Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That's the one! :mad:

    How can I repel them so the wires don't get messed up? So far he's only chewed on a rubber boot/grommet, but done no real harm.

    -juice
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    How can I repel them so the wires don't get messed up?

    Don't you have a cat?

    -Dave

    .........ducks and sneakers off to hide
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah but he's an indoor cat.

    Dog. I mean Dog. ;)

    On another note, did anyone else see this on CNN the other day?

    http://www.90poundsuv.com/

    Listen to the sample, I was cracking up! :D

    -juice
  • goneskiiangoneskiian Member Posts: 381
    My cats LOVE chipmunks! ;)

    I think they're both bigger than Hadji too! LOL!

    That song was hilarious! I get my left elbow buzzed by at least one of those every time I'm out on my bike. Scares the living dailights out of me. I need to ride my mountain bike more often! :surprise: ;) :P

    Happy B-day Paul and Brenda!

    Cheers!
    -Ian
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    We can be up to our eyeballs in chipmunks... and rabbits... and various other critters.

    I've found that they tend to move, and even go away for good, when exposed to very small bits of a lead alloy dispersed at high speed ;)
  • goneskiiangoneskiian Member Posts: 381
    Thats it! I'm calling PETA!

    J/K LOL! :surprise: ;) :P

    At least I hope you were talking bb or pellet and not shotgun! The latter of course does make them "disappear". Ooohh, gross. Sorry.
  • goneskiiangoneskiian Member Posts: 381
    Quick car question. ;)

    Is the tranny and diff fluid usually in need of replacement at 30,000 miles? My dealer wants to charge me $150 to change these out. Subaru recommends they be inspected. Help?

    Thanks,
    -Ian
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    You can check the gear oil pretty easily. It's the yellow dipstick on the transmission tunnel, at least for manual trans vehicles.

    I changed mine at 60k and to be honest it wasn't that dirty.

    But my Miata's gear oil was filthy at 28k miles, but then again the car was 8 years old at the time. It was clowdy and looked more like chocolate than thick/yellowish 75w90.

    The rear diff is just two bolts, remove the top one first, if you want to check. No harder than changing your motor oil, but you may need an oil-pump (about $9).

    $150 sounds fair, they'll use about 5-6 quarts total and you do have to lift the car, at least with ramps.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://miata.net/garage/trans/01.htm

    Skip the Turret Oil part because that does not apply, our Subies use grease rather than gear oil in that area. But the other two jobs are surprisingly similar (gear box and rear diff).

    -juice
  • goneskiiangoneskiian Member Posts: 381
    Thanks juice.

    The car's at the dealership now (No, not much of a DIY type. Though I do service my bikes regularly. ;) ) so I can't check it myself.

    Cheers!
    -Ian
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I hear ya... Had a 2' garter snake in my basement studio the other day. With the help of my wife, had to get a pitch fork to relocate the "critter" outside where he belongs...

    Bob
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Haven't seen a garter snake in a while. I know we have about a 3.5 foot black rat snake percolating around my garden. I've found the shed skins.

    Snakes I don't mind. They help control the rodents!
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Had one of them in the basement last year. The thing got stuck trying to fit through a hole in a ceiling fluorescent light fixture (almost over my head!) and died. I found it about 6 months ago.

    We get a lot of them out here, as there is a lot of leaves and ground cover. One of our basement window wells has a family of toads, so it's not unusual finding one in there having a meal.

    I remember several years ago I was jogging down a wooded pathway and encountered the biggest black rat snake I've ever seen, almost eye-to-eye, as it was hanging from a low branch. That sucker must have been close to 10'! It was pretty thick around too. About 15 years ago I saw one close to that size on a Boy Scout camping trip. It was in a tree too. Most of the ones I see are 2' – 4'. I've seen a couple of 6' or so. You see them a lot on the roads, run over.

    The wife and I joke that if we have mice in the house, there are no snakes. If we don't have mice we must have a snake or two in the basement rafters.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Annie, our Golden Retriever woke us around 5:30 this morning. We let her out, and within minutes was barking her head off. Must have woke the entire neighborhood...

    Turns out she cornered a possum on our rear deck, and then chased it under our shed in the back yard.

    Bob
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    I find it pretty amazing that most of the children here in Indiana are not afraid of snakes - of course, there aren't really poisonous snakes here ..

    where I was from in Texas we had water moccasins, rattlesnakes, copperheads, and coral snakes .... kids were taught early to leave any snake alone!
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    We have copperheads, and in western Maryland there are eastern diamondback rattlesnakes. I stumbled upon a copperhead about 15 years ago in a state park nearby here. You need to be careful around rocky areas, especially near streams.

    Not too long ago a someone at Savage Mill (a converted 19th-century mill that's now an arts and crafts shopping area) was walking their dog, which got bit by a Copperhead; again there is a stream with lots of rocks there.

    I always handle them with care, as any snake will bite. When my son was in the Scouts, we learned that a bite from a nonpoisonous snake can be dangerous too, as they have very dirty mouths, and infection is a very real possibility. Surprisingly, garter snakes can be very aggressive, if surprised or agitated. I was trying to remove one from that basement window well once, and it kept trying to strike the stick I was using to try and move it.

    I knew a guy who was hiking along the Appalachian Trail in western Maryland, who was climbing a ledge, and was bit by a rattler. By the time he got to the hospital, they thought they may have to amputate his thumb. Fortunately they didn't, but he doesn't have full movement of it, as it is permanently damaged.

    Bob
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    It was a beautiful thing! I have to admit that I went into the day with a bit of apprehension, but the results exceeded my expectations by a good margin. We had spirit, the right mix of talent, showed great resourcefulness by making difficult decisions on the fly, worked efficiently and well in teams, etc. We had most of the critical materials & tools, and acquired emergency item on the fly with minimum trips. Virtually every task was attacked and conquered. I couldn't have been more proud of our accomplishments.

    By the end of the day the interior staircase had been rebuilt, the bathroom vanity installed plus some wall & floor plumbing replaced, bathtub tile surround repaired, regrouted & safety bars installed, back porch steps replaced, numerous electrical fixtures replaced, a drop ceiling redone, some window frame scraping and painting done. Pretty good for a days work!

    The OBW worked hard too, filled with tools, while pulling a trailer filled with materials, ladders, and the like.

    Steve
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Congratulations on having completed a good deed, Steve. Very cool. :shades:

    -juice
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    There are small rattlers around here but I've yet to see one. But gopher snakes are common and they do an excellent imitation of a rattler. The one I found in my basement office a few years ago had the hissing triangular head routine down pat and scared a few more gray hairs into my head.

    Now I always turn the lights on before venturing to the computer, especially since a friend stuck a rubber python under my computer desk a while back after hearing about the gopher snake. I found that one at 2 am during a bout of insomnia and it's a wonder I didn't wake up half the neighborhood. :mad:

    Steve, Host
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    just catching up and wanted to just say that we echo the sentiment that Rob said.

    Mark & Helen
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Ian -- just posted and answer over the 05+ discussion.

    Ken
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Steve,
    Mazel tov...there is no greater feeling than doing a mitzvah.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    I just found out first hand that the plastic engine undercover is quite functional. My family and I took a short trip down to Monterey this weekend. On the drive down on Highway 1, the car in front of us kicked up what looked like a BBQ grille (1' x 2'). We were travelling at highway speeds and even though I had a few car lengths in between, there wasn't much I could do as the grille came flipping down the road.

    My LGT wagon struck the grille just as it had flipped vertically and we heard this very loud "Bang!" as the grille passed below our car.

    I immediately pulled off at the next exit to inspect the damage it had done. The front lower bumper scuffed up with two deep gouge marks where the grille presumably hit. When I peeked underneath the car, the plastic engine cover was torn in three pieces! Even though the cover is plastic, it is quite sturdy and I could only imagine how much force was required to tear it apart.

    Luckily, it appeared as though the grille continued straight under my car without hitting anything critical. Had it struck 6" more to the left, it probably would have punctured the engine oil filter, or worse yet, damaged a suspension component or punctured a tire. Since there were no apparent fluid leaks, we continued on with our vacation.

    My LGT was coming up to it's 30K service interval anyway, so we dropped off the car at the dealer on the way home in Santa Cruz to have it checked out. I will probably need to replace the cover as well as have the bumper repaired, but I think it was a small price to pay for something that could have been a lot worse.

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Close call, it could have been higher and hit your windshield! :surprise:

    Must have fallen off the back of a pickup or something. Cargo that's in an open bed/trailer should always be secured.

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Dang Ken, you've not been having the best of luck lately :( Was that perchance the same bumper that you just had repaired?

    -Frank
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    No, I repaired the rear bumper. This one's the front!

    Yeah, some luck, huh? Like juice said, it could have been a lot worse. Things like this happen and I'm just glad there wasn't more damage and a premature end to our trip!

    Luckily, I now know someone who can repair my front bumper to my satisfaction! But all in all, I think the repair + new cover will set me back about $500. Ouch!

    Ken
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Our journey is just about at an end, We had the burial yesterday of the ashes, this will give us closure. We know that our precious girl is at peace. We wondered why God allowed her to live for 2 more years after the terrible experience of being on life support.

    We got the answer to this question many times over, we were allowed to see that she had touched so many lives, and by extension so had we. We will still have hard times but we know that time will diminish the grief.

    Rita and I want to say a heartfelt thanks to the crew, and the staff of Edmunds for the floral gifts, the fruit basket, the cards of sympathy, the donations to charities in Anne Marie's name, and for the general support we received from all.
    May God bless you all.

    Pat. and Rita.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Pat and Rita, I think we've all been humbled a bit by your sharing of this tragic event with us. For that I thank you.

    If only we could turn back the clock and rewrite the script...

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Ditto here, thanks for opening up to us and sharing, I'm sure it was a difficult time for you.

    -juice
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Bob when I have started to say "What If" I get a little voice in my ear that says.......it was Time.......I will share with you all my story about Anne Marie and I hope you won't find it too long or harrowing. This is the final time we will burden you with our story. I wrote this email to my friend in Belfast who has known me since i was 11 years old. Pat's name in Belfast was Patsy and I still call him that at home.

    Rita

    Good morning Maura, I am sorry it has taken me so long to reply to you email. I feel that I have been chained to the computer and the phone for the last 2 weeks just replying to emails and answering calls. That's not the reason I haven't written though Maura and Pat and I'll tell you why.

    As I sat waiting for the computer to start-up I kept asking myself why I kept putting off replying to your emails when I literally wrote a book by replying to all the emails that came in and here's the answer that flashed in front of my eyes. Yours was the only one that sat in my Inbox awaiting a reply and every time I went to write I turned away and did something else. For everything there is a time and the time to write you is now.

    Over the past few weeks I have been able to write Anne Marie's story from the start of her life in Dermott Hill to her meeting her family, to her growing up and being involved with our large circle of friends and then to her leaving us and starting her own family and joining what was to become her family and large circle of family and friends...the US Military. That was the first half of her life Maura and Pat and now let me move on to the second half of her life.

    Anne Marie had to retire from the military and her family and circle of friends diminished and last week at her funeral service in the States she said goodbye to her military family and friends in a service with full military honours, she came back home and on Monday and at our mass she said goodbye to all our large circle of friends, on Tuesday she said goodbye to our small family at her burial service and then to her husband Christopher, her son Jordan and Patsy and myself yesterday afternoon at the lake where we scattered some of her ashes and finally today to any ties that she had with that home she first came in to in Belfast and you are the instruments for doing that Maura and Pat. You are the only people who know us and Anne Marie and have kept in touch with us from Dermott Hill.

    Tonight Christopher her husband flies out with some of her ashes and in some symbolic way that will be Pat telling Christopher that yes he can have Anne Marie's hand in marriage because we trust him implicitly to look after her and her affairs.

    Anne Marie met Christopher about a year ago and when she told Patsy and I about him we were extremely sceptical. We didn't want to open our hearts to another man who was going to hurt and break her heart. Gradually though and with the help of a web-cam, phone and letter writing we got to know this young man. He was going to Iraq however and so we made arrangements to meet him just this week when he would be home on leave. He was going to ask us if he could marry Anne Marie.

    All the plans got changed when Anne Marie got sick in March and Christopher changed his leave and flew home to be with her. While he was home they went to a registry office and got married but in her words "Mom this is only for convenience in case I get sick again, Christopher will be able to get home on hardship leave". He did ask Patsy and Patsy's answer was "what's it worth" and the reply was profound......."Priceless".............they had planned to be married on May 12th 2007 and Jennifer who is Anne Marie's cousin was going to be her bridesmaid.

    Over the past 2 weeks Maura and Pat we have witnessed God's hand all through this journey of Anne Marie's. I can truly say that He allowed us to see the whole circle of Anne Marie's life and not many parents get to see that in their children.

    The last 2 years have been very difficult ones and the seizures and headaches were becoming more frequent and much more severe. Anne Marie had a seizure on April 27th and had to have 16 stitches in her head. She called us that night and told us about it and she sounded awful but after checking that she had someone staying with her we left it that we would talk to her in the morning. Her friend who took her to the hospital said that she pleaded with the doctors to keep her because Anne Marie just wasn't right but they discharged her and she had another seizure and a bleed out in her brain. I could write or say "If only" but each time I try to do that I hear a voice telling me "It was her time" Anne Marie had finished her work on earth and it was time to go home.

    She certainly did a lot of work in the 2 years that she was left to us. I used to tell her that God had a special mission for her to complete by sparing her life and she obviously listened to me. During that time, she wrote to everyone she thought she had hurt or who had hurt her. She mended many bridges and built many new ones. She was also working with troubled teens and making headway with them and she met Chris. I firmly believe that God put this young man in her path to help her on the final stage of her journey because she found perfect peace. When she was up at Christmas she was glowing even though she still looked fragile.

    She always told Patsy and I that she only ever wanted 2 things, one being that she wanted what we had in our marriage and the other being some-one like her daddy. I believe she found both. This man taught her to Be Still and just to Be. He journeyed with her during the worst part of her journey. He loved her for who she was and inspired confidence in her. Over the past 2 weeks Christopher took on the enormous task of making sure that Anne Marie got back home to Patsy and I and I can tell you with all the hurdles it was an enormous task. She found someone like her daddy because Patsy would have moved mountains not to abandon his Annie.

    This completes my story Maura.There were many happenings in between the paragraphs of this email and I have written about them throughout the past 2 weeks. Suffice to say that they are what brought me to today and helped me sit down and write to you a summary of our Anne Marie's life.

    I have always believed that there is a reason for everything and nothing happens by accident and I can attest to this as I look back over the 35 years of Anne Marie's life. The Master had a plan and His timing was perfect.

    Patsy and I are at peace with Anne Marie's death. She no longer has to suffer and we know that she is at peace and she is finally home with us and with God. We are totally bereft and very sad but we know in the days ahead that if we put our trust in God like we always have He will be there for us. Patsy and I thank Him every day for the 2 sets of incredible parents we had. They c
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    . They certainly instilled a deep faith in us and that's what is carrying both Patsy and myself through this dark time in our lives. We know we will get through to the other side of this dark journey and when we do we will not be the same people we were when we started out on it but please God we will be stronger and more caring and like Anne Marie at peace with the fact that our precious child is no longer with us on this earth but is with her much larger circle of family and friends in heaven.

    God bless you both for being a part of this story I tell about Anne Marie's life.

    Rita and Patsy.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    No, it wasn't too long or harrowing. Not in the least. It was a wonderful story. Thank you.

    Bob
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Dear Pat and Rita,

    Thank you also. Anne Marie's story was very touching and very moving. You had a wonderful daughter and she had equally wonderful parents.

    -Frank
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    Again, I am left in awe and wonder at your grace and strength. I appreciate your sharing this story.
    Brenda
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Rita,
    That was a wonderful story, not too long at all. I'm glad it's early in the morning here at school and my kids are not yet in class..they would have seen me cry. AGAIN, KNOW THAT THE CREW WILL ALWAYS BE A FAMILY.
    Serge
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    service with full military honours

    That's nice, you deserve to be proud, Pat.

    -juice
  • goneskiiangoneskiian Member Posts: 381
    Pat and Rita,
    Thank you both for sharing Anne Marie's story. I can only imagine how hard this has been for you both, yet you seem to exude a powerful sense of calm and grace. I'm sorry for your loss.

    May peace be with you.

    -Ian
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Pat and Rita

    You've handled this with such grace- no wonder Ann Marie was such a beautiful person. May God give you even more grace and strength through this difficult time.

    tom
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Pat & Rita,

    Oh man, I'm teary eyed again! You guys have shown far more strength & faith then I would be able to muster given the circumstances of your baby's life and passing. Again, we all thank you for sharing.

    Steve
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    the DH who is the proud owner of the TownHouse, has taken up a new 'hobby' .. buying on ebay ...

    he began with men's watches .. he now has a collection in a display box, and really does wear different watches all the time ... he has some really interesting ones .. including a "Blue Angels Navihawk" ... one of the 'best buys' was a Citizen ecodrive .. it's about a $250 watch .. and it was advertised as "not running" ... he paid almost nothing for it, put it in the window in the sunshine to 'recharge' and it works beautifully ...

    he also has bought some for me .. again .. some interesting ones .. and i enjoy having a whole selection to choose from every day!

    he has moved on to a variety of other objects, including a Wedgewood clock, and a crystal one ... and various and sundry other practical items ... all at really great prices

    he has also bought me other jewelry, including diamond rings from our local pawn shop that were listed on ebay ...

    for my birthday, I received a gold bangle bracelet with a large sapphire and some tiny diamonds, a gold bangle watch (Citizen) with a mother-of-pearl face, and a Tungsten E with all accessories (it was an upgrade from the Palm I had, plus it accepted my info that was in the old one without reentering it all!!) ... the other day we went to the P.O. to pick up a registered package .. it was a watch that came from Singapore by way of Germany .. also a Citizen watch from ebay that is new .. and I really do like it ...

    guess I won't tell him to give up the new 'habit' - as long as he isn't buying a 'new woman' on ebay! .. lol
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Watches are so last century:

    Time running out for watch, cellphone’s in

    For something "linked more to status and fashion than to function" wouldn't a WRX be more fun? :shades:

    Hey, I'll make him a good deal on a 1960's era self-winding Timex.

    Steve, Host
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    to all you mothers out there. :)

    Mob
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Guys it is that time of the year again, we are moving up to the lake tomorrow. So no more chats until fall, I will try catch up on posts when we come into town to take care of the chores at the house.

    So in the meantime I wish all of you a wonderful summer.

    Cheers Pat.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    And I echo what Bob had to say, happy Mothers day to all our mothers.

    Cheers Pat.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    re the self-rising Timex -

    when he started this, I dug out all my 'old' watches in the back of the jewelry box .. some just needed a new battery, and he was glad to get them up and running again ...

    one of the watches was a Seiko 'self-wind' ... I've had it forever but it was always too big .. I took it to the local pawn shop when I was picking up a ring I had sized .. the owner was very excited about this watch .. telling me it was the best self-winding movement Seiko had ever made .. and the watch is in perfect condition ...

    found it online at a vintage watch site for about $200 ... actually this is more of a "dress watch" than most I've found online ..

    I think I bought it at the end of the self-wind movement when it was all going to quartz batteries ... I don't remember paying much for it, and wouldn't have been able to afford a lot .. I think it was on clearance for about $30 ...
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    and as far as the article on watches being 'out' ..

    I'm afraid I am soooo last generation!
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Pat you and Rita have a great summer too. I suspect the lake will be a welcome and much needed relief.

    Bob
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,399
    Steve,

    I tell time by looking at the relative position of the hands, not by the actual numbers. Although I use my cell phone to set my watch, I use my watch to tell time.

    Jim
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Since the Timex lives in some junk drawer around here and I don't have a cell, I just ask the 99% of y'all that have one or the other. :shades:

    Steve, Host
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Seeing as how I stare at a computer monitor for most of the day, I typically use the clock in the Windows task bar to tell the time :) However, when I'm out and about or lying in bed, a flick of the wrist to check the time is still faster than fumbling for a cell phone so I don't see the watch going away any time soon.

    -Frank
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