling. Not a bit.
n
@Lynn
You would probably have problems trying to go back to coal oil lamps…
Try going back to the future: solar panels and batteries. That should take care of things until the batteries die and in the interregnum you can try and find some alternative to replace the battery functionality and the solar panels. In that order. 🙂
Lemon batteries and pickle lightbulbs…
n
(plus, the pickle smells really weird.)
5am on Friday morning, cool, calm 50F with 44% rf here. The hills are on fire south in Sylmar, Granada and Porter Ranch. Watching live on the news. 4600 acres and mandatory evacuations of 12k homes. A hundred miles and the Tehachapi mountains make a big fire break. Could change here soon as the Santa Ana winds move north.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7562033/Terrifying-footage-shows-drivers-rushing-escape-huge-wildfires-burning-California.html
Cowboy Slim, I’m away, but a neighbor said it has been breezy. We don’t usually get winds in our valley during Santa Ana events.
A cousin in Wrightwood drove down I-15 Thursday, and said it was pretty windy with blowing debris. He didn’t see any overturned trucks. Going back in the afternoon, it was only breezy, but traffic was heavy and slow.
Our electric company is Southern California Edison. Their web site shows some of the preemptive wind shutdowns, but not for our area. BTW, their web site has been plagued with problems for at least a year. Could they have hired the same idjits who did the health care sites?!
Are they just as tough? Melt and seal right?
I think they are as tough. No seal failures yet.
The few FoodSaver bags I have are smooth on one side of the bag and the other side is textured on both sides. The bags I buy on eBay are smooth on the outside and the inside of the bag is textured.
I think he has a sample pack for a couple of dollars to cover postage.
The front came through last night. No thunder or lighting. A little rain. Yesterday’s high was 95F. Currently 46F and breezy.