60+ year old thread.

Good Morning Porch Pals & Sue!

 

uh yeah, you sure are.....



but Jethro and the Beatles....

 

Wow... in TOKYO! That had to be an out-of-body experience. I remember dancing with a lady from Montana in a Hard Rock Cafe in Peking, China, while a bunch of Russian sailors were drunk off their a**e* and dancing with each other... a huge sign outside over the entrance saying "Nuclear War is Not Good for Children and Other Living Things."

Tokyo and Tull sounds like rock nirvana...

 

Rodents, G…D…. Rodents. Here’s my story. I’m old school and still check my vehicles fluid levels and do a brief under hood inspection about twice a month. I noticed that my radiator coolant reservoir was low 2 weeks ago. So I added some coolant and checked it every day. Yep, got a leak somewhere. Found that coolant was leaking down from the front transfer case area. Coming from somewhere between the firewall and engine. Couldn’t actually see the leak but I assumed it was a heater hose. No way I wanted to tackle that, not easy to get to and my back probably would never recover.

Made an appointment with Toyota. Toyota is much closer than my regular mechanic and I didn’t want to drive very far and take a chance on it over heating. It wasn’t the heater hose. Turned out to be 2 small water bypass hoses. (Glad I took it to Toyota, they did a great job, very satisfied with their service. Usually I only take our newish Highlander to them). The technician noted that damage to the hoses was from rodents chewing it.

I’m very aware of the potential of rodents chewing up wires under hood and causing thousands in damage and I always look for those signs when I do my fluid/engine inspections. I never noticed any damage or signs of rodents and couldn’t really see the bypass hoses. My truck is parked outside 24/7 cause my wife’s car and our boat reside in the garage. The rodent damage shouldn’t really be a problem if you park in a garage.

I posted this cause I just wanted to make you all aware of the major potential consequences for vehicles you park outside. The service manager told me of several cases where the little bastards chewed wires where almost every wire had to be replaced. Cost a lot of $$$$. So if you park outside be aware and check your vehicles.
After talking to various people and researching this it appears the best way to prevent/deter rodents from going up into the engine compartment is to use peppermint spray. Peppermint spray apparently repels them. There’s also several good videos concerning this on YouTube. Fortunately I have a gallon of peppermint spray that I use around a couple raised garden beds that I grow tomatoes in. It did a good job of keeping them off my tomatoes.
Happy Saturday all.

 

The wife had a Nissan Rogue, rodents got I to it. Looked like it was a squirrel. Packed the engine compart.ent with leaves. Tore up the insulation, destroyed the mire harness. Was like $3k in damage. Yup pepper.int spray and an electronic repeller was install. Transfered that to her new mazda. Never had a problem in my trucks. But did find possum poop in the engine bay of my F250.

 

Worst I've had was cats. One casually extricated itself from under the wheel well on dropping off the kids at daycare long, long ago, and the other scrambled in a hurry when it had the tip of its tail ripped off exposing a couple of the bones at the end.

No wires or hoses damaged...

 

I

Spoiler

Hate rodents

Thanks for sharing your story and bring up our awareness.

 

Well folks I think this may be the year I retire and slow down a bit. Been getting treated pretty badly at work and I don't deserve that. I can't change people and their attitudes I can only change me. I turn 65 in July so I'll be eligible for medicaid so the time may be right. I have been praying on this and put it at God's feet. He's shown me things and is pushing me towards retirement. I think he has other plans for me, maybe become more active in the church also. If I retire I'll work part time and just slow down a bit, I'm tired. It may be time for me to step down out of this semi truck or at least work part time in a smaller box truck or something, dunno? I was going to try to make it to 67 but I just can't do it where I'm at. Long hours, Saturdays, crappy equipment, I won't miss that or the bad attitudes and disrespect. I've been talking with my wife a lot about it and planing things out and she is encouraging me to retire, she retired at 62 and is so happy in life now. Just coming to the realization that there is an end time to this madness makes me feel better. I have 7 or 8 months to prepare for this. Payoff a couple of small bills and paydown on my truck. I think I'm Ready to do this.
Close one door and open many.

 

Retirement can be a challenge for financial reasons, other than that it has been good for me. It sounds like you’re out in front of this decision, you can always go back to work.

 

Snow emergencies starting to show up on local news. Firewood, groceries stocked yesterday. Battery booster ordered but won't be here in time for this event. It will reside in wife's chariot. Plenty of everything stocked up yesterday. This will be a good test for our new hardwired internet connection.

1/6 edit.. Looks like about 10" snow and still coming down at 0535. Only one vehicle on the road this am... a plow. We'll hole up for the duration. This will be the one old timers talk about. We're warm, safe as we can be, food stocked, good to go.

 

Morning folks a little chilly in the mitten today

 

Good Freezing Morning Folks....

By this time tomorrow morning we will be on our way to the airport to get out of Dodge for the winter . If the "Fickle Weather Witch" doesn't change her path , we should beat the snow heading out. Positive thoughts for all that will be in her path for your safety. Stay warm.

Have a good day folks and be safe.

 

I was in the same situation Greg. I couldn't be civil with anyone at work and thats not like me. I sharpened my pencil and did some calculating and retired 6 months earlier than full retirement. The financial loss was minimal when I considered my mental health. My wife was still working so I had a part time gig driving for a dealership (off the books). It got me out of the house while the wife was at work and kept me out of trouble. I gave it up after 4 years when she retired and we started doing things together. But one thing I did learn, listen to others, do your homework, talk it over with your wife but in the end only one person can make the final call...YOU. Best of luck on your decision. Life is good

 

Good Morning Mark . I have 2 battery minders for when we go away. They work great...never came home to a dead battery

Good Morning Jim . All the weather forecast said this morning was Cold Temperatures...No S#%t, I have icicles on my nose .

Take care Gents and be safe....

 

Thanks for the thoughts brother. I'm not in this alone, I have a good woman by my side. Between the 2 of us we will be fine. I'll take some time off to clear my mind and reset and then look for a casual part time job, 2 or 3 days a week, just to stay active in mind and body and to make some pocket money. Plus I'll ramp up my woodworking and start selling some things. I'm confident that we will be ok and we'll make adjustments as necessary. My wife and I talk about everything all the time.

 

Off all the people at work there is only 2 that I will stay in touch with. The stress at work is not good, its killing me, it's not good for my blood pressure, lol. I'm one of the last holdouts of the aging truck drivers that I know. Most of the others are retired and very happy that they did it. They all say the same thing, just do it, you'll figure it out along the way and make it work and you'll be so much happier. Life is short, I dont want to work until the day I die. I want to enjoy some of my end time. I really need to de stress.

 

You have it under control Greg . Good luck in your endeavor whatever you decide.

 

So much for the "hibernation" myth.
January and they're still out roaming around.
5 min. after this pic, he came up and destroyed all the bird feeders.

 

Sounds like a great time in your life, coming up. A time to join Him more in His work. His timing is always perfect!

 

Good morning! Looks like an easy Sunday-Funday. Cast iron pan heating up. Getting second cup of coffee. Church later, then dinner with the VP of my new employer and his wife.
Hope yours is blessed and safe....especially those in the snowy and cold areas!