It's almost November, and most of the fall projects have been completed - it's just about time to consider winter projects!
In fact, as I type this, I have just cleaned off my scanner in order to get back to scanning pictures. I've discovered that digital copies take up less room than physical ones!
While I do not intend to get rid of all the physical media, I do intend to thin things out to a more manageable size for both personal and storage reasons. I have seven or so storage boxes full of photographs, negatives, and slides to sort through.
As I have written before, the material is the result of several generations of family hanging on to things. I am the last member of this particular branch of the family, so I have inherited, or been saddled with, dealing with the material. I am also the last member of the immediate family who still has a chance of easily identifying people and places in the photographs - while my memory is still fairly good at remembering what I have been told about the pictures, and family history, and what I can recall personally.
However, this is also a project that has taken on a life of it's own as I work at it, and change and refine what I want to do with all of the material.
Currently, the plan is to scan everything, identify the people places and times, store what I want to keep, and dispose of the rest. So far, my disposal options are to send the material to the people in them, trash, or I have also contacted local archives to see about donating them with the intent of saving bits of history.
Of course, none of that has prevented me from collecting more material. While doing some internet research of people and places, I have found some information and photographs that are of interest to me. Such as passenger lists, history and photographs.
I am beginning to understand why some people reach the point of just tossing everything, but so far I am too stubborn to throw in the hat!
Sunday, 29 October 2017
Sunday, 15 October 2017
October 15, 2017
I may be hunting for a new pen.
I went through this last year, and eventually ended up with a Caran d'Ache 849.
While I still love that pen, I have noticed that the colouring seems to be starting to rub off in the most handled areas. It is starting to be noticeable around the top of the pen, where you click it. Underneath the orange, it is starting to show white.
I know, not enough to really say I need a new pen! But I now have to choose, do I continue to use it daily and let the wear happen as a badge of being used? Or, replace it?
Tough choices. My former pen gave me close to 35 years of being a daily pocket pen before I felt the desire to replace it. I suspect I may replace this one, not because there it anything wrong with it's functioning, but because I would like to try something else. Or have been swayed by seeming something shiny and new.
A part of me just wants to order new pens, and see what they are like. But that can get expensive fairly easily. I am looking at a TWSBI pen that I bought before the Caran d'Ache, and while I like it, I don't like it enough to be my daily pocket pen.
I've tried fountain pens, and roller balls, and gel pens, but for me, nothing works quite as well as a ball point. As much as I would love to be a daily fountain pen user, it doesn't seem to be a good fit for me.
I'm thinking I should start charting pen measurements to see if there is a measurable basis for the pens I like - weight, length or diameter. I do know I have what is called a cramped writing style - small writing in less lofty terms. So I already know I prefer a finer point. But sometimes I wonder which came first; my preference for a finer point because I write small, or I write smaller because I use a finer point?
I went through this last year, and eventually ended up with a Caran d'Ache 849.
While I still love that pen, I have noticed that the colouring seems to be starting to rub off in the most handled areas. It is starting to be noticeable around the top of the pen, where you click it. Underneath the orange, it is starting to show white.
I know, not enough to really say I need a new pen! But I now have to choose, do I continue to use it daily and let the wear happen as a badge of being used? Or, replace it?
Tough choices. My former pen gave me close to 35 years of being a daily pocket pen before I felt the desire to replace it. I suspect I may replace this one, not because there it anything wrong with it's functioning, but because I would like to try something else. Or have been swayed by seeming something shiny and new.
A part of me just wants to order new pens, and see what they are like. But that can get expensive fairly easily. I am looking at a TWSBI pen that I bought before the Caran d'Ache, and while I like it, I don't like it enough to be my daily pocket pen.
I've tried fountain pens, and roller balls, and gel pens, but for me, nothing works quite as well as a ball point. As much as I would love to be a daily fountain pen user, it doesn't seem to be a good fit for me.
I'm thinking I should start charting pen measurements to see if there is a measurable basis for the pens I like - weight, length or diameter. I do know I have what is called a cramped writing style - small writing in less lofty terms. So I already know I prefer a finer point. But sometimes I wonder which came first; my preference for a finer point because I write small, or I write smaller because I use a finer point?
Sunday, 24 September 2017
September 24, 2017
I bought a used Audi this year, and so far, it has been an interesting ride. I thought after five months of ownership, I should make a note of what the experience has been like.
First, let me say it has been a blast! Also a learning experience - lol.
I got the car fairly cheap, knowing it needed maintenance, so some of the things I've had to deal with have just been deferred maintenance issues. While the cost of four new tires was not cheap, I knew that when I bought the car, and it was factored into the purchase price. As a side note to anyone reading this, new tires do not increase the price of a car; but poor tires certainly lower the price you are able to get!
Rear brakes were another item that needed doing - I wasn't aware of that when I bought the car. But when the new tires went on, I was able to see that the rear rotors were looking pretty sad, and that rear pads were needed. I took the easy way out, and just replaced both the rear pads and rotors. This may not have been a job I planned on doing, but it falls under normal wear and tear, so I don't feel it was an unreasonable expense.
I've read some horror stories about these cars and oiling problems, especially the turbo cars (which mine isn't!), so I decided to switch to synthetic oil - a bit more costly, but it does have an extended service interval to help offset the cost. Since the bulk of my driving is on the highway, a little extra protection doesn't hurt! Plus the car has a chance to fully come up to temperature which should help prevent any sludge buildup. So far, the downside has been oil leaks - apparently a known Audi problem. So tracking them down, and having them fixed, has been an annoying and unanticipated event. This has been my only real complaint about the car so far.
I have had a few odd repairs to take care of - things that I had never thought would be an issue in a modern car. The windshield washer pump quit - the first time I have had to replace a pump since some of the 1970's cars I owned. I needed to replace a headlight linkage that connects the headlight adjustment module to the suspension of the car so that the lights will adjust how they are aimed according to the load in the car. A cool feature, but disconcerting when you drive the car the first time at night and discover the lights are basically pointing down instead of ahead! Fortunately, the part was still available at the dealer - a bonus when dealing with a seventeen year old car! The other odd repair has been to replace the outside mirror because it was leaking. It turns out that the outside mirror is not only just heated, but also auto-dimming. Well, until the auto-dimming fluid starts leaking out. Thank goodness for eBay!
Other than that, there have just been a few things that any used car may have wrong with them. A license plate bulb that needs replacing, one of the interior light bulbs needs replacing, and a new set of windshield wipers.
Still to come, I will need a set of winter tires. I am actually looking forward to winter, and snow, to see how well the car works.
One of the reasons I bought the car is that it is a quattro model, and should be sure-footed in snow and winter driving. My daily work commute is 75km each way, so being safe on the highway is pretty important to me!
First, let me say it has been a blast! Also a learning experience - lol.
I got the car fairly cheap, knowing it needed maintenance, so some of the things I've had to deal with have just been deferred maintenance issues. While the cost of four new tires was not cheap, I knew that when I bought the car, and it was factored into the purchase price. As a side note to anyone reading this, new tires do not increase the price of a car; but poor tires certainly lower the price you are able to get!
Rear brakes were another item that needed doing - I wasn't aware of that when I bought the car. But when the new tires went on, I was able to see that the rear rotors were looking pretty sad, and that rear pads were needed. I took the easy way out, and just replaced both the rear pads and rotors. This may not have been a job I planned on doing, but it falls under normal wear and tear, so I don't feel it was an unreasonable expense.
I've read some horror stories about these cars and oiling problems, especially the turbo cars (which mine isn't!), so I decided to switch to synthetic oil - a bit more costly, but it does have an extended service interval to help offset the cost. Since the bulk of my driving is on the highway, a little extra protection doesn't hurt! Plus the car has a chance to fully come up to temperature which should help prevent any sludge buildup. So far, the downside has been oil leaks - apparently a known Audi problem. So tracking them down, and having them fixed, has been an annoying and unanticipated event. This has been my only real complaint about the car so far.
I have had a few odd repairs to take care of - things that I had never thought would be an issue in a modern car. The windshield washer pump quit - the first time I have had to replace a pump since some of the 1970's cars I owned. I needed to replace a headlight linkage that connects the headlight adjustment module to the suspension of the car so that the lights will adjust how they are aimed according to the load in the car. A cool feature, but disconcerting when you drive the car the first time at night and discover the lights are basically pointing down instead of ahead! Fortunately, the part was still available at the dealer - a bonus when dealing with a seventeen year old car! The other odd repair has been to replace the outside mirror because it was leaking. It turns out that the outside mirror is not only just heated, but also auto-dimming. Well, until the auto-dimming fluid starts leaking out. Thank goodness for eBay!
Other than that, there have just been a few things that any used car may have wrong with them. A license plate bulb that needs replacing, one of the interior light bulbs needs replacing, and a new set of windshield wipers.
Still to come, I will need a set of winter tires. I am actually looking forward to winter, and snow, to see how well the car works.
One of the reasons I bought the car is that it is a quattro model, and should be sure-footed in snow and winter driving. My daily work commute is 75km each way, so being safe on the highway is pretty important to me!
Tuesday, 19 September 2017
September 19, 2017
Organization is the bane of my existence.
I am much enamored with the idea of being organized, and having a place for everything, and everything in it's place. But, alas, I fear that is not to be.
Part of it, I am sure, is never having developed the habit in the first place. I have a theory that being messy, and still being able to find things, goes hand in hand with having a good memory. But I'm not sure which comes first; if having a good memory enables you to be unorganized and messy, and still function; or if being messy and unorganized forces you to develop a good memory.
Interestingly, there have been some studies that seem to indicate that mankind is undergoing a change in how we remember things. Apparently, with the rise of the internet, and the vast amounts of information on it, people are now less likely to remember the actual information but instead remember where to find it.
Which is, I suppose, very similar to what people used to do with personal libraries. The biggest difference, in my way of thinking, is that the internet is in many ways ephemeral. Whereas a library, filled with books, is a lot less technology dependent. For instance, books still work during power outages and other disruptions.
Not that books are immune to damage, far from it. Water and fire can render them totally useless, as can cheap materials used in their creation.
Now, if you will excuse me, I feel the need to organize my books.
I am much enamored with the idea of being organized, and having a place for everything, and everything in it's place. But, alas, I fear that is not to be.
Part of it, I am sure, is never having developed the habit in the first place. I have a theory that being messy, and still being able to find things, goes hand in hand with having a good memory. But I'm not sure which comes first; if having a good memory enables you to be unorganized and messy, and still function; or if being messy and unorganized forces you to develop a good memory.
Interestingly, there have been some studies that seem to indicate that mankind is undergoing a change in how we remember things. Apparently, with the rise of the internet, and the vast amounts of information on it, people are now less likely to remember the actual information but instead remember where to find it.
Which is, I suppose, very similar to what people used to do with personal libraries. The biggest difference, in my way of thinking, is that the internet is in many ways ephemeral. Whereas a library, filled with books, is a lot less technology dependent. For instance, books still work during power outages and other disruptions.
Not that books are immune to damage, far from it. Water and fire can render them totally useless, as can cheap materials used in their creation.
Now, if you will excuse me, I feel the need to organize my books.
Sunday, 13 August 2017
August 13, 2017
My Lord, I've been lazy!
With the warmer weather, activities have shifted to being out of doors more often, and that means less time inside to work on projects.
Scanning has all but stopped - although I still have boxes of it to do, and even have photographs to be scanned on my desk. I think it stopped in part due to the size of the project - I really should have set myself some rules as to daily targets instead of just doing what I could as time allowed.
Of course, scanning was always just a portion of what I was trying to accomplish. Along with scanning photographs I was also trying to do detective work - finding out names, dates and locations. All time consuming tasks.
I've been enjoying the Audi I bought - a 2000 A6. It has required extra money to catch up on maintenance - why do people ignore that when trying to sell a car? Actually, it hasn't been too bad - oil changes are regular and ongoing, so I don't count that against the car. I did have to replace a ball joint/control arm (and subsequent alignment). Still requiring attention are the rear brakes (parts ordered); a rear ABS sensor, and then a good look under the hood!
When I got the car, it was supposed to have had the timing belt changed - although there was no paperwork to prove that it did. I have been chasing some oil leaks, due, it turns out, to poor crankcase ventilation. That is the crankcase pressure was high than it should have been, forcing oil out under pressure where ever there was a weak spot. I am thinking at this point that the cure may well be taking it in and having the timing belt done since that requires replacing a lot of gaskets as part of that job. The upside being that I will know for sure that the maintenance has been done, with the receipts to prove it!
I still need to call and get some quotes on what timing belt replacement costs - I have read that it is best to also replace the water pump and thermostat at the same time, since those parts are all maintenance items and why replace the same gaskets more than once? So, slightly higher labour cost and a few extra parts, and a savings on not having to work on the same part of the engine twice, and a savings on gaskets - one set vs two.
I think I may be catching up!
With the warmer weather, activities have shifted to being out of doors more often, and that means less time inside to work on projects.
Scanning has all but stopped - although I still have boxes of it to do, and even have photographs to be scanned on my desk. I think it stopped in part due to the size of the project - I really should have set myself some rules as to daily targets instead of just doing what I could as time allowed.
Of course, scanning was always just a portion of what I was trying to accomplish. Along with scanning photographs I was also trying to do detective work - finding out names, dates and locations. All time consuming tasks.
I've been enjoying the Audi I bought - a 2000 A6. It has required extra money to catch up on maintenance - why do people ignore that when trying to sell a car? Actually, it hasn't been too bad - oil changes are regular and ongoing, so I don't count that against the car. I did have to replace a ball joint/control arm (and subsequent alignment). Still requiring attention are the rear brakes (parts ordered); a rear ABS sensor, and then a good look under the hood!
When I got the car, it was supposed to have had the timing belt changed - although there was no paperwork to prove that it did. I have been chasing some oil leaks, due, it turns out, to poor crankcase ventilation. That is the crankcase pressure was high than it should have been, forcing oil out under pressure where ever there was a weak spot. I am thinking at this point that the cure may well be taking it in and having the timing belt done since that requires replacing a lot of gaskets as part of that job. The upside being that I will know for sure that the maintenance has been done, with the receipts to prove it!
I still need to call and get some quotes on what timing belt replacement costs - I have read that it is best to also replace the water pump and thermostat at the same time, since those parts are all maintenance items and why replace the same gaskets more than once? So, slightly higher labour cost and a few extra parts, and a savings on not having to work on the same part of the engine twice, and a savings on gaskets - one set vs two.
I think I may be catching up!
Wednesday, 26 April 2017
April 26, 2017
It's hard to believe that April is almost over - it seems like the month only started a few days ago!
With the warmer weather, it looks like more time will be spent outside. Not necessarily outside enjoying the weather, but outside doing yard work.
It has been a rough winter around the yard - we had some wind and snow storms causing a fair bit of damage to trees that will need to be tended to. There are a lot of broken branches, and some trees may not be able to be saved. Fortunately, those trees are around the periphery of the property, in areas that are allowed to grow wild. So trimming or cutting them won't disturb any esthetics.
Also, one of my big projects this year is going to be the front lawn. It is pretty sad looking right now. A big part of it, as far as I can tell, is that we have eight trees on the from lawn, shading the grass from sunlight and then dropping leaves all over it in the fall. It is also my understanding that the trees make the soil a bit more acidic to discourage growth of other plants. So, I spread some lime on it yesterday - to be followed up with some nitrogen rich fertilizer (grass likes nitrogen) and then probably spreading new grass seed and keeping it watered.
Of course, it is going to be fun trying to fit that in around my work schedule - I lose a nine hour chunk of time every day I work - so yard care will have to either be exclusively on days off or early morning/late evening.
While regular stuff can happen on days off, I think the lawn is going to be an early morning or late evening affair - the lawn is going to need what it needs when it needs it. I am pretty sure that Mother Nature will not wait until it is convenient for me!
Wish me luck.
With the warmer weather, it looks like more time will be spent outside. Not necessarily outside enjoying the weather, but outside doing yard work.
It has been a rough winter around the yard - we had some wind and snow storms causing a fair bit of damage to trees that will need to be tended to. There are a lot of broken branches, and some trees may not be able to be saved. Fortunately, those trees are around the periphery of the property, in areas that are allowed to grow wild. So trimming or cutting them won't disturb any esthetics.
Also, one of my big projects this year is going to be the front lawn. It is pretty sad looking right now. A big part of it, as far as I can tell, is that we have eight trees on the from lawn, shading the grass from sunlight and then dropping leaves all over it in the fall. It is also my understanding that the trees make the soil a bit more acidic to discourage growth of other plants. So, I spread some lime on it yesterday - to be followed up with some nitrogen rich fertilizer (grass likes nitrogen) and then probably spreading new grass seed and keeping it watered.
Of course, it is going to be fun trying to fit that in around my work schedule - I lose a nine hour chunk of time every day I work - so yard care will have to either be exclusively on days off or early morning/late evening.
While regular stuff can happen on days off, I think the lawn is going to be an early morning or late evening affair - the lawn is going to need what it needs when it needs it. I am pretty sure that Mother Nature will not wait until it is convenient for me!
Wish me luck.
Thursday, 20 April 2017
April 20, 2017
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the stuff I have.
I don't think I am alone. In our society, we are expected to be good consumers, but it goes deeper than that. We say we like nice things, or we cling to an inflated sense of value - what we paid for something, or how difficult it was to find or acquire. Or, perhaps worse, we start to see ourselves as collectors.
I have a vinyl collection, about two thousand albums or so. By some measures that is a lot, and compared to some collections that is quite small. The value to me comes from several factors. Firstly it is music I liked enough to buy, it also shows how my interests have changed over the years. If I were to put it in the order I bought it, it would show my musical interests as I age as well as my particular obsessions at a given time.
However much pleasure it gives me, it also is a weight on my mind as I grow older. What to do with it, who would appreciate it, or how to store it. And that is just one area where I have collected things. We all have more than we need, and require more space to store it in.
And yet, I keep purchasing - not just vinyl, or books, or things I would like to own. But we are all expected to own more. My grandparents were happy if they owned a nice radio, or television when it came along. Now our lives are filled with televisions, computers, phones and more in the form of peripherals. Beside my computer I have a multi-function printer on one side, a flatbed scanner on the other, and the router behind me. Don't get me started on kitchen gadgets!
I often think it would be nice to pare things down, to be able to live in a smaller space without feeling cramped. Eventually, to know that when I pass, I haven't left a ton of stuff for someone else to have to decide how to dispose of. Or to have it pared down enough that they can simple move it without multiple trucks and destinations.
The challenge is to do that without losing functionality - and the ability to help oneself. I firmly believe that everyone should have a good, basic set of tools to be able to simple repairs for themselves. A bookcase for their books, for reference, education and pleasure. And so on.
I hope someday to reach that goal.
I don't think I am alone. In our society, we are expected to be good consumers, but it goes deeper than that. We say we like nice things, or we cling to an inflated sense of value - what we paid for something, or how difficult it was to find or acquire. Or, perhaps worse, we start to see ourselves as collectors.
I have a vinyl collection, about two thousand albums or so. By some measures that is a lot, and compared to some collections that is quite small. The value to me comes from several factors. Firstly it is music I liked enough to buy, it also shows how my interests have changed over the years. If I were to put it in the order I bought it, it would show my musical interests as I age as well as my particular obsessions at a given time.
However much pleasure it gives me, it also is a weight on my mind as I grow older. What to do with it, who would appreciate it, or how to store it. And that is just one area where I have collected things. We all have more than we need, and require more space to store it in.
And yet, I keep purchasing - not just vinyl, or books, or things I would like to own. But we are all expected to own more. My grandparents were happy if they owned a nice radio, or television when it came along. Now our lives are filled with televisions, computers, phones and more in the form of peripherals. Beside my computer I have a multi-function printer on one side, a flatbed scanner on the other, and the router behind me. Don't get me started on kitchen gadgets!
I often think it would be nice to pare things down, to be able to live in a smaller space without feeling cramped. Eventually, to know that when I pass, I haven't left a ton of stuff for someone else to have to decide how to dispose of. Or to have it pared down enough that they can simple move it without multiple trucks and destinations.
The challenge is to do that without losing functionality - and the ability to help oneself. I firmly believe that everyone should have a good, basic set of tools to be able to simple repairs for themselves. A bookcase for their books, for reference, education and pleasure. And so on.
I hope someday to reach that goal.
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
April 12, 2017 - Audi A6
Since the scanning of photographs has slowed down, I may as well talk about what is currently occupying my time - I recently purchased a 2000 Audi A6 as a replacement for my 2004 Lincoln Town Car.
The Lincoln has been a great car - but I am getting into issues with it that I would rather not be dealing with, namely rust. I don't mind mechanical repairs or maintenance, but there is something about starting to repair rust damage that makes me really want to avoid it.
So the Audi I purchased has 120,000 km on it and is rust free. That is not to say it doesn't need some TLC or any repair. But I feel I have a good start with the car.
The young man who owned it before me should have bought a truck - that was what he wanted (and is buying now he sod the car). I'm really not sure what made him decide that a car was the way to go, but hopefully this turns out to be to my benefit.
Like most people who are trying to sell a car that is trading for not a lot of cash, he stopped spending money on the car for upkeep. Right now, it really needs a detailing to make it look sharp again, especially the interior. I've wiped up a lot of the coffee stains, but the carpets need to be cleaned and the whole interior cleaned. up.
On to some of the things that need looking after.
When I bought the car it had some lights on - check engine, and a flashing air bag light. A trip to the local service centre cleared the codes, and I'll see what comes back on. I was told the check engine light was due to an O2 sensor, and by the codes the car was showing, that may be the case. I wonder if they appeared because he was running regular fuel instead of the premium that it calls for. No idea what caused the air bag light, but it is gone now too. As I start driving it, I can then figure out what is causing the codes, if they do return.
So, next stop is oil change. These apparently like to run full synthetic - so that is the way to go. It also appears I have an oil leak, so while it is up in the air is a good time to look for that. After that a check of the front end (I have a clunk) and some fresh tires, and I should be good to go!
All in all, not a lot to catch up on when dealing with a seventeen year old car.
But today I am driving the Lincoln - I really want to see 800,000km roll over on it before I start driving the Audi!
The Lincoln has been a great car - but I am getting into issues with it that I would rather not be dealing with, namely rust. I don't mind mechanical repairs or maintenance, but there is something about starting to repair rust damage that makes me really want to avoid it.
So the Audi I purchased has 120,000 km on it and is rust free. That is not to say it doesn't need some TLC or any repair. But I feel I have a good start with the car.
The young man who owned it before me should have bought a truck - that was what he wanted (and is buying now he sod the car). I'm really not sure what made him decide that a car was the way to go, but hopefully this turns out to be to my benefit.
Like most people who are trying to sell a car that is trading for not a lot of cash, he stopped spending money on the car for upkeep. Right now, it really needs a detailing to make it look sharp again, especially the interior. I've wiped up a lot of the coffee stains, but the carpets need to be cleaned and the whole interior cleaned. up.
On to some of the things that need looking after.
When I bought the car it had some lights on - check engine, and a flashing air bag light. A trip to the local service centre cleared the codes, and I'll see what comes back on. I was told the check engine light was due to an O2 sensor, and by the codes the car was showing, that may be the case. I wonder if they appeared because he was running regular fuel instead of the premium that it calls for. No idea what caused the air bag light, but it is gone now too. As I start driving it, I can then figure out what is causing the codes, if they do return.
So, next stop is oil change. These apparently like to run full synthetic - so that is the way to go. It also appears I have an oil leak, so while it is up in the air is a good time to look for that. After that a check of the front end (I have a clunk) and some fresh tires, and I should be good to go!
All in all, not a lot to catch up on when dealing with a seventeen year old car.
But today I am driving the Lincoln - I really want to see 800,000km roll over on it before I start driving the Audi!
Tuesday, 11 April 2017
April 11, 2017
Things are going slowly with my scanning project - things get in the way of having the time to do it.
First, my number of work days doubled - good for me, but not so good when it comes to having time to work on personal projects.
Second, I have been car shopping - on a budget. That means a lot of time searching for sale ads to see both what is available, and to get an idea of pricing. Potential candidates got followed up on by searching car forums to see what other owners have to say.
That was a major time suck - researching models and potential problem areas with each. Especially since I did not have a specific car in mind, but was casting a wide net. The only things crossed off my list were Japanese cars - only because I am not a big fan of them, not because there is anything wrong with them. In fact, if I were being sensible, they should have been my first choice.
But being sensible has never been my strong suit, so I wound up buying a used German car! lol
It will replace my Lincoln Town Car, which currently has over 797,000 km. You read that right, almost 800,000 km on the beast! The only real reason I am getting rid of it is rust issues - mostly my own fault by not undercoating it since I bought it. A lesson learned for the next car.
Well, the next car is here now, and yes, it will be undercoated as soon as I sort out a few things that will need attention. Nothing major, but general stuff that needs to be done when buying a used car: oil change, check the front end, maybe alignment and or tire replacement or rotation. And I like my mechanics too much to make them work on a car with fresh undercoating in the way or dripping on them.
Off to see what I can accomplish today!
First, my number of work days doubled - good for me, but not so good when it comes to having time to work on personal projects.
Second, I have been car shopping - on a budget. That means a lot of time searching for sale ads to see both what is available, and to get an idea of pricing. Potential candidates got followed up on by searching car forums to see what other owners have to say.
That was a major time suck - researching models and potential problem areas with each. Especially since I did not have a specific car in mind, but was casting a wide net. The only things crossed off my list were Japanese cars - only because I am not a big fan of them, not because there is anything wrong with them. In fact, if I were being sensible, they should have been my first choice.
But being sensible has never been my strong suit, so I wound up buying a used German car! lol
It will replace my Lincoln Town Car, which currently has over 797,000 km. You read that right, almost 800,000 km on the beast! The only real reason I am getting rid of it is rust issues - mostly my own fault by not undercoating it since I bought it. A lesson learned for the next car.
Well, the next car is here now, and yes, it will be undercoated as soon as I sort out a few things that will need attention. Nothing major, but general stuff that needs to be done when buying a used car: oil change, check the front end, maybe alignment and or tire replacement or rotation. And I like my mechanics too much to make them work on a car with fresh undercoating in the way or dripping on them.
Off to see what I can accomplish today!
Monday, 27 February 2017
February 27, 2017
I have started the hunt for another car.
I tend to be the last owner of a car, before it gets recycled - and I'm very ok with that. I find it is the most cost effective way of car ownership. No big purchase, some maintenance and you only deal with the problems you want to.
That said, I do tend to like nicer/more expensive cars, with all the options. I just can't afford them new. I choose to believe that premium cars are better maintained initially, because the owners can afford to maintain them properly, plus they may have been leased, and were required to be dealer cared for.
I agree that sometimes the name comes at a price premium, but I also find that a new top of the line model is usually constructed to a different standard than an entry level model. Although during my lifetime the fit, finish and longevity of even the lowest priced car available new today far exceeds what was available or expected when I was still in school.
I have very little idea right now what I want to buy - that will in a large part be dictated by what is available in the price range I am looking at. But I do have a short list of things I like a car to have. Having driven a few cars with relatively crappy headlights, a must for the next car will be a good lighting system. I love having leather seats (heated), so that is on my list as well. Beyond that, most I what I like is probably standard on cars - delay wipers, central locking, power windows and a radio.
Things that are a major turn off for me on cars include most after-market stuff. If the radio has been swapped out for some touch screen, aftermarket unit it is a real turn off for me. I figure that cars and the associated electronics are complicated enough without some self-taught 'installer' digging into the wiring and potentially screwing it up. Or causing other electronics and functions to malfunction.
I feel the same way about back yard repairs. If you want me to believe that the repair was done, and done correctly, show me a receipt from the dealer. At least there is some recourse if there are problems. Plus I find it hard to believe that a non-mechanic, with no diagnostic tools, has properly maintained a modern car.
The search continues.
I tend to be the last owner of a car, before it gets recycled - and I'm very ok with that. I find it is the most cost effective way of car ownership. No big purchase, some maintenance and you only deal with the problems you want to.
That said, I do tend to like nicer/more expensive cars, with all the options. I just can't afford them new. I choose to believe that premium cars are better maintained initially, because the owners can afford to maintain them properly, plus they may have been leased, and were required to be dealer cared for.
I agree that sometimes the name comes at a price premium, but I also find that a new top of the line model is usually constructed to a different standard than an entry level model. Although during my lifetime the fit, finish and longevity of even the lowest priced car available new today far exceeds what was available or expected when I was still in school.
I have very little idea right now what I want to buy - that will in a large part be dictated by what is available in the price range I am looking at. But I do have a short list of things I like a car to have. Having driven a few cars with relatively crappy headlights, a must for the next car will be a good lighting system. I love having leather seats (heated), so that is on my list as well. Beyond that, most I what I like is probably standard on cars - delay wipers, central locking, power windows and a radio.
Things that are a major turn off for me on cars include most after-market stuff. If the radio has been swapped out for some touch screen, aftermarket unit it is a real turn off for me. I figure that cars and the associated electronics are complicated enough without some self-taught 'installer' digging into the wiring and potentially screwing it up. Or causing other electronics and functions to malfunction.
I feel the same way about back yard repairs. If you want me to believe that the repair was done, and done correctly, show me a receipt from the dealer. At least there is some recourse if there are problems. Plus I find it hard to believe that a non-mechanic, with no diagnostic tools, has properly maintained a modern car.
The search continues.
Sunday, 26 February 2017
Feb 26, 2017
Scan scan scan - that's all I do.
Well, it's not quite that bad. Work has picked up, so scanning pictures has taken a bit of a back seat - there are only so many hours in a day, and so much to get done.
I've actually made some good progress on scanning material, although I may have cheated a little bit.
To explain, much of what I have been scanning has been family photos. It's fun, but time consuming because of scanning each item individually. Also, I am trying to identify the people in the pictures, besides the obvious ones I would know, as well as trying to identify when and where they were taken. That usually requires outside help and that takes extra time - emailing various people and waiting for a response. Some of the pictures I scanned a few months ago, and still on my desk as I try to identify one person in the picture or a location.
In order to pick up some momentum in the project, and feel I am making progress, I started scanning some of my pictures as well instead of scanning whatever I grabbed next.
I am scanning slides I have shot, which has several advantages: First, I can scan them four at a time instead of individually; the slide mounts usually have a date stamped on them to help figure out when they were taken; and, because they are pictures I took, I can usually identify the people and locations from memory. All those things help speed up the process!
So far, I wouldn't change anything about the project. It is a great learning experience as I learn more about my family from before I was born. Plus I get to meet some great people as I try to track down missing pieces of information.
I really can't wait to see where this leads me.
Well, it's not quite that bad. Work has picked up, so scanning pictures has taken a bit of a back seat - there are only so many hours in a day, and so much to get done.
I've actually made some good progress on scanning material, although I may have cheated a little bit.
To explain, much of what I have been scanning has been family photos. It's fun, but time consuming because of scanning each item individually. Also, I am trying to identify the people in the pictures, besides the obvious ones I would know, as well as trying to identify when and where they were taken. That usually requires outside help and that takes extra time - emailing various people and waiting for a response. Some of the pictures I scanned a few months ago, and still on my desk as I try to identify one person in the picture or a location.
In order to pick up some momentum in the project, and feel I am making progress, I started scanning some of my pictures as well instead of scanning whatever I grabbed next.
I am scanning slides I have shot, which has several advantages: First, I can scan them four at a time instead of individually; the slide mounts usually have a date stamped on them to help figure out when they were taken; and, because they are pictures I took, I can usually identify the people and locations from memory. All those things help speed up the process!
So far, I wouldn't change anything about the project. It is a great learning experience as I learn more about my family from before I was born. Plus I get to meet some great people as I try to track down missing pieces of information.
I really can't wait to see where this leads me.
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