In the supermarket parking lot last week and shifted into reverse before I had fully stopped my forward motion and heard a loud KER-CHUNK! from under the truck. One of those sounds you know will be expensive. AAA transported me to my long-suffering mechanic who determined I had a broken rear axel.
Replacements on the way. So. I have two 40 year old vehicles in two different shops waiting for parts.
Author Archives: Steve Mays
“It’s like a Barbie Dream House miniature.”
Washington Post: “How Trump jettisoned restraints at Mar-a-Lago and prompted legal peril”
On a typical day since leaving office, advisers said, Trump gets up early, makes phone calls, watches television and reads some newspapers. Then, six days a week, he plays 18 or sometimes 27 holes of golf at one of his courses. After lunch, he changes into a suit from his golf shirt and slacks and shows up in the office above the Mar-a-Lago ballroom or, when he is in New Jersey, a similar office in a cottage near the Bedminster club’s pool.
By evening, Trump emerges for dinner, surrounded most nights by adoring club members who stand and applaud at his appearance; they stand and applaud again after he finishes his meal and retires for the night. He often orders special meals from the kitchen and spends time curating the music wafting over the crowd, frequently pushing for the volume to be raised or lowered based on his mood. In the Oval Office, Trump had a button he could push to summon an aide to bring him a Diet Coke or snacks. Now, he just yells out commands to whichever employee is in earshot.
At times, Trump makes unannounced visits at weddings, gala benefits and other events being hosted by paying customers in Mar-a-Lago’s ballroom, basking as attendees mob him for selfies.
1947 Willys CJ2A (update)
UPDATE (12/22/22): While Paul was test driving the Jeep the steering shaft broke. Which means new steering box and column. As well as a radiator cap and a carburetor (It runs but it won’t even attempt to idle). Nice to find these issues now. Suspect there will be more.
Paul is moving fast. New wheels and tires a big improvement. And a few rattle-cans of camouflage paint took care of the hideous camo. I love this flat green. Perfect.
Seats are in good shape so I’ll live with the camo there. Look close to see the 3-speed shifter, the 4WD lever, and the high/low lever. I’ll probably lose the old Igloo cooler/cubby. Looking forward to figuring out all of the dash gauges.
The hideous camo top will be the first to go. I’m planning on this being a spring/summer/fall ride. I’ll adios the flood lights, too.
I’m very excited about adding this old (there’s some question about whether ’46 art ’47) Jeep to what I guess I have to start calling my collection. Might have it by the first of the year. Late xmas present, or early birthday.
Jessie: 10 weeks
1947 Willys CJ2A
I’ve always been fond of Jeeps. Not the current models, the “original” Jeep. I’ve spotted several around town in recent years but the owners would sooner give you a leg than their Jeep. I get that. Feel the same about my Land Rover. So when Paul Bandelier mentioned he had a 1946 1947 Willys CJ2A, I raced out for a look.
Paul says the engine is as simple as a lawn mower and anybody can work on them. That’s what they told me about the Land Rover and it’s sort of true.
What would I do with three vehicles? Drive each one for two days every week? I guess this would make me a collector.
Free Speech Man
More playtime
YouTube is the second most visited website, after Google Search
First, a bit of history: Google Video was a free video hosting service launched on January 25, 2005. It allowed video clips to be hosted on Google servers and embedded on other websites. I seem to recall putting videos online before that but they were nasty little things about the size of a matchbook and took hours to create and upload. (Google Video made it SO much easier.) YouTube launched in February 2005 and was acquired by Google in October of 2006 ($1.65 billion in stock). Google shut down Google Videos in 2009.
I uploaded my first video to YouTube in February of 2006. In the ensuing 16 years I’ve uploaded 551 videos. It never occurred to me to “monetize” my videos so I’ve never paid much attention to the analytical data YouTube sends me every month. YouTube was just an easy way to stream videos using their embed code on my blog.
Today they sent my “2022 snapshot.” In the past 12 months my channel has had 53,000 views (50,000 “watch time minutes”). Over the course of the 16 years my videos have been viewed 1,066,666 times. And I’m not even trying (to influence or monetize).
Playtime
It has been one week since we brought Jessie into our home. I’d say she is 90% house broken. We’re taking her out side about every 30 minutes and she has clearly made the connection: this is where you pee. Best news? Our 3 1/2 year old Golden, Riley, is enjoying her new pal.
And bedtime is the best.
Playing the “Democracy” card
