Learned'd VIII: Less Bewbs, Same Nonsense

[frapjap]

It really does amaze me how much maintenance some things need- house, cars, lawn mowers, all balanced with work, time off, volunteer orgs, and of course, family.

Hopefully your 500 is just a simple recharge and maybe some plug changes. The Miata will be an easy fix, you'll be pretty happy for that part. Mine wanted to overheat last night on the way in from the airport. The radiator went dry because some debris ended up in the overflow tank. I was a bit perplexed so I called James who suggested a blockage. Sure enough, some silt/ashy looking something had gummed up that line. A quick cut with the knife, 2 gallons of water, and I was on my way again. Going to remove the tank and flush the gunk out tonight. The coolant was a bit orange in color, rusty, rather. Its probably overdue for a fluids change since the last time I did it was a little under 2 years ago.

The engine is pointing the correct way in the Subie, but the cylinders sure as hell don't!! Still, I owe money on it and am not really interested in a larger car note with the saving for a ring and inevitable move on the horizon. It doesn't (and probably won't ever) make sense to get a new car. I'd go get a Focus, Hyundai, or something, but the Subaru, despite its current issue and being older, is still a much better car.
Still, after doing this repair, fixing the Miata head gasket (should it ever need one) is going to be a cake walk.

[Kompresshun]

Yeah it really does suck growing up huh? It seems that I have less and less time, along with getting less and less sleep as well...

I'm hoping the 500 is just a simple recharge too but I believe the compressor is still under warranty should it need more than that.

Oh, I don't blame you for fixing the Subie for sure. I just don't plan on dealing with anymore sedans that don't send power to the rear wheels and do wicked burnouts. The only FWD vehicles I will even consider going forward will be a MS3, Focus ST, or Fiesta ST.

[frapjap]

I love those three (even though I haven't driven them!) but unless I have a surprise family, there isn't a need for a bigger car, ever.

I really want to test drive a 1 series convertible and see if they're worth a damn. They seem to have way less issues than the typical BMW since they aren't as 'well equipped' as the other models. Wes' M Coupe is a blast and is probably every bit as reliable as anything else we all own since it doesn't have a bunch of stupid bells and whistles. Infotainment is stupid, its much more entertaining to watch gauges with needles and numbers.

Less sleep is the hardest. You and I aren't far at all in regards to age, so its not as much of a physical thing. The volunteer board I'm on takes a boat load of my leisure time. Toss in a dash of NICO, repairing a car, mowing the lawn, training for a run or race, studying for some certification or other to keep up CE's, I have no fuggin' clue how you guys with kids do it!! Granted, most of ya'll have wives to help, but they're busy, too! Honestly, thats what keeps me keepin' on this hard- seeing someone do more than me and still getting it done.

[Kompresshun]

Well those certainly aren't bigger cars anyways ;-)

I would love to switch to a coupe for my next car, but it's just not a smart decision because I know we'll be having another little one at some point. I've thought about a BMW myself personally, but i'm just not sure if i'm ready to make that big of a jump. I think the most luxurious i'll end up going is an Infiniti G or M sedan. Maybe a Cadillac CTS-V or Chrysler 300 SRT8. We'll see.

I'm still not opposed to going very spartan and getting something like a Frontier or Xterra with rubber floors and a manual everything.

Oh right now our life is chaos. It'll let up a lot once Kristen finishes school though, but I think it just is a part of life. I don't think life ever truly lets up, it just throws different things at you as you go on. I'd love to go to more events, travel more, build more awesome cars, go racing, and ect but as you get older your priorities change I guess. As much as I would love doing those things, I would much rather spend time with my family instead. I still plan on doing some of those things, but they have to work for me first before I will.

I really don't know how some people do as much as they do though honestly. I honestly don't understand how Becky and Greg juggle everything they do. It makes me feel just plain lazy.

[Dattebayo]

It really does amaze me how much maintenance some things need- house, cars, lawn mowers, all balanced with work, time off, volunteer orgs, and of course, family.

Entropy is a btich, isn't it? I'm amazed that people still find time later in life to do volunteer work.

I'm personally a fan of having a car and a truck. My wallet is sort of missing my car right now.

[ADDirishboy]

My wallet hates my truck. 28 gallon tank eats up funds rather quickly. But I love the Titan, so screw what my wallet thinks.

Also, I don't know how you guys managed to find time to do all that s***. Being that busy sounds crazy.

[nissangirl74]

I honestly don't understand how Becky and Greg juggle everything they do. It makes me feel just plain lazy.

It's hard; really hard, especially with me being in school. This past Spring semester really sucked. We had 3 kids in school, 2 set to graduate, 1 working, 1 looking for work, two of them volunteering, one learning to drive. I was working at the school, going to clinicals (was exposed to both MRSA and C-diff while I was there), studying for my classes, trying to help the kids with their classes, paying the bills, cooking dinner every night, trying to help coordinate / make reservations / pay for a long list of trips for Greg (I'm not going to get to go to anything NICO related this year ), pay the bills so they don't turn the lights off on us, orthodontist appointments out the a** (two kids came out of braces this Spring), the list goes on and on. Thank God for Greg. He did the laundry for 5 solid months and helped me keep the dust bunnies from over-taking the house. That's on top of his 9-5 and running NICO, which I haven't had much time to devote to - and it makes me sad- finishing the 510, working on the Zpowersteering project, managing BRM, etc., etc. Oh yeah, and we're building a new house, moving mom in with us by the end of the year, and we're moving two kids out by the end of the year.

[TurboSauce]

i thought it was difficult trying to decide which cereal to buy.

[Kompresshun]

I honestly don't understand how Becky and Greg juggle everything they do. It makes me feel just plain lazy.

It's hard; really hard, especially with me being in school. This past Spring semester really sucked. We had 3 kids in school, 2 set to graduate, 1 working, 1 looking for work, two of them volunteering, one learning to drive. I was working at the school, going to clinicals (was exposed to both MRSA and C-diff while I was there), studying for my classes, trying to help the kids with their classes, paying the bills, cooking dinner every night, trying to help coordinate / make reservations / pay for a long list of trips for Greg (I'm not going to get to go to anything NICO related this year ), pay the bills so they don't turn the lights off on us, orthodontist appointments out the a** (two kids came out of braces this Spring), the list goes on and on. Thank God for Greg. He did the laundry for 5 solid months and helped me keep the dust bunnies from over-taking the house. That's on top of his 9-5 and running NICO, which I haven't had much time to devote to - and it makes me sad- finishing the 510, working on the Zpowersteering project, managing BRM, etc., etc. Oh yeah, and we're building a new house, moving mom in with us by the end of the year, and we're moving two kids out by the end of the year.

See I read that as "Chris you're a lazy a**"

I guess I should be thankful that our life hasn't become that busy yet. Kristen juggling school combined with us both working full time, trying to keep up with the kid, keep ourselves fed, and keep the house in order is plenty enough for us. I try to help Kristen as much as possible, but we both realize that we can only handle so much so we try to not worry about the little things so much like the house always being spotless and everything always being in order. It would be nice, but we'd pretty much get to spend zero time with each other if we didn't let go of the less important things some. I still think that's a part of the survival mode that we're in right now though, but I don't know for sure that life will get any less crazy after Kristen finishes school either. We hope so, but there's no way to predict that for sure.

All I know is i'm ready to GTFO of Kentucky. This place can EAD.

[frapjap]

Yeah! f*** Kentucky! Except the bourbon. Save the bourbon.

I've got no idea how Becky & Greg keep it together. If I'm ready to fall asleep the moment I hit the couch every night, I'm surprised they don't fall asleep at the wheel once their butts hit a seat.

Got through a good chunk of the Subaru last night. Little bracket stuff and the intake manifold came off. Next will be the radiator, front timing cover, and valve covers after setting the timing belt where it belongs. I really should have just pulled the engine. With the hood off, I can clearly see/get to all of the bell housing bolts. I'd probably swear myself into hell trying to line it up for reassembly, but the removal would be easier.

I swear, sometimes I just want one car. Maybe two. Three old cars is a lot to maintain.

[Kompresshun]

I do like the bourbon. I like the scenery too. The state sucks in general though.

Yeah my buddy did head gaskets on a Subaru Forrester for a friend of his. I told him when he asked me about it that he had no idea what he was getting in to. It took him a week to do the job. Granted, this one was 100X worse than your car I can guarantee... The owner had put about 5 cans of engine stop leak through the system

I tried doing the one car thing and it drove me nuts, but I feel you on trying to maintain multiple older cars suck a**. I think some days i'd like to add a fourth car to the fleet at some point, but then I have second thoughts when both of my cars need something done to them at the same time. It makes me realize that maybe two used cars and one new car is more than enough for me

[WDRacing]

Morning peeps! I finished cleaning out the old house yesterday, don't have to go back to that b**** ever again! Now I just need to unpack 19 kazillion boxes.

I'm finding I really like the small town life. They neighbors here are all awesome. The stop as they drive by if they see me out in the yard and say hello or welcome etc. My neighbors, 2 houses down, have peacocks, goats, mules, horses, pet pigs, 12 legit koon hounds and like 13 outdoor cats. All of which, except the koon hounds, are friendly. They gave my kids carte blanch permission on the first day we met them.

I think I'm gonna mow my yard today for the first time...then maybe pump a few hundred rounds into the hill beside the house.

Life is good!

*Bex*
Dang, Mersa and C-Diff? Both of those are friggin nasty! How bad was the C-Diff? My bro-in-law had it, took 3 months to get rid of it. The meds were very expensive.

[frapjap]

Yeah man, no stop leak in my engine! It just started, so I'm not very worried. I'm ahead of the curve on this one for sure. Go figure the newest one needs the most work!

Glad you're digging the new place, Brian. How many acres do you have to mow? Whats carte blanch? Does that translate into free petting zoo and horsie rides? That would be sweet. You could perfect shooting and riding on a horse.

[TurboSauce]

Also, I got a cat, a male cat, and I named him Nala due to his, well questionable intelligence.
but now everyones like "oh like nala from lion king" "oh it's not a female cat? " "but nala's a girls name"

[numbnuts240]

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[nissangirl74]

*Bex*
Dang, Mersa and C-Diff? Both of those are friggin nasty! How bad was the C-Diff? My bro-in-law had it, took 3 months to get rid of it. The meds were very expensive.

I was exposed to them both but contracted neither. It was scary though. I didn't find out until after I had already been exposed that they were sick (the patients were in long term care which doesn't necessarily mean they are sick, it could just mean they can't take care of themselves anymore). I must have the immune system from the gods or God just figured I had enough on my plate already and being sick on top of everything else could possibly be my un-doing.

The gentleman that had MRSA passed away less than 10 days from diagnosis. Very sad, he was a sweet man.

[frapjap]

^ Yikes, thats some scary s***!

I'm always a little paranoid of food borne illness, but never really stops me from eating rare meats or raw shellfish. However, thats usually only at questionable restaurants, friends who aren't basically knowledgeable, and hotel/expo lunches. Its easy enough to eat with some common sense and no one is out there to really get you sick on purpose- especially manufacturers and chain restaurants.

Are you going to practice in the field, or go into academics?

[nissangirl74]

Are you going to practice in the field, or go into academics?

Both. The goal is to work in the field for 10-15 years. During this time, start working on my Master's. I love to teach so I'd really like that to be my profession one day. I'd prefer to not have to be lifting patients in my late 50s / 60s so I'd like to get out of that part of the business before I destroy my body. I would consider a doctorate but it would probably require (1) someone else to pay for it and (2) a huge return after the fact. IMO, there's no benefit of spending $50K or more on a doctorate when your salary only increases $5K a year. It'd take a while to recoup that and at my age, it might not be practical. However, I have to admit that "Dr. Rebecca Childs" does have a nice ring to it.

[frapjap]

Good call, the physical work will definitely get harder when age really starts to set in. Are you thinking of specializing in any particular field? Most of the friends I have who are RN's are now in supervisory & mgm't positions. Before that they were into something specific like surgery, cardiac, radiology and OBGYN.

I agree with you on the schooling, the time invested does not equate to the financial gain. Though Dr. Recbecca Childs has a ring, but Rebecca Childs, M.D. would be more badass! Alas, that path is quite expensive, too. Theres always Pharmacy! I would kick myself in the nads for my brothers paycheck.

[nissangirl74]

I have no desire to be a medical doctor at this point. Their profession does not allow them much time for patient care and that's what I love. I always said that I wanted to do Hospice but after my first clinical experience, I think I might want to shift my focus. I think I'd rather help people get better than watch them die. I love cardiac and OB but to be an OB nurse here in the Valley, you are required to be able to speak Spanish. Yes, it is a REQUIREMENT. So, that probably won't happen. I love the idea of working in critical care / ICUs. I don't really have any desire to work in the ER, on a psych ward, or in Pediatrics.

[ADDirishboy]

Plus, doctors suck balls. They're all, for the most part, egotistical little bastards. Granted, I'm fairly egotistical myself, but at least I'm not pretentious and snooty about it. And no, this has nothing to do with my ex leaving me for a doctor, thankyouverymuch.

[frapjap]

f*** her then. The lady's dad is a doctor and you'd never know it. Wears nothing fancy, owns noting fancy, talks nothing fancy, just a regular guy. He gets to do some patient care give his specialty, but not day-in day-out care.

Spanish women got problems in their va-jay-jays too, Becky. Just messin'. Learning another language is on the priority list, but it never seems to happen :p Are nurses susceptible to being sued, like do they have to carry malpractice insurance in the case of critical care/ICU?

[nissangirl74]

It is advised that all registered nurses carry some type of liability insurance. It's nowhere near as expensive as a doctor's of course, because we are basically following doctor's orders, but we are allowed to administer certain types of care without doctor approval. Every nurse I talked to in the clinical setting has it.

[nissangirl74]

Learning another language is on the priority list

I get that but being forced to learn another language in order to administer health care kinda pisses me off. I do have an interest in learning sign language. There's lots of people in health care facilities (around here) that speak Spanish but not many at all that can sign. I think that would be an incredible asset, plus it is something that interests me.

[ADDirishboy]

I'm so glad I don't have to learn Spanish. It just makes for awkward drives to the ED when neither of us knows what the other is saying.

[Dattebayo]

Thought I'd just...


S'UP

[nissangirl74]

[Bubba1]

Also, I got a cat, a male cat, and I named him Nala due to his, well questionable intelligence.

Good morning. Finally back from West Palm Fl. Drove a 20' uhaul full of furnishing for a good friend's elderly parents who relocated to Joisey. About 18 hrs driving time, but I split the trip into 2 days. The truck I drove was almost new, strong a/c, but no cruise control. Best part was my friend hired people to both load and unload, so it was nice and easy for me.

[frapjap]

Thats pretty awesome! Did it have enough power to do a standing burn out?

Got back from Portsmouth last weekend, very cool city. Had some bitchin' biscuits and gravy, too. And a very good lamb short rib dish.

Subaru is still under repair. Somehow the timing cover bolts all got rusty and s***. I was able to get 'em all out, but those f*** are NOT going back in that way.

[Bubba1]

Thats pretty awesome! Did it have enough power to do a standing burn out?

.

Nah. But it was surprsingly comfortable.