Red Ring Tupperware Party, Clown Hunting (21)

[Timphoto]

Good morning Chief. How are things in the desert?

[Belmondo]

Hi, Tim.

Things are good. It looks like it's going to be another boring, beautiful day. I'm thinking I would like to spend the day puttering around the house, but suppose I'll have to wait for Mama to tell me whether or not she has something different in mind.

How're things up north?

[Timphoto]

Looks like we're in for some rain today. If it holds off long enough, I plan to take the weed wacker out of winter hibernation and do some weed cleanup on the side of the driveway.

[Belmondo]

Looks like we're in for some rain today. If it holds off long enough, I plan to take the weed wacker out of winter hibernation and do some weed cleanup on the side of the driveway.

When we lived in Los Gatos, our house was on a 3/4 acre lot. The front portion of the lot was flat, on street level, and had a little creek running through it. It was quite lovely.

About 2/3 of the lot was a big hill rising from behind the house, and I had to cut that down with a big string trimmer at least twice a year. It was very steep, and I finally resorted to wearing football shoes to get traction on the grass. Before I finally figured that out, I recall more than a few times where I slipped near the top, and slid all the way to the bottom before I could get stopped. The cleats solved the problem, but I still hated that job. It usually took about two full days to get the whole thing cut, raked, and bundled.

[Timphoto]

It started raining, so I guess the weed wacker will hibernate a little longer this winter. :-)

If you believe the weather guessers, we're going to end up with about 6-7 inches of rain by next Sunday.

Chief, with all your comments about the monotony of the weather down your way, I'm surprised you don't move back to the Bay Area.

[Belmondo]

It started raining, so I guess the weed wacker will hibernate a little longer this winter. :-)

If you believe the weather guessers, we're going to end up with about 6-7 inches of rain by next Sunday.

Chief, with all your comments about the monotony of the weather down your way, I'm surprised you don't move back to the Bay Area.

Never say never. To a large degree, our fate is tied to Lois' brother. His current employer is in the Bay Area, but he travels a lot, and they allow him to base himself out of the desert. If that situation ever changes, and he has to spend more time in the Bay Area than on the road, he might want to relocate back up there, in which case, we would too.

We would miss the desert, but would assimilate back into the more urbane lifestyle if required to. Lois is probably more rooted here than I am now, be she is also willing to leave if necessary. It's a tossup whether she dislikes summer heat more than cold, wet winters. It just depends on what time of the year you ask her.

[JWright]

Looks like some nasty weather moving through east Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas...

http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/full_loop.php

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

3.75 pints of finished product. :D

Round two has begun.

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

It's NASCAR day again! :D

[tommykjensen]

Nice tommy. I was even looking at the shadows to nitpick about them. No issues there either!


Actually shadows and reflections is the biggest issue with our version ;) If you look closely they are not the same as the original and our task was to recreate the shot as close to the original as possible.


Thanks all.

[gjl711]

It's NASCAR day again! :D
It's ninja warrior marathon weekend. :) I've been tiling all weekend and have had it on. :)

[Woolburr]

Nice experiment Tommy! Looks like a fun shoot to try.

[Timphoto]

Nice work Tommy. It looks like the kind of thing I should be doing to practice and improve my photoshop skills.

[Harm]

Nice work Tommy. It looks like the kind of thing I should be doing to practice and improve my photoshop skills.

Soooooo, what is stopping you?

[Timphoto]

It's a little thing called a job. It keeps sucking up my spare time.

[Timphoto]

In what spare time I had this weekend, I got sidetracked with installing and learning about the improvements in LR4. I've also been cleaning up my catalogs and backups.

[Harm]

Heh, wise thinking. I need to learn about all that :)

[*sigh*]

Well... It's time for bed. I have to be up at 4:30am to get to the airport.. :(

[Harm]

Have a safe flight!

[FlyingPhotog]

Safe travels Nick!

[Timphoto]

My clock says 10pm, but my body is at 9pm. I hate Daylight Savings time changes!

[Belmondo]

My clock says 10pm, but my body is at 9pm. I hate Daylight Savings time changes!So far, I'm getting along jus fine. I woke up at my normal time this morning, missed the sunset, so I've completely lost my perspective of time today. I'm going to bed now.

[Timphoto]

Good night CHief. See you at 4am. ;-)

[Belmondo]

I was up at 4:00, but had to get bro-in-law up and on the road.

[gjl711]

My clock says 10pm, but my body is at 9pm. I hate Daylight Savings time changes!It's only bad the first day or two. Also, melatonin helps to re-sync your circadian clock.

[gjl711]

Good morning. gloomy.. gloomy. gloomy here today.

[Belmondo]

Good morning. gloomy.. gloomy. gloomy here today.

Tuesday eve.

Mornin', JJ.

[gjl711]

Tuesday evenings are good. Tuesday mornings are bad.

[gjl711]

BTW, today I find out if I got a new job. If so, I'm headed out to Texas. Fingers crossed.

[Belmondo]

BTW, today I find out if I got a new job. If so, I'm headed out to Texas. Fingers crossed.

Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed. Good luck on that.

[gjl711]

Thanx. It would me no more bad Tuesdays. :):):)

[Belmondo]

Thanx. It would me no more bad Tuesdays. :):):)

.....and better Mexican food!!

[Harm]

BTW, today I find out if I got a new job. If so, I'm headed out to Texas. Fingers crossed.

good luck!!


.....and better Mexican food!!

^Win!!!

[Belmondo]

My office needed a good cleaning, so I spent most of yesterday dusting, vacuuming, wiping, and generally tidying up the place. The work spread into the adjacent closet where I keep my camera equipment, so I pulled all that out and reorganized all that.

A few impressions:
1. I still have way too much equipment, most of which I don't know how to use.
2. The 1D3 is a beast. It's way too big and heavy for someone with as little dedication as I have. That 7D seems a much more convenient package for everyday shooting.
3. The argument against the 1D3 (weight/bulk) also applies to the 24-7. The 24-105 is smaller, lighter, and has more reach. Is one f-stop really worth it?
4. Owning both the 400 f/5.6L and 300 f/4L IS is a form of mental illness. What was I thinking?
5. Where did the Sigma 30mm lens and the Canon 20mm lenses come from. I don't even remember buying them, and can't think of any use for either one of them. I already have two good lenses that cover 30mm, and I have a 16-35L that covers the 20. On top of that, I have the 14L prime. Repeat after me: "Chief is a whacko."
6. I have about a jillion various camera bags/backpacks. None of them are ever right for what I need at the time, and I still don't have a clue how to pack one for a typical day of shooting. I almost always find myself wishing I'd brought something that there just didn't seem to be room for. Even worse, I hate to get home at the and of a day of dragging around an overweight bag, and realizing that I didn't use 3/4 of the crap in it.
7. I'm still looking for the safest, fastest, easiest way to clean lenses. I know lens paper and cleaning fluid aren't the answer. Lens pens scare me. That will be one of the great mysteries to evade me as long as I'm involved in photography.

Anyway, the closet is now organized, and for a brief period, I know where everything is.

[gjl711]

I love Mexican food. We actually have a few decent places here but lots f crappy places as well. For some reason many consider Taco Bell to be Mexican food. ;):)

[Belmondo]

For some reason many consider Taco Bell to be Mexican food. ;):)

It IS Mexican food, but it's not intended for Mexican humans.

We're only about 90 miles from the Mexican border, and there are parts of the valley where the population is predominately hispanic, so there's no shortage of really good Mexican restaurants around here. Funny, but most of the really good ones are places you normally wouldn't go into unless you knew ahead of time the food was sensational. We also have our share of Mexican fast food places, and there are also the fancy restaurants, most of which are overrated.

When we were in England last summer, I had a hankering for Mexican food, and actually found a couple decent places in London. I guess it's just about everywhere now.

[Harm]

wow, that is a lot of equipment, chief :D

I loveeeeeeeeee good mexican food. We did find a hole in the wall place here, which is always great mexican food.

Only ever been to Taco Bell once. never again.

[gjl711]

... Funny, but most of the really good ones are places you normally wouldn't go into unless you knew ahead of time the food was sensational. We also have our share of Mexican fast food places, and there are also the fancy restaurants, most of which are overrated....Same here. Most of the fancy ones are way too expensive and not really better than some of the mom and pop places. My favorite place in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago is a small local chain where each restaurant is pretty much family owned and operated with a common name and similar menus. The owner has been running it for as long as I can remember and makes some killer dishes.

[Belmondo]

I suppose it makes sense that as Mexican-Americans have spread out through the country, their food should follow. There is a certain authenticity that goes along with being close to Mexico, though, and we have that in spades around here.

[Chet]

"Chief is a whacko."



7. I'm still looking for the safest, fastest, easiest way to clean lenses. I know lens paper and cleaning fluid aren't the answer.

They are dishwasher safe and have been for the last 7 years. Check your date codes before loading top rack only.

[Harm]

Now I am hungry for some sizzling fajitas :D

[Belmondo]

They are dishwasher safe and have been for the last 7 years. Check your date codes before loading top rack only.Good thought, Chet. The dishwasher is humming away as I write this.

Now I am hungry for some sizzling fajitas :DSomeday. **sigh**

[Timphoto]

BTW, today I find out if I got a new job. If so, I'm headed out to Texas. Fingers crossed.

Good luck - fingers crossed for you.

.....and better Mexican food!!

I was going to make a joke about JJ really wanting to move to Texas...but then I remembered this one mom & pop Mexican restaurant in Brownsville.


My office needed a good cleaning, so I spent most of yesterday dusting, vacuuming, wiping, and generally tidying up the place. The work spread into the adjacent closet where I keep my camera equipment, so I pulled all that out and reorganized all that.

A few impressions:
1. I still have way too much equipment, most of which I don't know how to use.
2. The 1D3 is a beast. It's way too big and heavy for someone with as little dedication as I have. That 7D seems a much more convenient package for everyday shooting.
3. The argument against the 1D3 (weight/bulk) also applies to the 24-7. The 24-105 is smaller, lighter, and has more reach. Is one f-stop really worth it?
4. Owning both the 400 f/5.6L and 300 f/4L IS is a form of mental illness. What was I thinking?
5. Where did the Sigma 30mm lens and the Canon 20mm lenses come from. I don't even remember buying them, and can't think of any use for either one of them. I already have two good lenses that cover 30mm, and I have a 16-35L that covers the 20. On top of that, I have the 14L prime. Repeat after me: "Chief is a whacko."
6. I have about a jillion various camera bags/backpacks. None of them are ever right for what I need at the time, and I still don't have a clue how to pack one for a typical day of shooting. I almost always find myself wishing I'd brought something that there just didn't seem to be room for. Even worse, I hate to get home at the and of a day of dragging around an overweight bag, and realizing that I didn't use 3/4 of the crap in it.
7. I'm still looking for the safest, fastest, easiest way to clean lenses. I know lens paper and cleaning fluid aren't the answer. Lens pens scare me. That will be one of the great mysteries to evade me as long as I'm involved in photography.

Anyway, the closet is now organized, and for a brief period, I know where everything is.

I have many of the same issues. Except for the closet cleaning bug, this mental illness of yours must be contagious. ;) :lol:

[Timphoto]

Hmmm. Looks like I started the week with a 2 hour thread kill. :-(

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

My office needed a good cleaning, so I spent most of yesterday dusting, vacuuming, wiping, and generally tidying up the place. The work spread into the adjacent closet where I keep my camera equipment, so I pulled all that out and reorganized all that.

A few impressions:
1. I still have way too much equipment, most of which I don't know how to use.
2. The 1D3 is a beast. It's way too big and heavy for someone with as little dedication as I have. That 7D seems a much more convenient package for everyday shooting.
3. The argument against the 1D3 (weight/bulk) also applies to the 24-7. The 24-105 is smaller, lighter, and has more reach. Is one f-stop really worth it?
4. Owning both the 400 f/5.6L and 300 f/4L IS is a form of mental illness. What was I thinking?
5. Where did the Sigma 30mm lens and the Canon 20mm lenses come from. I don't even remember buying them, and can't think of any use for either one of them. I already have two good lenses that cover 30mm, and I have a 16-35L that covers the 20. On top of that, I have the 14L prime. Repeat after me: "Chief is a whacko."
6. I have about a jillion various camera bags/backpacks. None of them are ever right for what I need at the time, and I still don't have a clue how to pack one for a typical day of shooting. I almost always find myself wishing I'd brought something that there just didn't seem to be room for. Even worse, I hate to get home at the and of a day of dragging around an overweight bag, and realizing that I didn't use 3/4 of the crap in it.
7. I'm still looking for the safest, fastest, easiest way to clean lenses. I know lens paper and cleaning fluid aren't the answer. Lens pens scare me. That will be one of the great mysteries to evade me as long as I'm involved in photography.

Anyway, the closet is now organized, and for a brief period, I know where everything is.

Sounds like you need to simplify your life and bring some zen-level organization to your closet. I am always ready and willing to help you through these difficult times. We could start with removing those pesky Sigma lenses from your life. Once those have been taken care of we can move onto the 24-70 and 14L.

Jay's stalker knows my address... :D

[JWright]

It IS Mexican food, but it's not intended for Mexican humans.

We're only about 90 miles from the Mexican border, and there are parts of the valley where the population is predominately hispanic, so there's no shortage of really good Mexican restaurants around here. Funny, but most of the really good ones are places you normally wouldn't go into unless you knew ahead of time the food was sensational. We also have our share of Mexican fast food places, and there are also the fancy restaurants, most of which are overrated.

When we were in England last summer, I had a hankering for Mexican food, and actually found a couple decent places in London. I guess it's just about everywhere now.

Years ago, I had some really good Mexican food in Lone Pine, California. What was funny about it was the owner/chef of the place was a non-Hispanic American who said he had never been in Mexico in his life...

[Timphoto]

Sounds like you need to simplify your life and bring some zen-level organization to your closet. I am always ready and willing to help you through these difficult times. We could start with removing those pesky Sigma lenses from your life. Once those have been taken care of we can move onto the 24-70 and 14L.

Jay's stalker knows my address... :D

The 14L looks good to me...I'd like to pitch in and help too. ;) :lol:

[FlyingPhotog]

The 14L looks good to me...I'd like to pitch in and help too. ;) :lol:

I'll split it with you...

That way we can both have a 7mm f/1.4

[thomascanty]

Hmmm. Looks like I started the week with a 2 hour thread kill. :-(

Nice job! http://www.decloedt.com/Smilies/applause.gif

[thomascanty]

If the Chief still has that 180 macro, I'll be happy to take that off his hands.

[gjl711]

Years ago, I had some really good Mexican food in Lone Pine, California. What was funny about it was the owner/chef of the place was a non-Hispanic American who said he had never been in Mexico in his life...It's not about the ethnicity of the chef, It all about the ingredients that go into the dish.

My wife, who is of Japanese ancestry, makes an absolutely killer steak taco.

[Harm]

Nice job! http://www.decloedt.com/Smilies/applause.gif

bw!

[Chet]

Wait, let me rummage through Chiefs old useless crap as well. Is the body even cold yeT?

[CrazieCricket]

I was going to make a joke about JJ really wanting to move to Texas...but then I remembered this one mom & pop Mexican restaurant in Brownsville.

Hey!!!! My hubby is in Brownsville working. To bad he hates mexican food.:(:rolleyes:

[Harm]

To bad he hates mexican food.:(:rolleyes:

wow, really?

[Chet]

Hey!!!! My hubby is in Brownsville working. To bad he hates mexican food.:(:rolleyes:

Taco Bell really isn't Mexican food by any stretch of the imagination.

[thomascanty]

Taco Bell really isn't food by any stretch of the imagination.

There. I fixed it for you.

[Chet]

There. I fixed it for you.

LOL, so true. :lol:

[Timphoto]

Nice job! http://www.decloedt.com/Smilies/applause.gif


Awwwh shucks....:oops:

[Harm]

you're well on your way to another kill, Tim :D

[Belmondo]

I want to thank you all for your kind offers of help. :rolleyes:

[FlyingPhotog]

I just want to know what the ethnicity of the Chief has to do with Mexican Food?

[Harm]

I just want to know what the ethnicity of the Chief has to do with Mexican Food?

maybe he was adopted by someone called pedro, or manuel?

[FlyingPhotog]

maybe he was adopted by someone called pedro, or manuel?

I've read the Manuel and I didn't see anything mentioned...

[Harm]

:rolleyes:

[FlyingPhotog]

WHAT!? :p

[Harm]

like I even have to say :D:D

[FlyingPhotog]

AT LEAST I READ THE MANUEL!

[Harm]

:lol:

[FlyingPhotog]

I love audience participation...

[Harm]

Still time for you to be a stand up comic, Jay.

[FlyingPhotog]

Lots of folks have told me I should be on a stage...

(The next one leaving town!)

RIMSHOT! (http://instantrimshot.com/)

[Harm]

RIMSHOT! (http://instantrimshot.com/)

bw!

[FlyingPhotog]

Isn't that a great thing? My #1 bookmark! :lol:

[Chet]

Dads 301k GMC Jimmy on trade in day at the dealership. The dealer said take a picture of the truck and odometer and send it to GM.

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kvRhRRd/0/L/i-kvRhRRd-L.jpg

[L.J.G.]

Taco Bell really isn't Mexican food by any stretch of the imagination.

We could not bring ourselves to even walk in the door of a Taco Bell when we were over there :rolleyes:

[Chet]

We could not bring ourselves to even walk in the door of a Taco Bell when we were over there :rolleyes:

And because of that you made it home with your digestive tract in tact.

[L.J.G.]

I dunno Chet, we did go to Arby's hahaha

[Chet]

I dunno Chet, we did go to Arby's hahaha

The Pepsi tastes good there, and the cherry turnovers.

[Harm]

Isn't that a great thing? My #1 bookmark! :lol:

I've added it to my bookmarks :D

[Mistabernie]

record heat in Boston today.. 73 degrees in my part of the state.

[Harm]

I am not complaining one bit of that :D

I'll take the wee lad out :D

[L.J.G.]

How is Alexander going Harm?

[Harm]

He is good, thanks. He has had a cold/cough for a week now, but it is getting better, we are not concerned, and it hasn't mucked up his feedings. He will wake up in the middle of the night coughing though...

just when he is starting to sleep through the night :D:D

hopefully this lovely warm weather will be nice for him :D

[L.J.G.]

If he still has his appetite he is going OK Harm. Once he starts sleeping through the night you are home and hosed! I cannot believe how fast the little tacker is growing. How are you going with nappy duty? That is one thing I could never get my head around haha

[Harm]

My hands helping out alexander:
http://harm.smugmug.com/Private/Alexander/Alexander-October-2011/i-nw3QfX7/0/XL/IMG0874-XL.jpg

If I can change a nappy in there, with ease, I can change a nappy with plenty of room to spare with even greater ease :D

[L.J.G.]

Strike me pink, he was so small, it still amazes me. You are one very lucky couple.

[Harm]

2 of my fave pics - size does not matter. My wife holding Alexander:

http://harm.smugmug.com/Private/Alexander/Alexander-October-2011/i-rk4bhNw/0/XL/IMG0796-XL.jpg

And

http://harm.smugmug.com/Private/Alexander/Alexander-October-2011/i-rWggkkH/0/XL/IMG0814-XL.jpg

[Harm]

I will take a photo tonight so you can compare

[Woolburr]

Wow....I thought I had tuned into Comedy Central by mistake. JJ.....good luck on the job front!

[Harm]

Wow....I thought I had tuned into Comedy Central by mistake. JJ.....good luck on the job front!

Jay and his camera as a ventriloquist act?

[Woolburr]

I thought you were the other half of the act. :lol:

[Harm]

I thought you were the other half of the act. :lol:

There no hand up my arse :)

[*sigh*]

Well I made it safely. More importantly, the aberlour made it safely.

[Woolburr]

The safety of the Aberlour is paramount! :D

[*sigh*]

The safety of the Aberlour is paramount! :DAbsolutely!

That's why it was stuck in a WineSkin (http://www.wineskin.net/) and with about 6" of clothes worth of padding on all sides. :lol:

[gjl711]

Well, offer extended. Looks like a pretty decent move on my part but I didn't want to seem too antsy so I told them I needed a day or two to think it over. Looks like I am Texas bound sometime in June or July.

[JWright]

Congratulations!!!!

[gjl711]

Thanx. Texas in July... Wonder if I'll need a coat. ;)

[FlyingPhotog]

Thanx. Texas in July... Wonder if I'll need a coat. ;)

...of fire retardant? Probably...

[gjl711]

...of fire retardant? Probably...
:):)

[*sigh*]

Congrats JJ!

[Jon]

Well, offer extended. Looks like a pretty decent move on my part but I didn't want to seem too antsy so I told them I needed a day or two to think it over. Looks like I am Texas bound sometime in June or July.
Good going ! ! !
...of fire retardant? Probably...

Sure you could suggest a reliable brand . . .

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

Well, offer extended. Looks like a pretty decent move on my part but I didn't want to seem too antsy so I told them I needed a day or two to think it over. Looks like I am Texas bound sometime in June or July.

So Tuesdays just might be happier occurrences?? :D Sounds good to me!

[Belmondo]

Well, offer extended. Looks like a pretty decent move on my part but I didn't want to seem too antsy so I told them I needed a day or two to think it over. Looks like I am Texas bound sometime in June or July.That's terrific, JJ. I'll look for things to improve in Texas very soon, especially Tuesdays.

Do you have your "I quit" speech worked out yet?

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

That's terrific, JJ. I'll look for things to improve in Texas very soon, especially Tuesdays.

Do you have your "I quit" speech worked out yet?

I think JJs "I quit" speech should be held on a Tuesday and involve a paintball gun. With party hats, noise makers, and confetti. And a really big cake :D

[L.J.G.]

There no hand up my arse :)

Well at least you'd be sitting up straight Harm ;)

[FlyingPhotog]

I think JJs "I quit" speech should be held on a Tuesday and involve a paintball gun. With party hats, noise makers, and confetti. And a really big cake packed with C4 :D

Finished the thought for you Mel... :lol:

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

Finished the thought for you Mel... :lol:

I like!

[gjl711]

That's terrific, JJ. I'll look for things to improve in Texas very soon, especially Tuesdays.

Do you have your "I quit" speech worked out yet?
It's an internal transfer so i can't blow up any bridges. I would love to, but can't.

[FlyingPhotog]

It's an internal transfer so i can't blow up any bridges. I would love to, but can't.

Can you at least saw halfway through some of the supports? :lol:

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

It's an internal transfer so i can't blow up any bridges. I would love to, but can't.

Darn.

C4 cake would be a ton of fun!

[Belmondo]

Well, I painted a freight depot and a two-story restaurant today. Of course they are only 1/87 actual size, but for some reason, my back hurts just as much as if I'd done the real thing. All things considered, it was pretty small potatoes. The actual painting only took about a half hour. The time-killer was the setup, and afterward, the cleanup.

I haven't used any of my spray equipment for years, and since I used it last, things have really changed in the area of model painting. It used to be that mostly we used enamel-based paints, and I knew all about handling them and getting good results. Now, it's almost impossible to find enamel-based paint for hobby used, and everything has moved over to acrylics. I know nothing about them except what I've read since re-entering the hobby, and that's not much. The biggest difference is that acrylics can be thinned with water; in fact, that's what the directions on the bottle tell you to do. I read somewhere that if you use alcohol instead, it will dry much faster, It does......almost too fast, but even using water, the whole process is much faster than it used to be, especially if you accelerate the drying with a hair dryer.

Now, you would think that any paint that you can thin with water would come off your hands easily. Not so. I've tried everything: paint thinner, nail polish remover, MEK, and just about every other solvent we might have around the house. I guess the best think is just good old soap and water, and a lot of scrubbing.

The good new is, these new paints appear to be generally idiot-proof, and after a lot of experimentation and familiarization, I actually got some very good results. The best new of all was that after years of inactivity, all the airbrushes worked flawlessly. That's testimony to the fact that the last time I used them, I apparently cleaned them very well, and left them ready for use.

[FlyingPhotog]

Acrylics are the shizzle...

Surgical gloves FTW when spraying! :D

[gjl711]

Can you at least saw halfway through some of the supports? :lol:Ya know, I learned a valuable lesson from my neighbor. He got a new job, nuked the bridge and felt all great about it. His new job lasted three weeks and they told him that things weren't going to work out and let him go.

His old boss said that they would have taken him back but with his "take this job and shove it" farewell, there was no way.

[Woolburr]

Surgical gloves appear to be a must these days.

Congrats on the job JJ....will this involve less Tuesday headaches?

[Timphoto]

Congrats JJ! That's good news.

[Belmondo]

I have lots of latex gloves around. I guess I'd best use them.

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

Never good to burn bridges. With this new job I discovered that it's a small world... The management folks at this dealership are good friends with the management folk at the dealership I used to work at in a different city. It worked well for me, I got a really good reference from the old place and the new folks were quite pleased with it.

I always cringe when I see people burn bridges that they end up needing later on.

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

I keep a box of nitrile gloves around the house. I wear them all the time at work, but I've found they are wonderful for house cleaning and cooking. Especially when I'm canning or doing zucchini soup.

[Harm]

Congrats, JJ. Mull the offer over carefully.

[gjl711]

Congrats, JJ. Mull the offer over carefully.
I mulled it over for maybe 3 seconds. :) Anything is better than working for the yahoo's I'm working for now. Can't let them know I'm desperate though.

[Woolburr]

Hey Chief....what did you find out about your car?

[Belmondo]

Hey Chief....what did you find out about your car?

Apparently when almost anything goes wrong in a Lexus, all the warning lights go on, and none of them are necessarily indicative of what the actual problem is. The dealer finally called late this afternoon and said it was the ignition coil (???), and it was going to cost almost $500.00 to replace. I didn't realize new cars still used ignition coils, but what do I know?

We should have it back tomorrow afternoon.

[Woolburr]

I looked on a Lexus forum....and was surprised to see that the warning lights don't necessarily have anything to do with what they might be thought to mean. Guess it really is just designed to get your attention so you take it to a dealer.

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

Apparently when almost anything goes wrong in a Lexus, all the warning lights go on, and none of them are necessarily indicative of what the actual problem is. The dealer finally called late this afternoon and said it was the ignition coil (???), and it was going to cost almost $500.00 to replace. I didn't realize new cars still used ignition coils, but what do I know?

We should have it back tomorrow afternoon.

All spark ignition vehicles use ignition coils. They are just in different forms. Your's probably has one for each cylinder. I don't remember Lexus' very well, it's been several years, but I'm sure they use Coil-On-Plug (COP) or a version of it. Rather efficient, but kinda pricey.

[JWright]

Thanx. Texas in July... Wonder if I'll need a coat. ;)

...of fire retardant? Probably...

I can't picture being in either Texas OR Arizona in July, and apparently neither can a lot of 'zonians. The number of AZ license plates on san Diego's roads triples in the summer... Just as Arizona has the "snowbirds" from up North during the winter, in the summer, we have the "sandbirds..."

[Woolburr]

Beats having our s#1tbirds. :lol:

[L.J.G.]

I'll say! Although they do say being crapped on by a bird is good luck - as long as it isn't a pelican.

[gjl711]

$500 for a coil!!! Yikes..

[L.J.G.]

Just check Belmondo, on some they are the same coil as on the Toyota Kluger, which are only about $100 a piece.

[Timphoto]

Chief, the USA version of a Kluger is the Highlander. $500 for a coil sounds like a real kludge to me. :-)

[Harm]

Just check Belmondo, on some they are the same coil as on the Toyota Kluger, which are only about $100 a piece.

Kluger - loved that name when we were in Oz. still like the name "highlander" too. Great machines.

[gjl711]

I googled the coil and it looks like it runs anywhere from about $40 to $80 per coil depending on which car. Also, full sets of 6 are like $125, $175 depending on car. I think it's worth pushing this guy a little. Get the part #, show up and say "WTF.. the part is $50, what's the other $450 for?"

[Harm]

I googled the coil and it looks like it runs anywhere from about $40 to $80 per coil depending on which car. Also, full sets of 6 are like $125, $175 depending on car. I think it's worth pushing this guy a little. Get the part #, show up and say "WTF.. the part is $50, what's the other $450 for?"

Union labour

[Belmondo]

All spark ignition vehicles use ignition coils. They are just in different forms. Your's probably has one for each cylinder. I don't remember Lexus' very well, it's been several years, but I'm sure they use Coil-On-Plug (COP) or a version of it. Rather efficient, but kinda pricey.That's exactly what it has---one per cylinder

[L.J.G.]

Kluger - loved that name when we were in Oz. still like the name "highlander" too. Great machines.

OK, so not a Kluger over there. I get confused with all the name changes between there and here. They are cheaper for a Toyota because they do not have the Lexus nametag. It pings me off that a name means a different price for the exact same part! It is just a stitch up because they reckon a person buying a Lexus is better heeled than a person who buys a Toyota. What a joke!

[Belmondo]

OK, so not a Kluger over there. I get confused with all the name changes between there and here. They are cheaper for a Toyota because they do not have the Lexus nametag. It pings me off that a name means a different price for the exact same part! It is just a stitch up because they reckon a person buying a Lexus is better heeled than a person who buys a Toyota. What a joke!Boy, do I have them fooled. :lol:

[gjl711]

Tuesday... GGGGRRRRrrrr....

[Belmondo]

Yes, but this Tuesday is different. They don't know what you know. :wink:

[vipergts831]

Good Morning all. Going to hit 70's here :shock:

[Harm]

Good Morning all. Going to hit 70's here :shock:

we will hit 20-21°C today (70°F) - same as yesterday. Bonus!

[Belmondo]

we will hit 20-21°C today (70°F) - same as yesterday. Bonus!Your weather has been making the national news. It's going to be 80º here today, but that's just about normal. We could get some cooler temps and rain next weekend, but I'll believe it when I see it. In a way, I hope it doesn't as that will be the big finale of the Paribas Open, and that facility is not covered.

[gjl711]

It's already in the 70s here. I had to get the screens down last night as the skeeters are out in force already. Middle of March and we already have a skeeter problem. The world really is coming to an end this December.

[Belmondo]

The world really is coming to an end this December.It's just as well. I didn't have anything planned.

[vipergts831]

we will hit 20-21°C today (70°F) - same as yesterday. Bonus!

Very unseasonably warm like this "winter" we have had.

[Timphoto]

We're in the high 50's with a prediction for up to 4 inches of rain today and tomorrow.

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

14 C here right now. Sun is shining with a nice breeze. We've got the shop doors open :)

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

I googled the coil and it looks like it runs anywhere from about $40 to $80 per coil depending on which car. Also, full sets of 6 are like $125, $175 depending on car. I think it's worth pushing this guy a little. Get the part #, show up and say "WTF.. the part is $50, what's the other $450 for?"

My thoughts would be that the $500 would be the total bill. Time to diagnose the issue, then time to replace the part, plus the cost of the part.

Some coils are not easy to get to either. Plenty of Ford vehicles have the coils and plugs buried underneath the intake manifold. Changing the spark plugs includes pulling the manifold off and having to replace the gaskets for it.

Labour rates around here are near $100/hr, so I can only imagine what they are in CA.

But that's just my guess.

[Chet]

70° today but close to 80° tomorrow. It's normally still snowing this time of year.