The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[ajrwdwgirl]

MOAR!
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You have some really gorgeous shots here. Chip and Dale in their dinosaur costumes always make me giggle, they are so darn cute.

 

[donaldtoo]

My oldest son has been battling ulcerative colitis for 2 months (in and to of the hospital). He has lost over thirty lbs. lucky my wife is a retired ICU nurse and has been with him and can guide my daughter in law on getting medical things done. They started him finally on Humira and he seems to be doing slightly better, he can eat and not have the unbearable pain he has been experiencing for the last 2 months. Asking a pray that this drug puts him in remission and he can regain his strength back

Sorry to hear. Prayers for remission of his illness.

 

[93boomer]

DH starting a new one

 

[epcotisbest]

Went to sit in my recliner and found this. Decided not to disrupt her dreams.

 

[donaldtoo]

The longest lasting vehicles I ever owned were my two caravans. The first one 1998 I bought from my father. Between him and me we put 180K miles on it with no problems at all except the drivers seat broke at about 150K. I sold it and for the next three years it (with driver, of course) passed me every morning on the interstate on the way to work. I went to a junk yard and picked up another seat (different color then the rest, but otherwise worked). I religiously changed the oil every 3000/3500 miles, greased the front end and never had to change the exhaust. My second one had about 80K on it when I bought it and kept it until I went to an auction and bought a Cadillac Deville. I don't remember the mileage, but I had it for a while. I was on a full family trip to WDW in 2008 when both head gaskets blew and it cost me $3000. just to get back home.

My first new car was a 1970 Buick Skylark that I bought when I returned from Vietnam. I had that car when I met my wife, used it on our honeymoon (Quebec City), Brought her to the hospital and back for the birth of both of my children, two years apart. And many other early adventures. I felt I should have had that car bronzed and placed on our mantel. All I was missing was the money to have it bronzed and the mantel.

Almost all my vehicles had over 100K on them, even the Skylark had 110K which anyone that remembers the 70's would be aware that was something close to a miracle. It had the 350 w/2bbl. Very dependable engine, but one time when I decided that I wanted to know how fast it would go, managed to get from 60 to 100 mph in just a little over 4 miles. Definitely a family car. Probably saved me from killing myself. My first caravan, when it got to 80K had a check engine light go on. I took it to a friend that had a machine that would read codes and we found out that it was an automatic notification that the smog control system should be check out. Instead I took out the instrument panel, pulled the lightbulb and was never bother by it again. When it had about 150K on it I started to feel guilty because I never had the transmission drained and filter cleaned. When I took it in the mechanic said, it was up to me, but whatever gunk that is inside that transmission it was probably the only thing holding it together, so it was never done. Good times.

Yep, American cars in the 70’s were at the pinnacle of their crappiness, especially after about ‘71 or ‘72.
Funny, I never serviced an automatic tranny that I ever owned, not even my Cutlass that I put over 90,000 of the 180’000+ miles it had on it, and never had any problems. Had to replace a few clutches (standard wear) between the Cherokee (4.0 liter straight six, 5-speed manual) and the 2 Hyundai’s (both 5-speed manuals) we’ve owned.
Also, the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder went out on the Jeep at a little over 25,000 miles, but, fortunately, those were under warranty and replaced at no charge to us.
Knock on wood (my head), we’ve never had any major tranny problems.

 

[donaldtoo]

@donaldtoo and @Goofyernmost , what do you think of those types of companies (like Car Shield), that cover some/most/none? repairs to cars)? I keep seeing the commercials, but wonder if they really say what they advertise. Or, if it's a case where you have to buy a far more expensive monthly option they offer (I assume they have tiered-cost, monthly products), to be assured of them coming through, for big repairs.

Have never used one or researched them thoroughly, and have seen/heard mixed reviews, but, mostly, not good.

 

[donaldtoo]

Happy farm market Saturday. Note to self don't bring James when he's hungry at least I was able to get kale

How in heck do you not know that first part by now...!!!!!

 

[Goofyernmost]

Yep, American cars in the 70’s were at the pinnacle of their crappiness, especially after about ‘71 or ‘72.
Funny, I never serviced an auto tranny that I ever owned, not even my Cutlass that I put over 90,000 of the 180’000+ miles it had on it, and never had any problems. Had to replace a few clutches (standard wear) between the Cherokee (4.0 liter straight six, 5-speed manual) and the 2 Hyundai’s (both 5-speed manuals) we’ve owned.
Also, the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder went out on the Jeep at a little over 25,000 miles, but, fortunately, those were under warranty and replaced at no charge to us.
Knock on wood (my head), we’ve never had any major tranny problems.

To be honest neither have I even thought about the transmission fluid. It is a sealed system and I checked the level over the years and went by the edict that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" That was the first one I ever had that many miles on and remember it is also the one that I removed the "check engine" lightbulb from. Amazingly enough the fluid was still a bright red so I felt OK skipping it.

 

[donaldtoo]

Had a Chrysler extended warranty on my Ram pick up the left rear caliper locked up and destroyed the caliper pads and rotor just 30,000 miles on it. Change one side you also change the other. Guess what breaks not covered. Never again with the extended warranty. I could have fixed it for 1/4 what the dealer charged me. Tried to argue it was a defective part never had breaks go out with 30,000 miles.

Yea, I should fill in some detail regarding the Cherokee clutch master and slave cylinders I posted about earlier.
Initially, one of the dealers mechanics said they couldn’t cover the $500 repairs, as those parts weren’t warrantied under the standard bumper-to-bumper 3-year, 36,000 mile warranty.
After speaking with a manager who wasn’t helpful either, I finally got a phone # in Detroit to call.
The lady on the other end started givin’ me the run-around again. I brought up the “bumper-to-bumper” warranty and how those parts were clearly between them, and accused them of false advertising...!!!!!
She asked if I could hold. Sure. She came back about 3 mins. later and said she just called the dealership and authorized the repairs to be done at no charge, and wished me a merry Christmas, to which I replied you have a merry Christmas, as well. It happened just before Christmas, but, to this day, I don’t know if she was bein’ sarcastic or sincere... I didn’t detect any sarcasm in her voice, but, then again, I coulda’ missed it, ‘cause I was just so damn happy about not havin’ to lay out 500 skins just before Christmas...!!!!!

Also, I get that brake pads and rotors wouldn’t be covered under normal circumstances because they’re a standard wear part, but, calipers malfunctioning, locking up, and destroying those parts sounds like it should all be covered, to me anyway.

 

[donaldtoo]

To be honest neither have I even thought about the transmission fluid. It is a sealed system and I checked the level over the years and went by the edict that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" That was the first one I ever had that many miles on and remember it is also the one that I removed the "check engine" lightbulb from. Amazingly enough the fluid was still a bright red so I felt OK skipping it.

Exactly. Check the fluid level occasionally, and make sure it’s bright red.
If it starts to get low, or starts to get a bit dull/darker in color and smells burnt, you probably have other issues.

 

[donaldtoo]

The pigs may have something to say about that!

 

[donaldtoo]

Was another beautiful day here today...!!!

 

[Figgy1]

Noooo Alex Trebek.

Cancer...ugh. I just...I can't.

Me either

 

[donaldtoo]

Hey, what's Emy's dog's name? He looks really cute (does he get a donut, too)?

Actually, he’s a she and her name is Pumpkin, but, they do have a male dog named Pi, and I’ve posted pics of them before...!!!
No donuts for the pups, but, they probably wouldn’t like them anyway, as they’re vegan...never mind, we all know pups will eat anything...!!!!!

 

[Figgy1]

How in heck do you not know that first part by now...!!!!!

The boys find ways to shock even me

 

[Figgy1]

May be the best round ever ok maybe the easiest

 

[Cesar R M]

You have some really gorgeous shots here. Chip and Dale in their dinosaur costumes always make me giggle, they are so darn cute.

Concur, everytime I go to AK I try to get a photo of them. They are downright adorable. Probably my favourite costume of them.

Also thanks!
AK is easy to shot, there are some beautiful areas all around.
The concentration of crowds in certain areas makes it much easier to take decent shots.

 

[Cesar R M]

And a few more photos..

 

[MinnieM123]

Have never used one or researched them thoroughly, and have seen/heard mixed reviews, but, mostly, not good.

I had a feeling that the commercials might not portray the full story. Hubs looked at the commercial and laughed, because he mentioned something about how the person quoted an inflated price for some repair, and he said no mechanic would ever charge that. In other words, he felt they were quoting much higher bill rates, to catch your attention. (I didn't mention this when I asked you and Goofyernmost my initial question, as I didn't want to sway your thoughts one way or another.) But overall, the TV ad pitch does sound a bit too good to be true.

Actually, he’s a she and her name is Pumpkin, but, they do have a male dog named Pi, and I’ve posted pics of them before...!!!
No donuts for the pups, but, they probably wouldn’t like them anyway, as they’re vegan...never mind, we all know pups will eat anything...!!!!!

Pumpkin! What a cutie she is! So, no donuts for the pups? You see, that's what's different from Emy's house and ours. Jack lives by the rule (that he created) that he never needs an invitation to steal any and all food he can get away with! And he's a fast little thief, too!

 

[MinnieM123]

Just had a 4.2 earthquake. My mom felt it but I live closer and didn't feel it.

Didn't feel it north of Boston either. Not sure how the "line" went, as some felt it in (parts of) southern NH, and I also heard (parts of) upstate NY. Southern MA, CT and RI seemed to get the brunt of it. I saw on the news that someone had their Ring doorbell at their house, that recorded the blast (yah, it was loud!). Bizarre.