15A Elm Ave
All Photos: Slideshow / Northern Escarpment Trail / Partridge Run / Olana
What Does Courage Mean Today?
A look at the contemporary meaning of courage in a society that shuns it.
All Fodder / Political Books / Racism / Responsible Use / Urban Renewal
Music; Monday; Paterson; To Replace Seatbelt and Keep Truck; Downscaling Summer Plans.
Monday, February 8th 8:39 am
First Some Music.
Youtube: Brooks & Dunn - Hard Workin' Man
Monday Morning Once Again.
So I got up, ironed my shirt, put on my suit, and even made it down to the bus stop. I'm not a big fan of Mondays, but so be it. Mondays come and go, and the good news is that next week is Presidents Weekend, so it will be a three day weekend, or in other words, one third longer then a conventional weekend.
I went up to Thatcher Park for a short walk, but leaving the flash card home I didn't get a chance to take any pictures. Regardless, it was an interesting up there, although pretty cloudy and a bit cool. I really wish the snowstorm had tracked farther north.
We might get some snow later in the week, so it should be interesting to see what happens.
Paterson.
We are all waiting today, and throughout the past weekend to see what will happen with our Governor, who seems to be falling the same fate that Governor Spitzer faced that forced him to resign. It's all speculation right now, but much like the past weekend I plan to keep my eyes peeled on what is happening today, as I have been for most of the past weekend. It should be interesting.
Next Week: Replace Seatbelt in Pickup.
As of Sunday, I made the final determination to fix the Ford Ranger, and try to squeek another year out of it. I decided while there is some risk putting more money into a 12-year old truck, the fact that I've replaced most of the parts likely to fail or wear out in the near future, and having only about 115k on it, I can probably can another year out of it.
The sales might not be as good next year. I don't know though, as energy prices may head back up as the economy recovers. I don't care that much, because I will be in better fiscal shape in a year from now, or so I hope. And it's not likely that automobile prices will greatly increase or that used 2010 trucks will skyrocket in price.
At any rate, I made a decision. I did a lot of analysis, test drove a lot of trucks, and learned more about auto finance then I think I would ever need to know. I will be prepared when the time finally comes next year or whenever I make the decision.
Downscaling My Summer Plans.
For various reasons, not including the fact that I will still have the Ranger this summer, I probably won't be going as far this summer as I had initially planned. I also am a lot shorter on vacation time, in part because I made a miscalculation of my hours.
By the time summer comes, I probably will only be able to take off around 5-days. Assuming I don't want to work 5-day weeks all summer, I will probably use them for extended weekends, in a couple of them out at Burnt-Rossman, and maybe a trip out to Six Nations Horse Camp / Finger Lakes.
Or maybe if I want to go somewhere new, to head out to the Presidential Range in New Hampshire's White Mountain. I will study the options this summer. I also want to continue to save money, so that next year, I can get the truck I really want after the year delay.
Thank God It's Friday; Junk; Snow; Quiet Weekend.
Friday, February 5th 8:30 am
In the Words of Colin the Friday Bus Driver:
Thank God It's Friday.
My favorite sight of the week is seeing a NABI bus. It's kind of ironic, because those NABI buses have real problems with stalling out on I-787, but when it comes to seeing a NABI bus to take me to work, it can only mean one thing -- it's a Friday and Colin is driving. That makes me real happy.
Bright sunny morning out there, and no all that cold. I could live with weather like this morning for another 5 or 6 weeks, as long as within 13 weeks or so, things start to green up a bit.
Just browing through my MP3 Player, this song seemed appropiate for the morning.
Youtube: Easton Corbin - A Little More Country Than That
Junk Gets in the Way.
That's what the junk removal company billboard-on-a-truck says this morning. Of course if you ask me, that's what they invented diesel and matches for. I don't really care about what stupid state EnCon commish has to say about it, playing with matches still remains a lot of fun. And there are a lot of good states besides New Yak and Kalifornia.
Looks Like We Will Be Missing the Snow Storm.
It looks like they are going to get pounded down state, and the Cross-Bronx will fill up with snow like a ditch where the plows dump the snow. It's kind of too bad we won't get more upstate, because I sure would like some fresh snow. I guess though if I go up in the mountains I can find more snow.
I want to do a little more browsing at trucks this weekend, and take a good hard look at the facts when make the final decision on my truck on Sunday. Probably go out and visit my parents. I don't know, maybe sleep in a bit. It's going to be rather cold this weekend.
Enjoy your weekend. —Andy
Laundrymat Blogging.
Thursday, February 4th 8:48 pm
At the Laundrymat.
Just at the laundrymat, looking out the window, and playing on my laptop on the internet. Just watching the cars goes by and not doing much at all.
Youtube: Eric Anderson - Thirsty Boots.
The Ranger.
I don't drive my truck every day, being that I take public transit to work most days, but I took my truck down to the laundrymat as I needed some wash for the weekend done. It's working fine, bar the suspension issue which I think I will get fixed later in the month. The clutch is not wonderful, but I still don't think it will fail immediately. It gives me something to focus on as a automobile hypochondriac.
At this point, I shouldn't really care. If the thing continues to get in gear one way or another it's fine. I just want to know for sure if I want to put the $760 in leaf springs + seatbelt in the truck so I can get inspected, or do something else. It's not the alternatives are all that great, based on the amount of money I currently have and/or are willing to finance.
I think ultimately I will decide to repair things and try to get another year of the Ford Ranger. The final decision is Sunday. That's always the most cost effective thing to do. Many people drive around cars with far more then 114,000 miles on it, and many drive cars that older then a 1998. Most of my problem with the Ranger, after all is it doesn't suit my growing ego.
Moral of the story is: All cars and pickup trucks suck. They are expensive and all guzzle cash.
Bright Sunny Morning; Not Reading Papers; February 7th; Like to Bitch in February.
Thursday, February 4th 8:10 am
What A Bright Sunny Morning Out Here.
Man-oh-man, the sun is out, and is coming down through the windows of the CDTA Gillig 4025H Hybrid bus, which is just the perfect temperature. It's not all that cold out there this morning, and everything is just perfect. There is a fresh layer of snow from last night, that makes everything look all purty.
Okay, I would prefer it be the middle of June, and be sitting out on the tailgate of my pickup, with a bottle of Corona in one hand, my feet in the creek, and roaring bonfire nearby. Now that would be fun. Only a few more months remaining.
Youtube: Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles.
Basically I've Stopped Reading the Newspapers.
I used to read a lot more news, although now I will read a few stories on Twitter that are of a particular interest, favorite them and a few others (which makes them later be Tweeted/shared on this blog), but I've gotten to the point where I don't really care what going on the world, in part because so much of the news is predictable, and I absolutely think New York State politics is so disgusting.
My favorite newspapers these days are the Watertown Daily Times and Burlington Free Press in Vermont. I used to be a big fan of the Press Republican, but it's gotten so devoid of content these days. The Albany Times Union and to a lesser extent the New York Times disgusts me, in part because I'm a conservative, and these papers are far from conservative.
Got A New Cellphone.
I have been Sprint customer since December 2008, but I hadn't made a decision on my renewing the contract or changing the service. I finally decided to cancel with Sprint, and got one of those SimplePlan/Trac Phones that you pay $30 a month for 1,000 minutes/1,000 texts/30mb. That's far more then what I need, and the phone was $60 with the first month included. No contract, so if I don't like it, I don't have to renew it.
I got my new phone and activated the phone, but so far Sprint has yet to transfer over my 210-7423 number. Hopefully soon. But for the next couple of days, I won't have a phone, so if I there is an emergency, it will just me and my shotgun to keep keep me safe, although I guess the old phone still have 911, if I want to have the dead intruder taken care of by the professionals (if they chose to respond).
Sunday the 7th Approaches.
That's when I will make up my final decision my truck. I continue to study the facts, and try to figure out what the options I have to the table. I think I have a better idea of what I want, and it's just a matter of finding what is right for me.
I am leaning towards fixing the Ford Ranger at this point. Here's why:
- Brakes - replaced in April 2009
- New battery - replaced in December 2008
- New tires - replaced in December 2008
- New hubs/wheel bearings in front - left replaced 2006, right replaced August 2009
- Exhaust Pipe Reconnected Where Rotted -- Rest looks good, sounds decent, it will make it past inspection/winter -- April 2009
The flip side is I wonder about the clutch. The throwout bearing has been making noise for the last 5 years now / 70,000 miles. But it seems to be working, even if it's getting a bit hard to shift. I don't know though, I really only need to get a year out of it -- or maybe less, and I don't do all that much city driving any more.
The other thing, is I can't seem to make the math on the truck work for me. I may be a lot better off then many people, but the way I look at the numbers, it's simply not affordable -- at least not what I want. I am still making small truck salary, not full-size truck salary (ie. the insurance, gas, taxes, and sheer cost).
But maybe by next year, things will be different. I also hope to put away another $7k - $10k away, so I will be a lot better off, if I don't get the truck this year. I really don't want to get stuck with a truck I don't want, just because I was short a $1,000 bucks, and didn't want to finance any more or get more then a 36-month loan.
It sucks. I kind of like the Ranger, and like not paying much for my car insurance. I think I'll limp it along for now. A final decision comes Sunday.
But It Is Fun Dreaming About a New Truck.
You know when it's that cold out here, and I'm miserable because I can't spend long nights up in the woods, I need something to reaffirm the purpose of why I am on this earth, besides to make piles of paper grow on my desk, and even bigger piles end up in the paper trash dumpster. Day dreaming is much more fun then reality.
I'd rather be in the woods.
Exploring the Outdoors.
Adirondacks /
Catskills /
Finger Lakes
Schoharie County / Northern Tier / Taconics
Dark Hike Up to Bash Bish Falls.
Even in mid-day, Bash Bish Falls remains shadowed by surrounding mountains.
The Weather.
Today's Sunrise is 7:00 am and Sunset at 5:21 pm for 10 hours and 21 minutes of daylight. It will be dark out 29 minutes after sunset. Tonight the Waning Crescent Moon (30%) will rise after sunset at 2:49 am and set the next day at 2:10 pm. Get out and enjoy it!
Next Tuesday the Waxing Crescent Moon (17%) will set around 7:45 pm. Get out and enjoy it! In One Month the Sunrise will happen at 6:17 am and Sunset at 5:56 pm for an increase of 79 minutes of daylight.
On the First Day of Spring the Sunrise will happen at 6:56 am and Sunset at 7:10 pm for an increase of 1 hours and 52 minutes of daylight. There are 39 days remaining until the calender says spring and we have a blizzard in Albany.
Rest Of Tonight. 
Partly cloudy with a chance of flurries. Lows around 13. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
Tuesday. 
Partly sunny. Highs around 30. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday Night. 
Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow after midnight. Lows around 20. Northwest winds around 5 mph...becoming southeast after midnight. Chance of snow 30 percent.
Books I’m Reading.
