Nov 11 - 11/11/11

We have one more year where the year, month and day will be the same and then not again in my lifetime for sure !

For me, yesterday was work-on-Saxon and do-errands day. I was mostly successful.

First off, I went over to visit Riley with a half-dozen papayas for Dolly. I've been eating one per day but cannot keep up. They're quite tasty and really packed with good stuff, based on the nutritional value chart that I've seen.

Riley and Dolly (former owners of our house) have done a great job with their house on the ocean. "Have done" is not quite right because the work goes on. To say that they gutted it might be a small exaggeration, but not much. Gutted would imply that they didn't do anything outside, but that's underway too !

From there I went to Saxon and cleared the roof of branches and leaves and then cleaned the gutters. I had the blower with me so I then cleared the sidewalk of everything that I'd thrown down.

Next I removed the hose in front and the sprinkler attached to that, re-attaching the drip hose. Playing with the automatic watering control, I got that working but found that the drip hose out the side was squirting etc. so I left the system off. I'll go back over the repair/replace that hose and the drip heads. I have the spare parts here.

Next I attacked the palm trees out back. They've been doing quite well and needed some thinning. I could probably do more, and very well might, before our tenants move in. I do need to go back and trim the mangroves. I just might do that today. That will take a step-ladder and pruner vs the hand-snipper that I was using for the palms.

Having spent a couple of hours working at Saxon, I headed to the post office with a parcel for Stef. That turned out to be a dud ... or a duh ? ... it was Veterans Day and the post office was closed. I think that it's open this morning so I'll try again or maybe Sandy will do that one.

From there I went to Home Depot, picking up terry rags for bike and whatever maintenance and a couple of other small things. I also dropped off a UPS lead-acid battery into their cell phone and electronics recycling bin.

My last stop was more recycling, dumping 4x5 quart containers of used motor oil into the used oil tank at Advance Auto Parts. I had changed the oil in both cars before leaving in the Spring ... or perhaps that was during the summer ... anyway, they both take 8 quarts so it adds up quickly. AA doesn't take the containers, so they'll end up in our garbage on Monday.

I started watching Warehouse 13 on Netflix ... not sure if I'm going to really get into this one but one reviewer that I read said that after about episode 4 it does get better.

Sandy had a busy day too, going to the dermatologist in Ormond Beach for micro-derm abrasion, the BMW dealer in Holly Hill for coolant for my upcoming thermostat replacement in the SUV, Bed Bath & Beyond in Daytona etc. These are back-to-back communities so it's not as onerous as it sounds !

Every blog that I read said use the BMW stuff since there's not much difference in price. It mixes 50-50 with distilled water to protect to -37F, which should be good enough. If we lived up north, however, I'd mix 60/40 per their instructions to protect to lower temps.

Which brings me to -- I still don't have the darned fan clutch removal tool !

Oh yes, and while the 25hp Merc runs smoother on the Whaler with the replacement spark plug wires, it still shudders and stalls after a few seconds when the throttle is advanced under load. I'm not sure where I'm going with this one. First off I'll do some more research online.

I think that was it. Oh yes, we had meatloaf last night for dinner. Sandy had a craving. It was good but I didn't over-indulge. Leftovers will make good sandwiches :).

Onward !