Musings from “Life Is a Road” author–Daniel Meyer
Archive for January, 2009
Ownership…
Jan 31st
Yesterday I wrote out checks to three different tax offices representing the 7 different taxing authorities that have managed to define their existence by collecting money on the percieved value (that they determine) of my home.
I own my home. I have to pay them for the privilage of keeping it. Something over $3000/year now. This is just the direct property taxes and doesn’t include all the “services” I’m billed for by the city, county, etc.
That’s 5% of what I paid for the place…every year…and it keeps going up, far in excess of inflation.
If I were to pay that monthly it would amount to over $260/mo.
If I improve my home…even with a coat of paint, I’ll be punished with a higher valuation and resulting higher taxes.
Something’s upside down here.
CUAgain,
Daniel Meyer
Ton of bricks. Me. Crunch.
Jan 28th
When I woke up this morning I felt fine. By afternoon my chest was a little “scratchy”.
I’m working nights this week, so, at work, by 11:00pm I felt like I’d been hit by a train.
Full blown chest cold/flu stuff. Aches. Pains. Sudden violent cough.
Boy did THAT come on fast. The bubonic, ebolic bird flu (with a lemon twist)!
I get to head home in a couple hours. Unfortunately I’m due back in tomorrow night. Gad.
Maybe we’ll see if 12 hours sleep and a fifth of whiskey will kill this stuff off.
Y’all take care…
CUAgain,
Daniel Meyer
Valk Riders at the Old Vic
Jan 27th
Had several Valkyrie riders come and visit the wife and I at the Old Vic this weekend. Glad to see them!
Left to right…Speedo, Rainmaker, and Thalas’shaya.
‘Twas a cold day for a ride so they spent some time inside, warming up and swapping stories.
Great to see you’all (technical Texas term). I look forward to the day when the house is in a fit state for entertaining!
CUAgain,
Daniel Meyer
Blowed Up Sir!!
Jan 13th
I do so love digging the pieces of shrapnel from badly designed or manufactured parts out of my engine….
Oh, the black stringy thing is Dodge’s version of vacuum lines…and is made of hard plastic that cannot stand up to the environment in the engine compartment. It will shatter if you “flick” it with an index finger…
I ran out of patience and daylight Monday. Hopefully I’ll finish it Tuesday…well…maybe. I’ve got art class Tuesday. Hmmm…lessee…working on trucks or drawing naked women?
CUAgain,
Daniel Meyer
The $38 Thermostat
Jan 9th
Ever wonder what a $38 automotive thermostat looks like?
I sure did. Had to order one for my truck. They usually cost about $8.
Well, here is is. Gotta admit…wierdest looking engine thermostat I’ve ever seen…
The interesting thing is…it does not appear to really be a valve…those that have seen regular thermostats will wonder…like I do…just how the heck does this thing work?
I expect it must actuate some other part in there. I guess I’ll know when I get the truck apart.
CUAgain,
Daniel Meyer
Cold Truck…
Jan 7th
(best “Speedy Gonzales” accent)
“My truck…she is broke…no?”
(end accent)
Yeah, so I’m a “Speedy” fan…and I know it’s politically incorrect to be one. I’ve heard all about the stereo-typing. But…not to put too fine a point on it… “political correctness” doesn’t interest me in the slightest…and I’ve never been particularly worried about stereo-typing mice anyway (heh heh).
Anyway, I worked on the house this weekend. I didn’t have enough bungee cords to haul all the tools and lumber I needed, so instead of The Dragon (my kick-ass F6 Valkyrie Cruiser), I took Big Iron (my 450 horsepower 4×4 pick-em-up truck). Cages should be fun!
The work Friday and Saturday was in pleasent, 80 degree weather. Sunday morning a front came through and dropped the temperature over 50 degrees. Gotta love those Texas winters!
Anyway, working outside all day Sunday, I got fairly chilled. Not a big issue, I had the long truck trip home to warm up right?
Yeah. Right. Warm.
The engine thermostat stuck open on the big Dodge. Those of you that are mechanically inclined know that “stuck open” is better than “stuck closed”, as with “stuck closed” your engine will overheat and you are stranded. “Stuck open” has the opposite effect. The engine will never reach operating temperature. I can tell you from experience, in 30 degree weather, with the massive cooling system in the big Dodge, the guage will never move off “dead cold”.
This has several side effects…poor performance, possible plug fouling, incomplete combustion, etc…but the one that matters here is “no heater”.
A couple hours, when I was already chilled, driving through the dark, cold night with, at best, tepid air blowing out of the heater…was not a pleasent run. To top it off, due to a miscue between me and the wife, she had my coat in her car.
Brrrrrrrrr….
Anyway, that thermostat must be something special indeed…nobody had it in stock, and it cost me $38 to get one ordered. (thermostats are usually about $8). Thirty-eight dollars for a thermostat…I can’t wait to see it…
Time to change the anti-freeze too…whilst I have the cooling system opened up…gad, $16 a gallon…just where the hell did that price come from?
The truck holds 7 gallons.
Sigh.
CUAgain,
Daniel Meyer