Who'd a thunk it that my car problems over the weekend could be so expensive? It was $87 for a new battery (dead cell), $210 for the alternator, $70 for the serpentine belt (that was shot and about ready to go), $90 for one hours labor (saved me money there because I'm sure they spent more than an hour working on my car), the inspection had expired, so that was another $37.50 and let's not forget the 8.625% sales tax, for a grand total of about $520! Oh yea, the cab ride home Saturday night was $43, so I'm up to about $570!
Hey, it's only money, right! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa :-(
The good news was that the owner of the shop sent one of his guys over to pick me up this afternoon to save me the cab fare back the 30 miles to his shop. So if you live anywhere near Centereach here on Long Island, go to Monro Muffler, Brakes and Service on Rt 25. They are a bunch of great guys.
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FYI, I've been riding around with my engine service warning light on for a couple of months. It was off and on, so just thought it was some sort of emissions thing. But, no, it was a warning that my alternator was failing. So learn from my experience and if your comes on get your car checked. It could save you from an experience like mine.
Who'd a thunk it that my car problems over the weekend could be so expensive? It was $87 for a new battery (dead cell), $210 for the alternator, $70 for the serpentine belt (that was shot and about ready to go), $90 for one hours labor (saved me money there because I'm sure they spent more than an hour working on my car), the inspection had expired, so that was another $37.50 and let's not forget the 8.625% sales tax, for a grand total of about $520! Oh yea, the cab ride home Saturday night was $43, so I'm up to about $570!
Hey, it's only money, right! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa :-(
The good news was that the owner of the shop sent one of his guys over to pick me up this afternoon to save me the cab fare back the 30 miles to his shop. So if you live anywhere near Centereach here on Long Island, go to Monro Muffler, Brakes and Service on Rt 25. They are a bunch of great guys.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FYI, I've been riding around with my engine service warning light on for a couple of months. It was off and on, so just thought it was some sort of emissions thing. But, no, it was a warning that my alternator was failing. So learn from my experience and if your comes on get your car checked. It could save you from an experience like mine.
Lori and went to a friends 40th surprise birthday party yesterday. It's normally a 30 minute ride, but this one took a bit longer as the last mile was on foot. About 20 minutes into the ride I stopped at a traffic light and when the light turned green the car accelerated VERY, VERY slowly and then picked up speed normally. At each light the same thing happened until the engine finally died. I managed to pull the car up on the grass. I looked under the hood and under the car, but nothing obvious looked wrong. I got the presents from the back seat and Lori and I walked the last mile to the house.
Went we got to the house everyone was busy setting up for the party. I got a phone book and looked up a repair shop close by in the yellow pages and found one that would look at the car right away if I could get it there before they closed. I have an AARP road side assistance plan so called them for a tow. The woman I spoke to was probably from India, because communicating with her was not easy. I had to repeat or spell everything several times before she understood where my car was located and where I wanted them to tow it. I held on while she contacted the towing service and told me to wait by the car and the tow truck would be there under 1 hour and 10 minutes.
I wrote down a few phone numbers I figured I need and hoofed it back to the car. It was a little over 30 minutes until the truck showed up. I signed a receipt and the guy loaded the car on the flat bed. We were at the repair shop in a few minutes.
They took the car into the shop right away and looked at the car right away as promised. They hooked up a battery tester to the battery and diagnosed it was shot and had a bad cell. They told me there was a 90% chance it was just the battery. The girl replaced it less than a 1/2 hour. The car started right up, but the alternator was charging the battery. Bummer dude, but all the part stores are closed or stop deliveries 45 minutes ago. I can't get the alternator until Monday.
Great, I'm 20 miles from home and no car. I know, I'll call for a rental car. No luck, because they all closed at 1:00 on a Saturday, except for the airport locations. Crap, the closest on is even farther than my house.
I know, we'll call one of Lori;s kids to pick us up later. My son has a broken collar bone and can't drive. Her daughter is at a party 30 miles away and won't drive after drinking. And her son could pick us up now (about 6:00), but will be going out later with his girl friend.
We didn't want to leave, so decided to take a cab home after the party.
The party was fun and there was lots of home made snacky foods and plenty of gin & tonic to drown my sorrows in. I knew I didn't have to drive home, so drank my fair share of booze as did Lori.
Lori and I were chatting with different people, so I don't know how much she drank, but went I found her, she was toasted! Time to go, so they called a cab for me. We waited by the front door and outside on the porch for some fresh air.
The longer we waited for the taxi, the more Lori was crashing. The cab finally showed up. She told me this morning it was touch and go keeping it down in the cab, but she made it without incident. The cab ride was $43.
I have to take a cab back to pick up my car tomorrow, so it will be another $43. That and the cost of the repair and that is going be one very expensive repair.
But such is life, right! At least I didn't have to pay for the tow to the shop. Thank you AARP!
Lori and went to a friends 40th surprise birthday party yesterday. It's normally a 30 minute ride, but this one took a bit longer as the last mile was on foot. About 20 minutes into the ride I stopped at a traffic light and when the light turned green the car accelerated VERY, VERY slowly and then picked up speed normally. At each light the same thing happened until the engine finally died. I managed to pull the car up on the grass. I looked under the hood and under the car, but nothing obvious looked wrong. I got the presents from the back seat and Lori and I walked the last mile to the house.
Went we got to the house everyone was busy setting up for the party. I got a phone book and looked up a repair shop close by in the yellow pages and found one that would look at the car right away if I could get it there before they closed. I have an AARP road side assistance plan so called them for a tow. The woman I spoke to was probably from India, because communicating with her was not easy. I had to repeat or spell everything several times before she understood where my car was located and where I wanted them to tow it. I held on while she contacted the towing service and told me to wait by the car and the tow truck would be there under 1 hour and 10 minutes.
I wrote down a few phone numbers I figured I need and hoofed it back to the car. It was a little over 30 minutes until the truck showed up. I signed a receipt and the guy loaded the car on the flat bed. We were at the repair shop in a few minutes.
They took the car into the shop right away and looked at the car right away as promised. They hooked up a battery tester to the battery and diagnosed it was shot and had a bad cell. They told me there was a 90% chance it was just the battery. The girl replaced it less than a 1/2 hour. The car started right up, but the alternator was charging the battery. Bummer dude, but all the part stores are closed or stop deliveries 45 minutes ago. I can't get the alternator until Monday.
Great, I'm 20 miles from home and no car. I know, I'll call for a rental car. No luck, because they all closed at 1:00 on a Saturday, except for the airport locations. Crap, the closest on is even farther than my house.
I know, we'll call one of Lori;s kids to pick us up later. My son has a broken collar bone and can't drive. Her daughter is at a party 30 miles away and won't drive after drinking. And her son could pick us up now (about 6:00), but will be going out later with his girl friend.
We didn't want to leave, so decided to take a cab home after the party.
The party was fun and there was lots of home made snacky foods and plenty of gin & tonic to drown my sorrows in. I knew I didn't have to drive home, so drank my fair share of booze as did Lori.
Lori and I were chatting with different people, so I don't know how much she drank, but went I found her, she was toasted! Time to go, so they called a cab for me. We waited by the front door and outside on the porch for some fresh air.
The longer we waited for the taxi, the more Lori was crashing. The cab finally showed up. She told me this morning it was touch and go keeping it down in the cab, but she made it without incident. The cab ride was $43.
I have to take a cab back to pick up my car tomorrow, so it will be another $43. That and the cost of the repair and that is going be one very expensive repair.
But such is life, right! At least I didn't have to pay for the tow to the shop. Thank you AARP!
As most of you know, last Wednesday my son was playing hockey and was hit by a puck that broke his collar bone. Today he saw the orthopedist. They took an x ray to compare the break to last weeks x ray and yep, it's still broken. LOL Actually it still looks the same, but he's moving his arm more and without too much pain. Now he just has to wait until it heals on it's own. He'll probably be in the sling for 4 more weeks and 12 weeks total until it's completely healed. Then he'll have to have therapy on the shoulder, but will be back to normal after that.
As most of you know, last Wednesday my son was playing hockey and was hit by a puck that broke his collar bone. Today he saw the orthopedist. They took an x ray to compare the break to last weeks x ray and yep, it's still broken. LOL Actually it still looks the same, but he's moving his arm more and without too much pain. Now he just has to wait until it heals on it's own. He'll probably be in the sling for 4 more weeks and 12 weeks total until it's completely healed. Then he'll have to have therapy on the shoulder, but will be back to normal after that.
I took Brian to the orthopedist this morning, but I forgot the insurance card. They wouldn't call the insurance company to verify his coverage, but I'll accept the blame. I'm very depressed and could use a few boobie pics to help me get over it.
I took Brian to the orthopedist this morning, but I forgot the insurance card. They wouldn't call the insurance company to verify his coverage, but I'll accept the blame. I'm very depressed and could use a few boobie pics to help me get over it.
Last night at about 1:00 am, my son woke me when he came home from his roller hockey game. He told me he got hit with a by a puck and his shoulder was KILLING him. He told me that he was hit by an 80 MPH slap shot from the top player in the league. I got up to take a look at it and saw a cut and red mark over his right collar bone. It wasn't swollen, but hurt a lot. He said he wanted to go to the doctor in the morning and have it looked at. I gave him a couple 800mg ibuprofen and an ice pack. He went to sleep and slept until 12:30 this afternoon. I heard him talking on his cell phone, so I thought those were good signs. Maybe it's not so bad after all.
When he hung up the phone I knocked on his door and went into his room. He was not in good shape. His shoulder was KILLING him even more than last night. I helped him get dress and took him to the emergency room. I told them I thought his shoulder was broken. I thought that would get him in quicker as he really was in a lot of pain. Any movement at all sent sharp pains through his shoulder. That didn't matter, because it took about an hour to see the triage nurse and another 30 minutes to give them his insurance card so they would take him into the ER.
That being done they took him right in to what they call Fast Track. This treatment area is off of the regular emergency room. I assumed he'd get fast attention and I was right. They told us to sit down and someone would be right us. I don't think we waited more than a couple of minutes before we were taken to an area for him to be seen. Less than a minute later a nurse came over and gave him a preliminary check. She went over and got the PA who came right over to check him out.
The PA pulled and tugged, poked and prodded and He said he didn't feel anything out of place. So it was more likely just a severe muscle bruise to a muscle that seems to connect everything in his right shoulder and that side of the neck. They would be taking x rays, but if the came back negative as he expected, then with a sling, pain killers, muscle relaxers and anti inflammatories, he would be feeling much, much better in less than a week.
That was a relief, because if anything was broken, it would be six to eight weeks before he'd be able to even use his arm. He is assistant produce manager in the busiest Stop & Shop super market on Long Island and lifting heavy boxes and crates of produce is something he does most of the day.
We waited for about 20 minutes and then we were taken to x ray. That took about 15 minutes. When he came out of the x ray room, he told me that his collar bone was broken. He saw the x ray and it was a clean break in two. FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! We went back to the ER and waited about 20 minute for the PA to get free. I told him it was a broken collar bone. His answer was, "I'm not surprised." WTF! He was certain it was just muscle damage earlier, but now he's "not surprised". What a dick!
Here's a picture of pretty much what my son's collar bone looks like. This is a left collar bone break, but you'll get the idea.
Now what do we do? The PA said they will put his arm in a sling and we are to call a orthopedic surgeon tomorrow for an appointment. He will decide what the treatment will be, but that they usually don't reset the collar bone and just let it heal the way it is.
He was right before about the muscle damage, so he must be right. With PA's record so far, my guess is the neurosurgeon will reset the collar bone with surgery and a pin. Ya, right.
It's now five hours later and the pain killers and anti inflammatories are doing their job. My son ate the pizza for dinner, four slices, and has been up and around. Now he's in bed and hopefully will rest as comfortable as he can tonight.
Last night at about 1:00 am, my son woke me when he came home from his roller hockey game. He told me he got hit with a by a puck and his shoulder was KILLING him. He told me that he was hit by an 80 MPH slap shot from the top player in the league. I got up to take a look at it and saw a cut and red mark over his right collar bone. It wasn't swollen, but hurt a lot. He said he wanted to go to the doctor in the morning and have it looked at. I gave him a couple 800mg ibuprofen and an ice pack. He went to sleep and slept until 12:30 this afternoon. I heard him talking on his cell phone, so I thought those were good signs. Maybe it's not so bad after all.
When he hung up the phone I knocked on his door and went into his room. He was not in good shape. His shoulder was KILLING him even more than last night. I helped him get dress and took him to the emergency room. I told them I thought his shoulder was broken. I thought that would get him in quicker as he really was in a lot of pain. Any movement at all sent sharp pains through his shoulder. That didn't matter, because it took about an hour to see the triage nurse and another 30 minutes to give them his insurance card so they would take him into the ER.
That being done they took him right in to what they call Fast Track. This treatment area is off of the regular emergency room. I assumed he'd get fast attention and I was right. They told us to sit down and someone would be right us. I don't think we waited more than a couple of minutes before we were taken to an area for him to be seen. Less than a minute later a nurse came over and gave him a preliminary check. She went over and got the PA who came right over to check him out.
The PA pulled and tugged, poked and prodded and He said he didn't feel anything out of place. So it was more likely just a severe muscle bruise to a muscle that seems to connect everything in his right shoulder and that side of the neck. They would be taking x rays, but if the came back negative as he expected, then with a sling, pain killers, muscle relaxers and anti inflammatories, he would be feeling much, much better in less than a week.
That was a relief, because if anything was broken, it would be six to eight weeks before he'd be able to even use his arm. He is assistant produce manager in the busiest Stop & Shop super market on Long Island and lifting heavy boxes and crates of produce is something he does most of the day.
We waited for about 20 minutes and then we were taken to x ray. That took about 15 minutes. When he came out of the x ray room, he told me that his collar bone was broken. He saw the x ray and it was a clean break in two. FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! We went back to the ER and waited about 20 minute for the PA to get free. I told him it was a broken collar bone. His answer was, "I'm not surprised." WTF! He was certain it was just muscle damage earlier, but now he's "not surprised". What a dick!
Here's a picture of pretty much what my son's collar bone looks like. This is a left collar bone break, but you'll get the idea.
Now what do we do? The PA said they will put his arm in a sling and we are to call a orthopedic surgeon tomorrow for an appointment. He will decide what the treatment will be, but that they usually don't reset the collar bone and just let it heal the way it is.
He was right before about the muscle damage, so he must be right. With PA's record so far, my guess is the neurosurgeon will reset the collar bone with surgery and a pin. Ya, right.
It's now five hours later and the pain killers and anti inflammatories are doing their job. My son ate the pizza for dinner, four slices, and has been up and around. Now he's in bed and hopefully will rest as comfortable as he can tonight.
Last July I decided to it was time to clean out my basement. I even made a before video of what it looked like. (It's 10 minutes, so skip ahead if you don't want to see the before.)
I procrastinated and procrastinated and procrastinated, but I finally did it. Well, about 90% did it.
Lori and I met some friends that couldn't wait to get down into my basement and dig through over 30 years worth of crap treasures. I told them I got first dibs on what was down there, then Lori and then they could fight over the rest. They agreed, so last Saturday Anne Marie, Bill and Maggie came over to help Lori and me get the basement back in shape. Well, 90% back in shape.
Around noon the cleaning crew pulled up in front of the house.
They got the first look at what they had gotten themselves in for.
Then a look to the left for this view.
And then they turned the corner and got a look at this.
And then this.
If it wasn't for the refrigerator full of beer and the gin, they might have been scared away.
Hell, if it wasn't for this view all day I might have even considered abandoning the project.
3 1/2 hours later we'd finished and this is what the basement looked like.
Bill did most of the lugging the stuff no one wanted out to the street for the trash and the garbage scavengers that come around the neighborhood the night before the garbage is picked up.
This is another view of the trash.
This is the stuff we are going to take to Goodwill.
This is the stuff Lori and I wanted and stuff my son might want, but still has to look through.
This is the stuff my helpers wanted. They all worked so hard, so it was my pleasure to share my crap treasures with them.
The stuff on the right and left, I'm keeping or have to go through. The pile of boxes in the center goes out for recycle next Wednesday.
This is what the finished side of the basement looked like. I can finally walk through it and get to my tread mill. My nutricionist will be happy to hear that.
Lori took all these pictures and of course she caught me in an uncompromising position.
I was fooling around and put on the cup I used when I played ice hockey in the 70s.
Is this what you want you horn dog? Is this what you want? Well, here it is!
Last July I decided to it was time to clean out my basement. I even made a before video of what it looked like. (It's 10 minutes, so skip ahead if you don't want to see the before.)
I procrastinated and procrastinated and procrastinated, but I finally did it. Well, about 90% did it.
Lori and I met some friends that couldn't wait to get down into my basement and dig through over 30 years worth of crap treasures. I told them I got first dibs on what was down there, then Lori and then they could fight over the rest. They agreed, so last Saturday Anne Marie, Bill and Maggie came over to help Lori and me get the basement back in shape. Well, 90% back in shape.
Around noon the cleaning crew pulled up in front of the house.
They got the first look at what they had gotten themselves in for.
Then a look to the left for this view.
And then they turned the corner and got a look at this.
And then this.
If it wasn't for the refrigerator full of beer and the gin, they might have been scared away.
Hell, if it wasn't for this view all day I might have even considered abandoning the project.
3 1/2 hours later we'd finished and this is what the basement looked like.
Bill did most of the lugging the stuff no one wanted out to the street for the trash and the garbage scavengers that come around the neighborhood the night before the garbage is picked up.
This is another view of the trash.
This is the stuff we are going to take to Goodwill.
This is the stuff Lori and I wanted and stuff my son might want, but still has to look through.
This is the stuff my helpers wanted. They all worked so hard, so it was my pleasure to share my crap treasures with them.
The stuff on the right and left, I'm keeping or have to go through. The pile of boxes in the center goes out for recycle next Wednesday.
This is what the finished side of the basement looked like. I can finally walk through it and get to my tread mill. My nutricionist will be happy to hear that.
Lori took all these pictures and of course she caught me in an uncompromising position.
I was fooling around and put on the cup I used when I played ice hockey in the 70s.
Is this what you want you horn dog? Is this what you want? Well, here it is!
Last weekend Lori and I continued our celebration our 2ND anniversary by checking into the Hilton hotel for the weekend.
I packed the necessities I thought we needed
and Lori packed the ones she thought we would have the most fun with.
The room had a king size bed, which made snuggling all the better.
We ordered room service for all our meals
and never left the room except to get more ice, so the maid never even had to make up the bed.
Sunday we checked out and on the way home we stopped by the place we went for our first date, Kenny's Pub & Grub. Kenny's has been closed for a while, but we still like to go by there and rekindle the memory of that first date.
Last weekend Lori and I continued our celebration our 2ND anniversary by checking into the Hilton hotel for the weekend.
I packed the necessities I thought we needed
and Lori packed the ones she thought we would have the most fun with.
The room had a king size bed, which made snuggling all the better.
We ordered room service for all our meals
and never left the room except to get more ice, so the maid never even had to make up the bed.
Sunday we checked out and on the way home we stopped by the place we went for our first date, Kenny's Pub & Grub. Kenny's has been closed for a while, but we still like to go by there and rekindle the memory of that first date.
