Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The "Glendora Garage"

[Dan in Pasadena]

Bob & Kay, The "old" stories (don't really seem THAT old to me) are priceless in that it reminds us that things very much different and are NOT different today. When you adjust for inflation things aren't quite as pricey on some prices and yet outrageous on other prices. Recalling WWII, I find so many things people object to today just silly and foolish by comparison.

EXAMPLE: My ex wife's grandmother was in her mid 90's in the 1980's. Her mother was the valedictorian of her high school class but since she was a girl they wouldn't award it to her!! They gave her "Salutorian" - I think it was called. The SECOND highest award though her GPA was higher than the boy to whom they gave the award. Absolutely outrageous to our thinking today. Today parent's would sue and I'm glad they can. At the same time, I bemoan that too many people are so litigious now.

As for xtremek's question about our toad. The Fiat tows easily and doesnt change the RV's MPG as far as I can tell. I bought the Gladiator with the idea I could sell my 2014 2500HD Denali, the Wrangler (WAS going to be the replacement toad) AND the Fiat and have ONE car replace 3. So far that hasn't happened. My girlfriend has almost literally not driven in 3 years because of COVID quarantine, her mom being in hospice care in our home and being retired so she sold her Volvo XC90 and very occasionally uses the Fiat. Once things straighten out she will consider driving a totally electric car IF she can find one she likes, at a price she likes AND that has over 300+ miles of one way range reliably (her son lives 260+ miles north). No idea what that car/SUV may be in another year or so.

FYI: We are in Solvang, CA as I post this. Gas up here is approaching $6.50-ish per gallon. I expect to see $7 and over once we get to Morro Bay and points north.

 

[PugetDude]

Wow, a lot can change in two years; On April 1, 2000 average US price dropped below $2.00/ gallon.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I am posting this from Pismo Coast Village campground in Pismo Beach, CA. The trip has been a nice change after 3 years without a vacation or RV trip. Not much to photograph but still nice.

Irony: I can't remember if I posted about my ex wife having "aphasia" as a result of a recent brain aneurism and subsequent surgery? The news about Bruce Willis has really jumped off the page to us. My daughter is 8+ mo pregnant w/3rd child and trying to visit her mom every couple of days. Her mom was in rehab for 3 weeks but is home now. That's 50 miles from where my daughter lives. VERY tough with 2 children 3 & 7. Topping that, her employer (Disney) is now requiring employees to go back into the office T & Th each week.

I'd never heard the word "aphasia" before. Now hearing it's very common following stroke, brain injury, aneurysm or onset of dementia. Tough to hear. Her mom was my high school sweetheart. A truly beautiful blonde with big eyes and long eyelashes before all women wore fake ones. She was always petite and usually weighed about 110 lbs. But post hospital she weighs in the mid 80 lbs!! Damn that is awful. Really hard to hear and leaves her nowhere to go but up. I don't know if she is capable of it with her brain condition. Oh well, rambling. Sorry guys. Hope you are all fine and having enjoyable garage time. Best, Dan

Iceplant in full bloom on the coast. A garden place in Los Olivos, CA. Dig the GIGANTIC wind chimes. The sounds were amazing. I can live without all the country stuff (****!) but my sister was in awe of all of it, ha ha.

 

[PugetDude]

Sad news, Dan; Sorry to hear this.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Sorry to hear about your ex. Depending on so much, you can sort of recover from aphasia, but it never really goes away. I've had mine for 50-ish years. There are still days I can't speak, or write, or a lot of things. She'll have to be patient, and accept the new reality. It took me over a decade to come to terms with it.

 

[Jayman17]

Dan, that’s not country **** it’s “treasures for the home and garden” like the sign says.

Jay

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Dan, that’s not country **** it’s “treasures for the home and garden” like the sign says.

Jay

Well then my one sister has enough "treasures" in her yard to sink a battleship and my other sister is trying to catch up! lol

My girlfriend isn't a fan of this country stuff either and over the years we've been given a few of these items. My sisters must have gotten the clue because none of that stuff is in our yard.

 

[Bob Heine]

Dan and Kay, living with limitations is sometimes tough and until you walk in those shoes there's no way to know what it's like. Knowing that other people deal with the limitations helps a lot. For me, life is about coping, not winning or losing. And Kay, you've set the coping bar pretty high.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

You and Kay may well be winners of the coping competition. Well, at least metal winners!

My mom used to tell us about feeling bad for the man who had no shoes until you see the man with no feet. Certainly applies to coping with limitations. Feeling bad depends on, "...compared to what?"

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

This trip is getting cut short. Sister & BIL's RV sewage plugged and 3 repair places weren't open on Sunday so they opted to leave a day early this morning.

My girlfriend's older sister just had some surgery on Fri and we're close enough to head up to Auburn, CA for a day or two before heading home. We'll get home Thurs and then turn right around and the following Tues to pick up our grand daughter from San Luis Obispo - apologies to the "never-been-to-California" crowd.

 

[PugetDude]

apologies to the "never-been-to-California" crowd.

deleted

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Added these photos elsewhere but also adding here otherwise I'll never remember WHEN I did this work.

Pulled out lavender bushes - smelled great but were enormous. Not nearly as hard a job as digging in rocky-as-hell Glendora soil. 30 min plus to dig ONE hole for a 2 gal plant! Ridiculous. 3ft x 5ft BOULDER near driveway. Ultimately decided to move the plants instead of jackhammer it.

 

[xtremek]

Sounds like a wise decision.

 

[PugetDude]

Dynamite, Dan.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Sounds like a wise decision.

Thanks.
Hey, I just noticed the link in your signature about your COE project and noticed you haven't posted about it in almost a year and a half. Did it die on the vine or are you still working on it?

 

[xtremek]

Thanks.
Hey, I just noticed the link in your signature about your COE project and noticed you haven't posted about it in almost a year and a half. Did it die on the vine or are you still working on it?

I've collected a few parts for it recently, but I think I'm just going to document it in my regular thread. Too much like work to keep multiple threads going. That's what I'm thinking anyway.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

So this happened:

I found a REALLY wretched looking bike frame abandoned at my local Home Depot. I've been considering buying an eBike but there are just TOO MANY on the market, nearly all Chinese, and they're expensive. I have no real need I just want to fool around with one. As a semi-reformed dumpster diver I couldn't resist this "bike".

I searched for a GJ thread on eBike conversions and found one from over 5 years ago - resurrected elsewhere. This is just to update my own garage/house/yard thread.

I'm wondering if any GJ'er has now done one and what are your thoughts on it? This will be a challenge, huh?!

 

[xtremek]

I'd like to do an e-bike myself. If you do it, document everything on here please.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I'd like to do an e-bike myself. If you do it, document everything on here please.

If I do it I will.

I’m going to take it over to the sandblaster/powder coater I used when I redid my ‘55 truck just to ask a price for blasting it naked. Not for powder coating. It’s not worth that. But blasting would save me a few days sanding.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I finally got around to installing replacement wheels/tires on my lawn mower. Old ones were smooth, no traction at all. A few months ago I tried cutting grooves on the rears with my Skil saw set very shallow - not shallow enough as it turned out! It didn't really help much. Hopefully the new ones work much better. 1st pic is the new installed. 2nd pic is the old front & rears

 

[zmotorsports]

You definitely got all the miles out of those things.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Announcing the birth of my grandson, Elder Daniel James. 8lbs 8oz. 21-1/2” Born 6/8/22 to my daughter, Katie.

Mom (Dad) & baby are doing fine and will be released from the hospital today. He is my 6th and likely last grandchild. We are all truly blessed.

 

[Swanny1953]

Congrats on the birth of your grandson - we have 4 grandkids (3 boys, 1 girl) and find ourselves beyond blessed!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks so much, Gary. Nothing like new little lives to remind you how precious children are.

 

[don long]

Congratulations Grandpa.
cute lil guy just waiting his turn to get grandpa love. They grow up sooo fast.
My oldest grandkids are over over 30 and my youngest is 6 (21 in all)

THe best part of grandkids is you can send them home when you are tired lol

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Congratulations Grandpa.
cute lil guy just waiting his turn to get grandpa love. They grow up sooo fast.
My oldest grandkids are over over 30 and my youngest is 6 (21 in all)

THe best part of grandkids is you can send them home when you are tired lol

Wow, 21 grandkids. My mother-in-law who is in hospice with us will turn 100 on July 10th. She had 9 kids. I don't even know how many grandkids, great grandkids and great-great grandkids she has but plenty!

You're right. I LOVE my grandkids to pieces. I'd do anything for them but they really do tire me out. Every time I see them I think I could never love them more and yet I do.

 

[PugetDude]

Congratulations Dan! For an old hippie you sure have a good looking family.

 

[harley jim]

Congrats on the grandson Dan, I have 13 but they are 600 miles away, so I go into mega spoil when I do get to see them.

 

[Jayman17]

Wanted to say congrats on the new family addition Dan! Glad mom and son are healthy and happy.

Jay

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks PD, Jim, Jay and everyone else for the well wishes.

Finally put up the 2nd shade sail over the pool. Not sure they will really provide all that much shade but SWMBO is satisfied and that gives me a few days until she thinks if something else to do!

Happy weekend everyone.

 

[captain14]

Not sure they will really provide all that much shade but SWMBO is satisfied and that gives me a few days until she thinks if something else to do!

Happy weekend everyone.

Its just like a rabbit hole, just one more thing to do turns into three more…

 

[xtremek]

It doesn't get any better than that. Congrats, Sir.

 

[zmotorsports]

Congratulations on the new addition to the family.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Same post as on my old Garage Dog thread. Here to keep my stuff in one place:


Max decided he liked the chalk our granddaughters were using to draw on the pool deck and rolled in it liberally. Fought me like a 100lb dog when I bathed him in the garage sink. Scratching, clawing, squealing like I was killing him - tepid warm water cause I THOUGHT he might "object". He's clean but I'm as wet as he is. Not sure who truly "won".

 

[Jayman17]

Dan, I’ve always wondered what a blue tick hound looks like.

Jay

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Took my ‘55 out to the grocery store for a quick errand with one of my two 8 year old grand daughters this afternoon.

Got a good end parking spot too. The devil sitting on one shoulder got me to floor it through 1st & 2nd on the drive home. Isla’s eyes got BIG but I don’t think it actually scared her. More of a surprise. Newfound respect for “papa’s old red truck”!

PS: Yes, the stance is all wrong. Lifted the front 1” and now it look like a tail dragger - ugh. I have air shocks to lift rear a bit and spammers to handle more height in front. Tires rub at full lock. I’ve got some steelies for it too. These Boyd’s Smoothies jut aren’t my taste. Too fabulous. I just need to test fit them before I paint them and mount tires.

INFO: SWMBO now wants a THIRD shade sail installed over our pool. See post pics above. ! I knew I made installing the 2nd one look too easy. To be continued.

 

[53PontiacSD]

Doesn't look too high in the front to me. In fact, it looks more level from that side view.

Billy

 

[Boostingaz]

Thanks PD, Jim, Jay and everyone else for the well wishes.

Finally put up the 2nd shade sail over the pool. Not sure they will really provide all that much shade but SWMBO is satisfied and that gives me a few days until she thinks if something else to do!

Happy weekend everyone.

Where did you get the shades? We are looking for some for around the pool as well.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Amazon. Where else these days, ha ha. They're 16x16x16. Installation hardware is separate.

 

[Boostingaz]

Amazon. Where else these days, ha ha. They're 16x16x16. Installation hardware is separate.

Figured so, was hoping you had found a better commercial type quality. The amazon ones last about 59.2 hours in the AZ sun until they have no color, are brittle and flaking.