WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
So say we all…
byVanderleunonApril 4, 2020
“This crisis will be resolved by truckers running the long haul on deserted highways, doctors and nurses working double shifts in scavenged PPE, grocery store and gas station employees keeping services and food available, utility and telecom workers keeping a strained system functioning, grad students and other researchers poring over data and running countless tests in hopes of giving us an advantage, and ordinary people trying to follow often-contradictory guidance and do the right thing while facing a locked-down economy. At the top, we have leaders whose every move is scrutinized and fraught with potential peril — there might not be any good choices, just bad and not so bad.
“There is no room for our useless media and most of the commentariat. Activists can either pitch in or get lost. We no longer have time for indulging the delusion that they matter.”
I guess I am lucky to be surrounded by capable people, instead of the incapable ones that I used to spend time with. One of my friends is sewing masks. She’s donated a lot to a hospital. I asked her to make me two dozen, which I can wash and reuse. She is charging me about $7 for each one, which I am happy to pay, because they will fit me better than the bargain dust mask I have been using. It is not washable.
I was driving by an American Legion hall yesterday and noticed they were advertising “Hot Beef Sandwich” on their marquee. As I was talking to my wife on the phone, she heard me mention the dish and said, “Oh my God, that sounds so wonderful.” It’s comfort food for the midwest farm girl, you see.
I was admitted, and discovered a bartender and a couple having drinks. I asked about the sandwiches and the bartender put the order in. The husband of the couple said, “You won’t be disappointed.” The bartender then asked if I’d like a drink while I waited. Much of this behavior was against our governor’s orders, but I’m not telling.
I got the order home and my wife wondered why the white sandwich bread was not in the foam containers. She discovered that the sandwiches required assembly, as they supplied a container of gravy, a serving of real, not instant, mashed potatoes, and a large serving of rather tender roast beef. Keeping everything separate made the textures just right on our dinner table.
We will likely have to purchase a car on Monday. My son-in-law is out hustling doing food delivery, using our spare car. But he had a head injury years ago, and can be neglectful of details like adding oil to the engine. It locked up. My mechanic will try to break it loose, and it might work, but probably won’t. I have located a car almost identical in age and color. It has 120,000 fewer miles. These cars will go 300,000 easily, if one bothers to add oil, so I am feeling optimistic about buying a 17-year old car. The dealership is being very solicitous, what with the restrictions they must operate under.
ghostsniperApril 5, 2020, 4:31 AM
Had another engine installed in my 2001 Blazer a year ago. The original engine had 150k miles, the “new” engine had 120k. Been driving it a year, no problems. Total cost for the swap was $2800. Never did that before. It’s gray, 2 dr, 4WD. I’d rather have another truck. Extended cab, 4WD. I’m looking but nothings affordable. I don’t do payments. Cash on the barrel head only.
Paid cash for my last three cars, difficult, the last dealer really didn’t want to sell the car for cash (that tells me how bad for me, good for him that finance deal would have been) but there it is.
Had a banker tell me that I could get my ‘Credit Score’ up way higher if I stopped paying cash and bought my next car with a loan. Also my refusal to increase the credit ceiling on my credit card, I keep getting those letters “Happy to inform You! My can raise your credit limit!” Well, happy to inform you that I decline. Apparently, the higher the percentage of your available credit you use the worse they rate you, bump up the credit ceiling to four or five times the highest amount you have ever used in a month and that is a ‘GOOD THING’ to the bankers.
After all, they just have my best interests at heart.
By the way, I’ve got a 2003 Honda Element sitting in the garage; I took it off the road when after paying $800 for car insurance for the year and going for the inspection sticker I realized I’d driven it less that 300 miles in the last year. I got a car with much better gas mileage when I started dating a Widow in Plymouth, but I loved that car; no bluetooth, no tire pressure sensors, no rear view camera…actually needs a key in the ignition.
Gordon ScottApril 5, 2020, 10:12 AM
I have been told that the sweet spot for US trucks is 1995-2005. By 1995 they had figured out solid reliable engines in the low-compression realm as well as solid reliable transmissions. But after 2005, they started reducing weight wherever they could, shaving grams here and there to improve fuel mileage. It is like buying a vacuum at Walmart; it looks good, but inside there are parts which should be made of metal, that are made of cardboard.
Folks around here seek out trucks from states that don’t use salt on the roads. I think that’s not a problem where you are, Ghost, but that salty air….were I shopping for a truck I would look for the small town weekly papers from outstate. Usually one can find a good deal, and out there, they want cash. None of this “sit with the finance gal, then the aftermarket gal, and the extended warranty gal” process.
Financing…I will probably finance this one, for 12 months. I could pay cash but I don’t want to pull out money from the market, not when it is down so much. The finance rate will be pretty low, and I can make the monthly nut out of current income without a sweat. Had this happened a month from now, I could pay cash easily, as someone is paying me to resolve a debt. Ah, well. I’ll get a lower price on the car because the dealer will get a kickback from the finance company.
ghostsniperApril 5, 2020, 12:31 PM
Gordon, I still have my truck that I bought new in FL in 1990. It’s the first and last new vehicle I will ever own and this coming Oct I will have had it for 30 years and it’s a 1991 model. It never had any rust when we lived in FL, about 8 miles from the Gulf, but they salt the roads here in Hoosierville in the winters and that has caused some problems. It still runs well, with it’s v6 and 5 sp stick, but the robins egg blue paint has lots of brown rust along the bottom edges. I keep tags and insurance on it but drive it rarely. More of a sentimental thing after owning it this long. The price in 1990 was $8888.88 and with $1000 dn + my old 1979 Chev Monza as a trade in I had 60 payments of $237.51. There were a few times when it was hard to make the payment and I swore after it was paid for I’d never get a vehicle loan again. There’s a sort of freedom in being debt free, obliged to no one.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
Choose the politician with
the shortest horns!
I guess I am lucky to be surrounded by capable people, instead of the incapable ones that I used to spend time with. One of my friends is sewing masks. She’s donated a lot to a hospital. I asked her to make me two dozen, which I can wash and reuse. She is charging me about $7 for each one, which I am happy to pay, because they will fit me better than the bargain dust mask I have been using. It is not washable.
I was driving by an American Legion hall yesterday and noticed they were advertising “Hot Beef Sandwich” on their marquee. As I was talking to my wife on the phone, she heard me mention the dish and said, “Oh my God, that sounds so wonderful.” It’s comfort food for the midwest farm girl, you see.
I was admitted, and discovered a bartender and a couple having drinks. I asked about the sandwiches and the bartender put the order in. The husband of the couple said, “You won’t be disappointed.” The bartender then asked if I’d like a drink while I waited. Much of this behavior was against our governor’s orders, but I’m not telling.
I got the order home and my wife wondered why the white sandwich bread was not in the foam containers. She discovered that the sandwiches required assembly, as they supplied a container of gravy, a serving of real, not instant, mashed potatoes, and a large serving of rather tender roast beef. Keeping everything separate made the textures just right on our dinner table.
We will likely have to purchase a car on Monday. My son-in-law is out hustling doing food delivery, using our spare car. But he had a head injury years ago, and can be neglectful of details like adding oil to the engine. It locked up. My mechanic will try to break it loose, and it might work, but probably won’t. I have located a car almost identical in age and color. It has 120,000 fewer miles. These cars will go 300,000 easily, if one bothers to add oil, so I am feeling optimistic about buying a 17-year old car. The dealership is being very solicitous, what with the restrictions they must operate under.
Had another engine installed in my 2001 Blazer a year ago. The original engine had 150k miles, the “new” engine had 120k. Been driving it a year, no problems. Total cost for the swap was $2800. Never did that before. It’s gray, 2 dr, 4WD. I’d rather have another truck. Extended cab, 4WD. I’m looking but nothings affordable. I don’t do payments. Cash on the barrel head only.
Paid cash for my last three cars, difficult, the last dealer really didn’t want to sell the car for cash (that tells me how bad for me, good for him that finance deal would have been) but there it is.
Had a banker tell me that I could get my ‘Credit Score’ up way higher if I stopped paying cash and bought my next car with a loan. Also my refusal to increase the credit ceiling on my credit card, I keep getting those letters “Happy to inform You! My can raise your credit limit!” Well, happy to inform you that I decline. Apparently, the higher the percentage of your available credit you use the worse they rate you, bump up the credit ceiling to four or five times the highest amount you have ever used in a month and that is a ‘GOOD THING’ to the bankers.
After all, they just have my best interests at heart.
By the way, I’ve got a 2003 Honda Element sitting in the garage; I took it off the road when after paying $800 for car insurance for the year and going for the inspection sticker I realized I’d driven it less that 300 miles in the last year. I got a car with much better gas mileage when I started dating a Widow in Plymouth, but I loved that car; no bluetooth, no tire pressure sensors, no rear view camera…actually needs a key in the ignition.
I have been told that the sweet spot for US trucks is 1995-2005. By 1995 they had figured out solid reliable engines in the low-compression realm as well as solid reliable transmissions. But after 2005, they started reducing weight wherever they could, shaving grams here and there to improve fuel mileage. It is like buying a vacuum at Walmart; it looks good, but inside there are parts which should be made of metal, that are made of cardboard.
Folks around here seek out trucks from states that don’t use salt on the roads. I think that’s not a problem where you are, Ghost, but that salty air….were I shopping for a truck I would look for the small town weekly papers from outstate. Usually one can find a good deal, and out there, they want cash. None of this “sit with the finance gal, then the aftermarket gal, and the extended warranty gal” process.
Financing…I will probably finance this one, for 12 months. I could pay cash but I don’t want to pull out money from the market, not when it is down so much. The finance rate will be pretty low, and I can make the monthly nut out of current income without a sweat. Had this happened a month from now, I could pay cash easily, as someone is paying me to resolve a debt. Ah, well. I’ll get a lower price on the car because the dealer will get a kickback from the finance company.
Gordon, I still have my truck that I bought new in FL in 1990. It’s the first and last new vehicle I will ever own and this coming Oct I will have had it for 30 years and it’s a 1991 model. It never had any rust when we lived in FL, about 8 miles from the Gulf, but they salt the roads here in Hoosierville in the winters and that has caused some problems. It still runs well, with it’s v6 and 5 sp stick, but the robins egg blue paint has lots of brown rust along the bottom edges. I keep tags and insurance on it but drive it rarely. More of a sentimental thing after owning it this long. The price in 1990 was $8888.88 and with $1000 dn + my old 1979 Chev Monza as a trade in I had 60 payments of $237.51. There were a few times when it was hard to make the payment and I swore after it was paid for I’d never get a vehicle loan again. There’s a sort of freedom in being debt free, obliged to no one.