Coffee 8-6-11

 
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Freddy
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Post by Freddy » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 5:18 am

Goooood morning! Come on in for the freshest coffee in town. We brew a new pot every 17 minutes all day long and chained to the counter is a retired Dunkin' Dounuts cook. He's cranking out custom orders on the promise of freedom Monday morning. Heh heh heh.

What a beautiful week! A few monster thunder showers, but all of them at night. The days have been about perfect. The two homes hit by lightning weren't too happy, but at least no injuries.
Who wants a day of charity work? A local family was burned out just over a year ago. I didn't hear about it until this week as the organizer needs a sign made. A married couple with two kids, house burns, and when they call the insurance company they are in for a rude surprise....and this could happen to any one of us.... they had no insurance! They paid for insurance, but the agent pocketed the money and never secured a policy. He gave them fake paperwork. Well, it seems the bank and insurance company made a deal so the mortgage got paid off, but that's all. So, here it is a year later & the city is getting after them for leaving a dangerous circumstance. The city wants it torn down cleaned up and the old rock foundation filled in. A new city selectman, at his very first meeting had to vote on putting pressure on the family. It caught in his throat and he asked "Are we really going to kick this family when they are down?". Long story short, he is organizing not only a clean up, but is arranging for a new home all done with charity. The least I can do is make signage to give donations credit. We are hoping to have a new home before snow flies!
With this story in mind perhaps we should all call our insurance companies & see if we actually have insurance? Don't call the agent, call the mother ship.

OK.... Hope you all have a smooth weekend.

Oh, hey.... I might not have internet access the next two or maybe three Saturdays. I'll leave plenty of coffee, but someone else may have to flip the switch & make breakfast. We are headed north & there's no internet up there. Heck, there's no TV and barely radio!


 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 6:29 am

By God, that is fresh Freddy ;) What a crappy insurance story :( It's a shame, but not much surprises me anymore. Sooo, what happens to the agent?? Hanging by the balls sounds like a good start. This is no where near as dramatic, but it sure set me on my butt. I have bought moccassins & boots from LL Bean for probably 50 yrs.I've even been to Kennebunkport,I think, or Freeport---somewhere in Maine :oops: --- and toured the factory w/ my Dad back in the 50's--anyway, I was water proofing my moccy's yesterday & saw a tag inside--friggin MADE in CHINA--I'm incredibly BUMMED. :shock: Sounds like you're off to a well earned vacation my friend. I wouldn't worry to much about somebody covering the Sat. morning coffee get togethers ;) You just have a real good time. Have a good week-end all. PS--we had 2 days of slow, steady rain this week--much needed.

 
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Post by samhill » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 6:56 am

I'LL just have a cup to go Freddy, our summer elec. co-op meeting is today & they make a big event out of it. Sad that things like what the Ins. man did go on, guess you have to check up on everything these days. Have a good trip North & be careful up there.

 
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Post by lowfog01 » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 7:27 am

Good morning all,

Well, my time in GA is winding down. This morning my niece and I are going to finish off the dry creek bed I've been working on the past week. We just have to place about 25 ft of river rock to direct the flow of water away from the house and down hill to the ditch along the road. I hope it goes as fast as I anticipate but for some reason it never does. ;) I keep asking my dad if he is having fun yet - he tends to hover around - because time flies when you are having fun but he never is so it seems to be taking forever. :) At least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I know it's not the train. I may get to see how the trench works as we have serious rain in the forecast later today. They need it bad.

I did get a souvenir from here, I have a case of poison ivy that just won't go away. It isn't spreading but it won't go away either. Strange I never got poison ivy as a child but now I can't even be in the same vicinity as it.

Freddy, I hope you have a great time up in the wilds. Take care everyone, Lisa

 
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LsFarm
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Post by LsFarm » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 9:07 am

Good morning everyone. I've actually been able to get a few errands done around the house.. I'm home for a long weekend: 3.5 days.. feels strange to sleep in my own bed so many nights in a row..

The grass is cut, the roundup sprayed, and I'm thinking of putting the ladder up against the barn and dragging the piece of steel back up on the roof and screwing it down again, The severe thunderstorm ripped it off the barn's lean-to side about 3 weeks ago, and I've not had time to get it back up.

Maybe I'll have it done.. I'm getting too old to crawl around on roofs anymore.

Greg.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 10:00 am

Good morning! Ivan has definitely been "challenging" our sleep schedule this week...but I'm not complaining, he is a great little guy and mom sure has it worse than me. Nothing an extra cup of coffee can't fix. ;)

This morning I awoke to a strange noise in the house, then I recognized the sound as the oil boiler roaring away in the basement.:mad: I had to shut the EFM down last weekend due to a lack of coal...I let it run until the auger was exposed then called it quits. I've already noticed the increased humidity in the basement, so I leave the valves cracked to the EFM and let gravity circulation do its thing. So far the EFM has been staying about 100 degrees, which is plenty to prevent any corrosion and keep the basement a little more comfortable. Sure, it costs me some fuel...but I probably not much more than running a dehumidifier.

On the list for this weekend: Pressure wash the North and East side of the house. We have spider webs like I have never seen! Time to blast them off and follow up with some sort of insecticide to hold them off until the frost.

 
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gaw
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Post by gaw » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 11:45 am

Vacation is over. :( We went to Canada two weeks ago like I have been doing for years now for a week of fishing drinking and doing nothing. The weak US dollar took some of the enjoyment out of it and we may take a vacation from this vacation next year to see how things go.

Our pack of dogs is down to 5 from 6 as we had my wife’s old German shepherd euthanized yesterday. :cry: She was an old lady who started walking cockeyed about a year ago possibly from a stroke but we’re not sure but it was her deteriorating hips that caused the decision to throw in the towel. It was a sad night but we saw it coming so we were at least somewhat prepared.

This morning I received 4 ton of coal in my almost empty bin. I hope to put in a couple more tons sometime before the snow falls. I burn about 7 ton a year, more or less.

That is a terrible story Freddy. :mad: I feel somewhat safe and assured because all my bills come from and payments go directly to the insurance company’s corporate headquarters. I assume they must have paid their agent and thought he was taking care of things. If I was the judge I would just give the family the insurance man’s house. I’ll bet it is a nice house.

I love my Bean boots too but I have not bought any in years. It is gut wrenching to see all this stuff made in China. :sick: There is another thread about Red Wing shoes, you have to be careful what you buy there too because they gave into the cheaper in China mentality. It must be 15 years ago now I remember I always bought Wells Lamont leather palmed gloves. What were they called? Jack & Jennys or something like that, I would sooner or later get pissed because I would loose them long before they were worn out. I don’t know if I ever wore a pair out, then one day the same gloves are selling for about half price but now they are wearing out in a matter of weeks, getting holes in the leather, seams coming apart and just basically falling apart. They took a damned good product and turned it into junk like every other pair of gloves out there.

Lowfog01; are you sure it is poison ivy? There are other weeds that cause severe rash as well and some like wild parsnip only react when exposed to sunlight.

Greg, when your done I’ll give you my list to complete, sometimes I wish I just lived in a condo.

Markviii is having all sorts of fun being dad the way it sounds. I found that Home Defense or whatever it is sold as keeps spiders at bay for several months when sprayed in the basement. I don’t know about exterior use. Always read and follow label directions.

Well I have to see what else I can get done before the much needed rain starts. Have a good weekend.


 
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Yanche
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Post by Yanche » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 2:16 pm

Freddy, Sorry to learn about someone loosing a home and then having a double tragedy when they find out their insurance agent is a fraud.

A couple of meetings ago my Lions Club had a guest speaker from a public insurance adjuster company. I have never heard the term before but they are state licensed agents that represent homeowners in an insurance claim. They work on your behalf for a percentage fee of the settlement. Their big claim was that too many homeowners don't understand their policies and shortchange themselves. Numerous examples were cited which if you approached the insurance company with a claim incorrectly you screwed yourself. One example was a kid next door puts a hole in your asbestos siding shingle with a ball. Your policy requires them to "make you whole", i.e. restore your house to what it was before the "sudden and unexpected damage". When you can't buy asbestos siding, so you get new vinyl siding. On the whole house no less, because it's got to look like it did before the damage.

They made the point that your insurance agent represents the insurance companies interest more than yours. Here's the companies link:

http://www.metropa.com

There is a "Education Center" tab, take a look at it. Lots of good information. The speaker also claimed you can get a lower insurance cost by buying insurance directly from the insurance company cutting out the agent. He stressed educating yourself and then putting your insurance needs out for bid to multiple insurance companies.

Still working on my split A/C install. Having bad luck getting all the tools I ordered actually delivered. Latest hitch is the nitrogen regulator. Out of stock, but they assured me it was in stock when I ordered. Damn wholesalers. The summer might be over before I turn it on. :-(

 
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Post by SMITTY » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 4:48 pm

Yeah, that would be my luck ... either the house or barn would burn down & I'd be left with nothing after paying out thousands upon thousands of dollars for insurance. :mad: Could happen at any moment. I've got an '07 Silverado parked in the barn, so I'm just waiting for it to spontaneously combust like my brother's did. Nothing's built with any pride anymore, so it's bound to happen. Or one of these damn mice chew thru a wire & light the house & all my wife's trash that she can't let go of. Passed a house today that was missing a roof from fire. Also there was a fire on my parent's street last week I guess. Seems to be happening alot around here lately .... :|

Went to my parent's today to clean out 35 years worth of crap from the 2 sheds. Went to the dump with a full truck ... and still ended up coming home with a full truck. :roll: While looking over my grandfather's tools, we were noting how every single one was made in PA ... the former steel capital of the world. Even the test light said "Philadelphia" on the side. Not one foreign tool in that whole 1930's or 1940's Snap-On toolbox. Lots of Walden Tools ...which used to be made right on Shrewsbury St. in Worcester. Now it's a McDonalds. :cry: Sad to say, but we've hit the peak long ago. Now it's a long way down a steep hill ...

Parts finally came in for the wifey's RT100, so I overhauled the front end & installed the new shift shaft & cover. Greased all pivots in the drum brakes & the handles & cables. Handles great, stops great, & now shifts like new again. She'll have a much easier time riding it now.

Started tearing down the Blazer Monday ... but I lost motivation this week. After fighting with the rusted Y-pipe-to-manifold bolts, & getting caught in a monsoon while way under the Blazer, I called it a week before I smashed something.

Don't mean to sound all pissy today & bring the coffee down ... but it's hard to after a mailbox full of bills that keep rising & rising ... and pay that dwindles by the minute. Keep an eye on your credit cards! New thing they started doing if you pay your card off every month. They'll skip sending you a bill ... it will say $0 due ... so if you let it sit until the next pay cycle they nail you interest! Even if you pay the card off mid month, wait 2 weeks & start using it again, they STILL hit you with interest! Had to call them twice for this the past 2 months. Never had this issue before in 10 years of using these damn things. I'd like to tar & feather insurance agents AND credit card companies ... and every single person on Beacon Hill! That John Kerry has got me soooo worked up this week ... but that's another topic. :mad:

I'm breaking out the 135 proof stuff tonight. WATCH OUT!

 
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Post by lowfog01 » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 5:15 pm

gaw wrote:
Lowfog01; are you sure it is poison ivy? There are other weeds that cause severe rash as well and some like wild parsnip only react when exposed to sunlight.
No, I'm pretty sure it's poison ivy. I saw some poison ivy hiding among the "real" ivy and took some Round Out to it. I put some creme on the spot on my arm and it stopped spreading but it was sure bright red and sort of raised for a couple of days. hanks for the suggestion though, there is no telling what's in these North Ga hills. Have a great rest of the weekend, Lisa

 
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Post by the snowman » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 5:37 pm

Good evening all:

Its another late post this weekend. I had to close the shop this a.m. so I could waste an entire Saturday and take the truck to the dealer for warranty and recall work. What a complete pain in the . . . . . I need to contact the corporate office to file a complaint so the dealership will take care of a problem I have with our truck which is covered under warranty but they don't want to repair. Another reason why I like older vehicles, tractors and such. No computers, emissions, relays, or anything like that. I'll skip the java today and will refill my glass of pop instead. It is actually raining outside today. Wow! We need it. I do wish it was snow instead. I'm ready for the winter to come pound us. Today my wife and I will be running in the dark. I have a ton of work to do in the shop and have already wasted an entire Saturday. I agree insurance companies are a pain and if you don't know you can find yourself in a pile of sh. . . quickly. Freddy, we will keep the java flowing on those Saturdays you are not able to be around. Enjoy the silence of no t.v., radio, phone, and internet.

the snowman.

 
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Post by steamup » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 6:20 pm

Out in Sunny California this weekend. Today we got up early and went out to sea on a boat for a burial at sea for my father-in laws ashes. First time in two years since his death that all of his children could get together and have a memorial service. A bit of a sad time, but my wife has been able to get together with all of her brothers and sister.

 
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Post by Cap » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 7:12 pm

lowfog01 wrote:
No, I'm pretty sure it's poison ivy. I saw some poison ivy hiding among the "real" ivy and took some Round Out to it. I put some creme on the spot on my arm and it stopped spreading but it was sure bright red and sort of raised for a couple of days. hanks for the suggestion though, there is no telling what's in these North Ga hills. Have a great rest of the weekend, Lisa
Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is good. That story you told us Fred is brutal. That ins agent should be in working on a chain gang.
I am seeing more poison ivy this summer than I have ever seen in the past. I am not sure if the weather conditions have been just *right* or what? I had a bout of poison last month. According to Wikapedia, It takes anywhere from 24-72 hrs to set in from exposure and 7 to 10 days to clear up. Scratching it doesn't really cause it to spread. New rashes which arrive overnight are typically from the initial exposure. If you think you have been exposed, wash the area as soon as possible. Touching the plant itself isn't what creates rash BUT if you break the plant and touch, you will be exposed. The plant is very soft and easily breaks. You can also become exposed from a pet or a brush fire. Myself, I become exposed when I get stupid. :oops:

Take care & be safe everyone and Freddy, enjoy the great outdoors. Good luck fishing & stay away from the poison!

 
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Post by samhill » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 7:34 pm

I don't know about that Cap, I can get it without ever coming near, in fact just reading about it I better go shower with some fels napta soap. :mad:

 
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Post by freetown fred » Sat. Aug. 06, 2011 8:32 pm

I don't know any other Native Americans that get it & likewise I've never had any poison anything--one of our presents to you people :clap: toothy People, where did all the tent caterpillars end up this year--we've got none :junmp:


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