Cool and raining? Certainly cool. Rain started in the evening, just when I had stuff in the back of the truck. Only fairly light drizzle, but still rain. I’m hoping we don’t get any today. I need to do some stuff before we head up to the BOL.
Wife is in Vegas for work but should be home later today. We’ll have to decide if we are heading out today or tomorrow. It will probably depend on how bad her flights were and how heavy traffic on the show floor turned out to be. I have no interest in packing the pickup truck if it’s raining. Telescopes and rain don’t mix.
I did a couple of pickups yesterday. One was a little cast iron wood stove. It’s cute. There are some chips in the casting along the back edge of the top that you don’t even notice in real life. Other than that, it’s new in box. I don’t know if I’ll end up keeping it or trying to flip it up by the BOL. For $90 and local pickup, I couldn’t say no.
I filled two more propane bottles. The third was rusty and too heavily pitted on the bottom. Even my ghetto propane guy wouldn’t fill it. $11 per bottle, which is back down to what it was a couple years ago. These two bottles will be headed to the BOL. I’ve got a lot of bottles. I pick them up whenever they are cheap, like at garage or estate sales. And I’ve got a lot of stuff that uses propane. Patio heaters, turkey fryers, grills, smokers, a gennie, hot water heater, Mr Heater heaters, maybe something I’m forgetting… In any case, I recommend having a bunch of them. If I had to make a specific number, I’d say two for each use. That way you don’t have to keep moving them around. Minimum would be one for each use, and only install the ones you are using, keeping the rest for spares. Oh yeah, get the refill kit for the one pound bottles too. I’ve got lots of them floating around, and stoves, heaters, and lanterns that use them.
I like propane and propane accessories. It’s a lot easier to store than the equivalent in gasoline (although I store a bunch of that too.)
Today’s plan is to get more stuff put away, get some stuff from Lowe’s for the BOL, pack and do laundry for a week away, and decide when we’re headed out. Wrangle the kids, and welcome the wife home fit in there somewhere too.
Bit of a busy day….
Stack stuff!
n
Sadly, In-n-Out is a sure sign of an infestation of Californians. The city will have to spray.
Blue Rhino will take the old propane tanks and recycle the metal if they are the grill size.
Check with HEB for procedure before leaving the tank, however. Our store had me write “Recycle” on the tank before leaving it next to the outside rack.
Have the boy home for a week – all is right with the world.
Right now it’s 0715 and golden #1 is looking at me with the “when are going for our walk“ look. I don’t have to rush this morning since it’s a weekend, so I’m going to wait for the temp to get up in the balmy middle 30’s before we go.
It’s raining and 47F. I don’t think we’ll try for the BOL today, unless the rain stops. That still leaves me with plenty to do however.
Wife should be home in the afternoon, thankfully the cleaning service was here and the house looks good. Kids have been in it for 12 hours though, so it will need touching up……..
n
A couple of years ago I went to have the emptys filled. The propane dealer said no to two. “Too old.” They had no rust and the paint was good. I exchanged them at Walgreens.
– not thought to be random… Katy is a mix of rural and suburban, it’s where a lot of whites from Houston fled to avoid gangs and get better schools. The gangs followed them and we’re hearing people move back toward Houston, saying, why live so far out when the problems are the same.
n
I refilled the spare house propane cylinder last Monday, $72, basically the same as last year +10%.
Seems surprisingly low: I imagine that Europe wants to buy more, but I believe I read their storage and gasificaction facilities are maxed out, and speculator’s have tankers doing donuts offshore and praying for a cold cold winter.
Talked to a plumber about a new on-demand WH here, and his advice was to wait until January and use free Biden Buck coupons.
$72 for a refill? I sure hope not. Mabe for a new full tank. It’s about $15-20 for a refill or swap as far as I see.
Nick, your fast food tastes are expensive, but you did say you were feeding kids who want extras…
My wife is the queen of coupon shoppers, but we rarely eat FF unless it is just a quick stop or take home for a lazy meal. Just asked, and she said there are still deals to be had here, but only with some planning. For example, our Burger King still runs two original chicken sandwiches for $5, but it comes and goes. They put a sign out. No coupon needed. Gets people in the door. She volunteers nearby, so not out of the way. My favorite.
Our Carl’s Jr has good burgers, but the coupon price often exceeds $6 for two, so pass. We can have a nice lunch at home for less.
Once in a blue moon, we get stuck with no coupons and a needy guest who wants something special compared to what we would choose. Then, wow. Poor people have expensive tastes.
I was unclear, sorry. That‘s for a “big” 100# tank, not the little 20# BBQ tanks.
So, about $3.25 / gal. It was around $2.65 this time last year.
Delivered, I think they are asking over $8 someone said. Yikes.
Yeah, in two days we’ve spent almost $90 on only two dinners. I did get lunch, and D2 will get another dinner at least, out of the KFC bucket. We don’t do it often, for a number of reasons, but with the wife away, and errands being run, it made kinda sense.
It does provide an economics lesson, as I usually equate any fast food to the equivalent in steaks. The kids would usually prefer steaks.
n
At the MIA for a flight back to SAT. Picked up a scratchy sore throat yesterday as did my SIL. Hoping it doesn’t get worse. Probably COVID and I’ll super spread on the plane because masks are off and they prevent all diseases. Or so the goobermint tells us.
https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/how-being-deaf-made-difference-space-research
https://gallaudet.edu/museum/exhibits/deaf-difference-space-survival/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBQ_6GIgaIk
I recently caught part of the Exploration Station Outer Space episode shown in the YouTube video, and tracked it down later. This part of NASA history was new to me.
@JimB
I periodically get an annoying mailer that has sheets of different sizes and smaller cards stuffed inside. The only reason I open it is to look for the page of coupons from Hardees/Carls Jr. I don’t use it very ofter, but about a year ago I did stop and get a bag of sliders.
>> The poor go to McDonalds two or three times a day and eat from the dollar menu. I wish I was kidding.
Is there anything left on the dollar menu beside coffee?
I think that it is actually the $2 and $3 dollar menu nowadays. I have not been to our McDonalds in 2 or 3 years even though it is only a mile away from my house.
I am going to do like Nick and post my current weather here in Huntington Beach.
Temp: 71 deg F
Humidity: 15%
Wind: 8 mph from E (off Mojave Desert)
SL Pressure: 30.07 inHg (my lot elevation)
>> A couple of years ago I went to have the emptys filled. The propane dealer said no to two. “Too old.” They had no rust and the paint was good. I exchanged them at Walgreens.
Propane tank expiration.
>> I think that it is actually the $2 and $3 dollar menu nowadays. I have not been to our McDonalds in 2 or 3 years even though it is only a mile away from my house.
Last time I was there it was $1, $2, $3 and $1 got you coffee or a soda and $2 got some kind of food.
Besides the coupon flyers that come in the mail with the weekly advertising circulars (does anybody get the newspaper delivered anymore? do they even print newspapers anymore??) the best FF deals are through their apps. Right now for example, through the end of the year at Micky D’s, every Friday you can get a free medium fries with a $1 minimum purchase. Plus you can accumulate ‘rewards points’ and will have access to other app-exclusive deals. Similar promos at other chains as well. Just use one of your spam email addresses when you sign up as they do push a ton of email.
From 1958 to 1968, 11 deaf men joined the research effort led by Dr. Ashton Graybiel from the U.S. Navy.
– that is something I had no idea about. FWIW, I’ve had the water in the ear test, with cameras watching my eye movement. I was having some weird dizziness and because of my work, I’ve become very sensitive to “eye saccade” which causes some distraction when LED lighting or projection uses rapid pulsing (color mixing or dimming via pulse width modulation). I was feeling fine, strapped into a chair with all the stuff attached to me, then the water started flowing and I fell off the earth. Water stopped, and I landed and felt fine again. Switching that falling feeling on and off like that was VERY STRANGE.
n
After looking in the circulars for grocery bargains (and usually not finding anything worth going out of the way for) I grab the coupon sheet for Burger King or Jack in the Box, whichever is include. It lives in my truck for the next few months until I think to replace it. RARELY need a meal while out driving around, but it’s worth having the coupons just in case.
n
I have Aetna for Part D. They want me to register and “here’s a link to Caremark.com”. The directions were a bit off but I registered and I’ll get my drugs at the local HEB. I thought I did this when I signed up.
Walgreens wasn’t a choice. No big deal. I don’t care for the local Walgreens…. too Dollar Store as for clutter and “where is anything?”. Sniff. 🙂 Nevermind getting in and out of the parking lot.
So I’m registered but I have no prescriptions. I’m pretty sure they don’t cover taking a couple of Tums a month. But let’s get it done while I’m not sick. I’m sure it will all be messed up when I do get a prescription. Like a password expiring.
CVS owns Aetna. And Caremark.
Hence, no Walgreens.
I have to go through the junk mail circulars because “Our Dear Mailman” /s will stuff real mail, like bills, inside all the garbage.
Why do I get junk-mail, but it’s interesting junk-mail, from a hardware/lumberyard in Killeen? Where is Killeen?
Yeah, I know. Drive 22 miles to Lampasas and instead of turning left to head towards Comanche, you turn right. And then it’s about another 20 miles or so to Killeen. I’ve passed through Killeen a few times trying for a shortcut to I-35 around the whole Round Rock and Georgetown cluster o’ fun. It’s a dump.
I get Burger King coupons. I refuse to go there. Ever. I get Jack In the Box coupons and oh, hey, smart marketing because the nearest location in almost in Austin after you get through Cedar Park. I really like Sourdough Jacks but not enough to drive 40+ miles one way. The Papa Murphy coupons go into the trash because they always expire before I can use them.
Grump grump grump.
The high temp today is all of 37F. Dark and cloudy. It’s drizzled most of the day and actually rained a few times. Perhaps an eighth in the gauge. But a while ago it was misting…. and what? Is that snow? Sure looked like a flurry of tiny flakes swirling around for a few minutes and then back to drizzle rain.
I didn’t know that. I just remember the local Walgreens was an option when I signed up for Part D.
Besides the coupon flyers that come in the mail with the weekly advertising circulars (does anybody get the newspaper delivered anymore? do they even print newspapers anymore??)
Yes. I get the Fort Bend Herald three times a week delivered by USPS.
https://www.fbherald.com/
https://www.gocomics.com/ and https://dilbert.com/ are down today. Not good. There is a disturbance in the Force.
Down for me in the PNW (and for everyone, according to a couple of the ‘are they down’ sites).
Has interrupted my morning routine.
I use to buy Kraft Parmesan Cheese at Sam’s Club in the 4 or 5 pound canisters. Fill the little container in the cupboard over the stove and store the rest in the deep freezer.
You could buy the same canisters at the Container Store for 5 or 6 bucks. I forget, it’s been a while. You had a choice of colors other than green for the lid. Is the Container Store still a thing? Double-decking US183 has screwed up all of my internal maps of the area.
I saved most of the containers from Sam’s. Sure, a bit of time with some Ronsonal is a pain but the label comes off clean. I save 5 or 6 bucks too. Buffalo Nickle approves.
I store rice, mostly. Because once you take the bag of rice out of the freezer you have to stash that 10# bag somewhere. One is used for egg noodles. Another for flour. Another for sugar. I think I have 10 canisters. Too lazy to go count.
Tonight’s gruel is going to be a couple of hamburger patties cut from a 5 pound chub. Browned off, make a package of Pioneer brown gravy with an added cup of water and a bit less than ¾ of what the rice cooker’s scoop call a cup. Cover and simmer on low until the rice is cooked.
Sounds real blah but a shake of pepper flakes and a spin of the turntable of spices will make it good.
Edible, anyway. I’m not at all hungry.
Is it wrong that that current rice container is dated Mar 20 98? The sugar container is dated 02. Flour is dated 03.
I’m not a hoarder. I want to be but I fight it. Grin.
On a total tangent, how long should one keep bank statements and canceled checks? I’ve only referred to old statements once. Ever. Since about 1982.
Well it’s still only 45F here and there has been a light misty drizzle all day. It does add up. The gauge says 1`/2 inch.
I’ve been moving stuff in the garage attic and putting away Halloween decor. Hands are really hurting so I took a break to get warm.
Wife is safely home.
I’m making meat loaf for dinner, with smashed potatoes. Good cold weather comfort food.
Burger was vac sealed and frozen 1 year and 1 month ago.
n
Yes, I now receive 2 local papers, Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register, by download as e-versions, seven days a week. It far cheaper and I can begin reading about an hour earlier than the delivery guy comes bye. Also. the street corners and shop locations do not have the vending machines nowadays.
@paul, having done the estate thing and moving thing for my dad, I’d say throw out all but statements from your current bank and investment accounts, and only keep 7 years of them. You can probably even just keep the last year and the year end statements from the previous years. I personally only keep paper in case something happens to the electronic records and the likelihood of that is very close to zero.
What you don’t want is to have whoever goes thru your estate to have to look at all those statements to make sure a name change or merger didn’t leave an unknown or abandoned account somewhere. Closed accounts and cards, get rid of it.
The only exception I can think of is deposit records for stock or fund purchases so you can establish initial value/cost when it’s time to sell. My experience has been that the holder of that info will purge it or lose it in mergers before you need it, so you need to keep it.
LEGAL documents you should keep. I have some trivial stuff from when I was 18 that bit me on the @ss due to computerization of the records, and a clerical error. I don’t have the paperwork from that incident, so I can’t fix it. I DO have the paperwork clearing up an incident when I was 22, so I was able to clarify and correct the computerized records of that.
I’d put tax payments and refunds in the “keep it with the legal stuff” pile.
n
I no longer get canceled checks or statements. The only checks I print from the bank’s website are cancelled checks for property taxes. Statements I never print. Last tax issue with the IRS my Quicken printout was good enough. Although it was a minor issue. I keep tax returns, a Quicken printout for the year, tax receipts, prescription stubs, and doctors statements for 10 years. Basically anything that I deducted. That is becoming less of an issue with the higher standard deduction.
On a total tangent, how long should one keep bank statements and canceled checks? I’ve only referred to old statements once. Ever. Since about 1982.
The two lots in Missouri that the wife inherited from her father are a continuous pain. One of the lots is showing a $63,000 mortgage. Her father told both of us that he paid off both lots in 2012. And nobody from the mortgage company has contacted us asking for money since then. The wife has contacted the mortgage company asking why they did not release the lien so they are researching it. If they come back stating that we owe them $100K with penalties and interest then we need to find the canceled check where her dad paid it off. Sounds like I will be heading to Dallas soon.
@paul, I save at least one container for all the stuff I eat regularly. It’s not a disaster if the bottle cracks- I just put it in the old bottle. I do the same as you with the parmesean cheese and sawdust too.
I also rep-purpose the nice square containers M&Ms come in for flour, sugar, almonds, pasta, etc. They fit and stack on my pantry shelf very well.
If you don’t want to save containers, at least save the LIDS. Then when you drop the ketchup bottle on the lid, you can easily replace it. The lids don’t take up much room in the drawer, and have saved me more than once.
n
Not just NO, but HELL NO.
Biden agrees to pay climate REPARATIONS: US will pay up to $1BN to compensate developing countries for global warming – but gas-guzzling China WON’T have to pay into global fund
n
From the Everyday Cheapskate:
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
<a href="https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/make-ahead-mashed-potatoes-and-gravy/
Might be a time saver for both normal meals and certainly for Thanksgiving feast.
Developing countries don’t do any developing, they just sponge off the developed countries.
Methane: Much Ado About Nothing
David Archibald
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/11/19/methane-much-ado-about-nothing/
The real problem is that we have a tremendous oversupply of idiots and our teachers unions have been striving for generations to produce more.
Warning … time sink ahead:
Start here: https://mapoftheuniverse.net/ . And time passes….
Video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oekma9SZMMI
Ended up making two kinds of meatloaf. Fancy meatloaf from Joy of Cooking, and a mix. ¾ of us liked the homemade one, ¼ liked the plain one better. Which is the way it works around here…
The fancy one has onions, bacon, and crushed ritz crackers. The other just has mix, and an egg.
Both were edible, but the fancy one was better 🙂
n
“Woke Mob Cancelation”
https://areaocho.com/woke-mob-cancelation/
“The Hallmark channel, just like most other channels, has been overrun with gay characters. It seems as thought it is a requirement that every show have at least one gay character. It turns out that this is indeed the case, as the new Great American Family network, which has been described as ‘the God-and-country alternative for holiday entertainment,’ is discovering.”
“Stars have left Hallmark because of its bend to the right and loss of traditional family values, so they could join the new GAFN. Hallmark released its first film with a gay couple prominently featured, The Christmas House, in 2020. The new GAFN network announced that they will focus on ‘traditional marriage’ instead of gay couples, and the woke army is already attacking them for it.”
My daughter thinks that 30% of the population is LGBTQXYZABC. I refuse to argue it with her.
“Methane: Much Ado About Nothing”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/11/19/methane-much-ado-about-nothing/
“Thanks to Modtran, an online program maintained by the University of Chicago, we know that carbon dioxide’s heating effect is logarithmic. The first 20 ppm of carbon dioxide heats the atmosphere by 1.5°C. At the current concentration of 412 ppm each extra 100 ppm is only good for 0.1°C. Carbon dioxide is tuckered out as a greenhouse gas.”
“But what of methane which is the excuse du jour for wrecking livelihoods, towns, industries and whole economies? Methane, with a half life of nine years in the atmopshere, is carbon dioxide’s little brother in the pantheon of the satanic gasses.”
So much for respect the science.
I have been advocating for a long period of time that very few things can be continuously saturated to an infinite amount. The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere does not continuously make things worse and worse and worse.
Heeeeeee’s back…
https://dailycaller.com/2022/11/19/breaking-trump-reinstated-twitter-musk
“Sad news about Greg Bear (see FB post from Astrid). Among the many wonderful encounters I had w/ Greg: when I reviewed the Foundation prequel trilogy he wrote w/ Benford and Brin, I said, surprisingly, Bear’s novel was the best. He wrote back quickly: “Why are you surprised”?”
https://twitter.com/PaulLev/status/1594043576471539712
Sad. Many of the science fiction authors I read are passing away.
“Gun Runner” by Larry Correia and John D. Brown
https://www.amazon.com/Gun-Runner-Larry-Correia/dp/1982125926?tag=ttgnet-20/
A standalone science fiction space opera book, no prequel or sequel that I know of. I read the well printed and well bound MMPB published by Baen in 2021. I plan to purchase any sequels or prequels that are published.
Jackson Rook was a child warrior at the age of 14. He was on a planet that was invaded by a group wanting to turn it into something different. Jackson survived the brain implants process and became the premier mech warrior, a war hero. But then the invaders took over his implants, turning him against his own troops and losing the war.
Now Jackson is a crew member on the Tar Heel, a small space freighter that is smuggling banned weapons through the star gate system. And they are stealing mechs, top of the the line class five mechs, and selling them to a planetary warlord.
Larry Correia has a website at:
https://monsterhunternation.com/
My rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (684 reviews)
>> Yes. I get the Fort Bend Herald three times a week delivered by USPS.
So there’s no news the other four days? ;p
Re retaining records…if you do any type of sophisticated investing, including tax lot accounting and crypto, or run your own business, definitely ask your CPA what (paper) records to retain. If the I-R-S alleges fraud, they can go back as far as they want.
Of course without veto-proof majorities in both houses it will be a challenge for the Repubs to roll back the $80B I-R-S expansion.