Update Update

[k001k47]

Well, it's been awhile since my last update. Repair school has been going well up until four weeks ago. I was involved in motorcycle accident, I hit a SUV, that pulled out in front of me. I broke my right hand in three places, screwed up the tendons in the hand, ten staples to the head, w/ a severe concussion that is causing loss of center and severe dizziness when I stand or lay down. I'm avoiding the pain meds during the day, it seems to get in the way of my work in the lathe & buffer room. Other than that the classes are very intense. I've also found a local orchestra to play with during my time here in Red Wing. So. life is still good, I'm taking nourishment and still enjoy the occassional scotch. I still do have a satin silver Holton BBb 345 for sale; the accident kind of put that on hold, but it is still available. Later.

whoa.

Good to know you're still with us.
Kudos to finding an orchestra.

[Mojo workin']

Reasoning with this clown is a waste of time, so maybe the monkey is the way to go. It might solve another problem I have. He also had 5 cats. These cats would be considered feral except that once a year he took them to the vet for a rabies shot and he fed them. Otherwise they roamed all over the neighborhood at will. One day after both my wife and I got tangled up in cat **** while trying to weed our petunia bed I marched over and asked him to keep his cats up. He asked me if I belived in God and I replied yes I do. He then proceeded to explain to me that God created cats to roam and do their own thing and it would be a sin if he interfered with God's plan. I told him I wouldn't consider it a sin if I interfered. They cats have mysteriously disappeared one by one until now there is but one. I think my other neighbor, the bird freak, who complained about finding puffs of feathers under his bird feeders, has something to do with it. The monkey could probably take down that last cat.

That is funny. Of all the other things probably going on in your neighborhood, you are complaining about some cat **** in your garden.

You have a petunia bed?

I bet the monkey would not take out the last cat. But even so, that speaks volumes of what kind of a neighbor you probably are.

[bort]

Uh oh... I turn 30 years old today!

[Donn]

Took two really nice motorcycle trips...one in September all over Eastern Oregon, one in October down to Yosemite. 3200 miles in two trips...

Wallowa Mountains

Lake Wallowa and the route through there - 82, 3, plus Washington 129 up to Clarkston, is without doubt the most beautiful countryside I've ever ridden a motorcycle through. I didn't get into the mountains, though - good riding roads in there?

[tbn.al]

That is funny. Of all the other things probably going on in your neighborhood, you are complaining about some cat **** in your garden.

You have a petunia bed?

I bet the monkey would not take out the last cat. But even so, that speaks volumes of what kind of a neighbor you probably are.

Don't know if I'm a good neighbor or not. I do mind my own business, follow the*rules* and try not to cause anyone any trouble.

*rules from the neighborhood bylaws and covenents*

*No pets running loose without a leash.
*No loud music or other loud noise.
*Grass must be kept less than 5 inches.
*Leaves, sticks and other debris must be promptly removed from yard.
*No parking on the street, without prior approval of the committee, temporary included.
*No non working cars.
*Garbage cans must be brought inside promptly after trash pickup.
*No changes to the outside of the house or yard without prior committee approval.
*No cutting of trees over 5 inches without prior committee approval.
*No TV dishes period, no way, no how.

These are not our only rules, just the ones he has violated within the last year. Depending on your definition, one of us may very well be a bad neighbor. He is the only one in the neighborhood who is willfully violating the rules. That may be the reason that there is nothing more dramatic probably going on in the neighborhood.

[Mojo workin']

I do mind my own business, follow the*rules* and try not to cause anyone any trouble.

Fine. But your attitude reminds me a little too much of some past neighbors who poisoned my cat for that unforgiveable infraction of coming onto their property.

You don't like cats. Other people do. Take your insipid irrational fear of them up with the SPCA or some other agency. Don't hint around with glee at their demise. You sound like a wacko when you do.

[bearphonium]

Donn, that was some amazing country up there. Beautiful.

[Donn]

You don't like cats. Other people do.

I like cats, but people who keep cats need to take responsibility for them. The fact that they usually don't, and can't, is just evidence that not all people who like cats should have them - a proposition we would all agree with if we were talking about horses, alligators, macaws, etc., but somehow isn't so obvious with cats and dogs.

We had a couple of notorious cat trappers around these parts a few years back, who would catch cats in live traps on their own property, and take them to the county as strays. Having strayed into his yard. The owner would typically be notified by the county, and could come and pick the cat up for a nominal fee, but some did not care to do so, and most of those unlucky cats did not live to stray again. That may be a fairly common practice, for all I know, and it does at least give the cat a chance to come out of it alive.

[TMurphy]

He then proceeded to explain to me that God created cats to roam and do their own thing and it would be a sin if he interfered with God's plan.

I have two cats, one of whom is completely blind. They are strictly indoor pets; the only time they leave the house is when they need a trip to the vet or something, and then, they leave in a (much hated by them) carrier. Maybe I'm "interfering with God's plan," but judging by the near-constant purring when we're around, and the blind one's insistence on sitting in my lap whenever I'm on the couch, I'd say they don't mind.

[SRanney]

- Feed them in the morning, and (if you can) put them out for the day. Against their nocturnal instincts, they'll (due to your feeding schedule) come in at night to eat again.
- While they're out for the day, they'll kill vermin (rats, chipmunks, moles, mice), etc...Mine even kill copperhead snakes. If you feed them enough (good quality) food, though, they won't eat the vermin; They'll just kill it. Just in case, give them a dose of worm medicine every so often.

Bingo. This is what my wife and I have done. The Cat comes in at night and has been known to keep the mouse population in check.

Update: I bought a 1973 F100 with a 390. It's a pretty straight body with some rust and dents, but nothing major. Interior needs work but is still comfortable. Engine runs like a champ and with a few repairs will run even better. The paint is definitely bad.

[SRanney]

The F-100: My favorite truck of all time. Too bad they ditched it in lieu of the Ranger...

Because the F100 "morphed" into the Ranger, I always thought it "weaker" than the F150. Some recent reading has taught me that the only difference is that the F100 was lighter than the F150.

[Jeffrey Hicks]

.....

[tbn.al]

Communism will never die...as long as neighborhood associations exist.....

Huh?? We have exactly the rules and bylaws that we want, 'cause we have meetings and vote on stuff. Majority rules. Communisim? Not hardly. Basic Democracy.

[bort]

Wait... doesn't the city/county own the street? Wouldn't they decide whether or not it's legal to park on the street and not the HOA? Aren't some of those other things concepts that are enforceable by laws?

Not trying to sound jerky, I'm just curious about how bylaws that apply to private and public property are enforceable, not something I've encountered in life so far.

[Donn]

Wait... doesn't the city/county own the street? Wouldn't they decide whether or not it's legal to park on the street and not the HOA? Aren't some of those other things concepts that are enforceable by laws?

Not trying to sound jerky, I'm just curious about how bylaws that apply to private and public property are enforceable, not something I've encountered in life so far.

The cited rules also prohibit loud music or noise, even though it isn't clear that the homeowners' association owns the air.

I've been lucky in the places I've lived, to have neighbors who mostly tolerated my racket. A place with rules like that, I could imagine it might be a problem ... and that, my friends, is Communism!

[tbn.al]

and that, my friends, is Communism!

Nope. This is communisim according to Webster

com·mu·nism noun \ˈkäm-yə-ˌni-zəm, -yü-\
Definition of COMMUNISM
1a : a theory advocating elimination of private property b : a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed

When a group of people vote, and the majority rules, it's called democracy.

[Donn]

Well, of course I meant that somewhat satirically, but note that democracy and communism are not, in principle, mutually exclusive. As your definitions make clear. It's like, are you a Catholic, or a Republican?

That homeowners' agreement, though - are you sure there's no communism in it? I mean, no changes to your front yard without prior committee approval? What does ownership mean - you have to cut the grass and rake the leaves, but you can't plant a bush without checking with the committee? I'm so glad I live in the city, where a man can breathe free!

[Jeffrey Hicks]

...

[TexTuba]

They may not be the webster definition of communism but I think they are a terrible thing. It is not my duty to help you maintain your property value nor should it be your business how high my grass is or whether or not I have a satellite dish. There are many ways to get around your so called rules. Did you know that a Volkswagen Beetle (original style) fits perfectly in the back of a Ford F-150 bed if you place it roof down? There is nothing you can do about it if the Ford is a licensed running vehicle. The best thing to do is buy an old giant american sedan and have the local flaky art student do his best on it. I dont care what you do with your property and it shouldnt matter to you what I do with mine....

Do you actually live in tbn's neighborhood?

[k001k47]

No politics, please.