Saturday, August 31, 2019
Friday, August 30, 2019
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
PLUMBING TURTLE
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
If you only have one bathroom in your house and you need to work on the toilet, start work in the morning so you'll have plenty of time to run back and forth to the store to pick up parts you didn't anticipate needing.
I actually remember thinking that when I rehabbed the toilet in my old apartment down in Hillsdale, about 100 years ago. I seem to remember starting work on a Saturday night and then having to wait until the hardware store opened Sunday morning before I could finish.
Tonight I managed to just barely squeak it all in. The flapper valve has been leaking, and I don't remember ever replacing the parts inside the tank, so I picked up a full rebuild kit after yesterday's walk. Unfortunately, when I tried to take everything apart, all the rubber bits were disintegrating and the bolts were so badly corroded that I wasn't able to remove the tank, even after various attempts to cut them. So that left me with the option of replacing the whole thing.
Another trip to Lowes and I was killing myself hauling the box with the new toilet in it up my front steps. Removed the old one, and installed the new one - except the old water supply line was too short. 9:15 PM, so I had barely enough time to hustle to Lowes and pick up a longer supply line.
The good news is once I had everything assembled and hooked up, it worked fine and is more water efficient than the old one. I also lucked out in that tonight was trash night, so I hauled the old one down to the curb to be taken away with the rest of the week's trash.
Best of all, no more leaks and no more tapping as the tank fills (I think the latter was due to mineral deposits in the water supply line.)
JMH
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
If you only have one bathroom in your house and you need to work on the toilet, start work in the morning so you'll have plenty of time to run back and forth to the store to pick up parts you didn't anticipate needing.
I actually remember thinking that when I rehabbed the toilet in my old apartment down in Hillsdale, about 100 years ago. I seem to remember starting work on a Saturday night and then having to wait until the hardware store opened Sunday morning before I could finish.
Tonight I managed to just barely squeak it all in. The flapper valve has been leaking, and I don't remember ever replacing the parts inside the tank, so I picked up a full rebuild kit after yesterday's walk. Unfortunately, when I tried to take everything apart, all the rubber bits were disintegrating and the bolts were so badly corroded that I wasn't able to remove the tank, even after various attempts to cut them. So that left me with the option of replacing the whole thing.
Another trip to Lowes and I was killing myself hauling the box with the new toilet in it up my front steps. Removed the old one, and installed the new one - except the old water supply line was too short. 9:15 PM, so I had barely enough time to hustle to Lowes and pick up a longer supply line.
The good news is once I had everything assembled and hooked up, it worked fine and is more water efficient than the old one. I also lucked out in that tonight was trash night, so I hauled the old one down to the curb to be taken away with the rest of the week's trash.
Best of all, no more leaks and no more tapping as the tank fills (I think the latter was due to mineral deposits in the water supply line.)
JMH
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Saturday, August 24, 2019
MUCH MORE WALKING THAN RUNNING...
REBUILDING 2019 - Race #41
A Midsummer Night's Madness Half Marathon Trail Race
Saturday, August 24, 2019
... and a side helping of stubborn determination and sheer cussedness.
Bike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 16.3 mi, 5 hr 57 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
states visited: CT, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
REBUILDING 2019 - Race #41
A Midsummer Night's Madness Half Marathon Trail Race
Saturday, August 24, 2019
... and a side helping of stubborn determination and sheer cussedness.
2019 Event Totals
Run 180.0 mi, 49 hr 52 minBike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 16.3 mi, 5 hr 57 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
states visited: CT, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
Friday, August 23, 2019
REBUILDING 2019 - Race #40
Boiling Pot 5k Road Race
Friday, August 23, 2019
Bike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 16.3 mi, 5 hr 57 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
states visited: CT, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
Boiling Pot 5k Road Race
Friday, August 23, 2019
Gorgeous weather (cool and sunny) but my legs felt like they were filled with concrete. An effect of 20 miles of biking yesterday or not running since last Sunday? (Probably both.)
JMH
2019 Event Totals
Run 166.9 mi, 45 hr 34 minBike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 16.3 mi, 5 hr 57 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
states visited: CT, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Friday, August 16, 2019
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Monday, August 12, 2019
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Friday, August 09, 2019
BACKYARD VISITORS
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Heard an unusual call while the birds were in the backyard today, and eventually spotted the newcomer - some sort of wren, probably a Carolina wren based on the call. Unfortunately, with the screen down for the summer it's very difficult to get decent pictures out the window, and this little guy seemed pretty determined to stay on the move.
Later I heard yowling and looked out to see one of the usual cats glaring at a smaller cat I've never seen before. That was reinforced when I went outside and the larger one took off, but I was eventually able to lure the smaller one close enough to get my hands on it. Definitely someone's pet. I checked with the new kids upstairs, but unfortunately it wasn't theirs, so I put it back in the yard and hoped that it would find its way back home without getting beaten up too badly by the strays.
Once it was dark I heard rustling and when I first looked out I saw a skunk. A few moments later the skunk was gone and there were three raccoons back there, enjoying the corn I put out for the squirrels (and digging something up as well, maybe worms?) One even climbed the fence the check out the hanging feeder near the window, but didn't seem particularly impressed. They were out there for quite a while before moving on.
JMH
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Heard an unusual call while the birds were in the backyard today, and eventually spotted the newcomer - some sort of wren, probably a Carolina wren based on the call. Unfortunately, with the screen down for the summer it's very difficult to get decent pictures out the window, and this little guy seemed pretty determined to stay on the move.
Later I heard yowling and looked out to see one of the usual cats glaring at a smaller cat I've never seen before. That was reinforced when I went outside and the larger one took off, but I was eventually able to lure the smaller one close enough to get my hands on it. Definitely someone's pet. I checked with the new kids upstairs, but unfortunately it wasn't theirs, so I put it back in the yard and hoped that it would find its way back home without getting beaten up too badly by the strays.
Once it was dark I heard rustling and when I first looked out I saw a skunk. A few moments later the skunk was gone and there were three raccoons back there, enjoying the corn I put out for the squirrels (and digging something up as well, maybe worms?) One even climbed the fence the check out the hanging feeder near the window, but didn't seem particularly impressed. They were out there for quite a while before moving on.
JMH
Wednesday, August 07, 2019
SEARCHING FOR THE COHOES NATIONAL HERITAGE TRAIL...
12.8 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path and Through Cohoes
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Today when I pulled up MapMyRide to get an estimate of the distance for the route I was thinking about, I noticed a trail I'd never seen before running from a park near the Harmony Mills apartments to just a bit short of the bike path. A bit of research suggested it was rideable on both mountain and road bikes, and zooming in with Googlemaps showed a clearly defined path, either stone dust or pavement.
Unfortunately I didn't print a map because it looked pretty easy to find - yeah, right. I rode the bike path from Colonie Mohawk River Park to the Alexander Street parking lot, then dropped down into Cohoes on my way back. After wandering around a bit and trying to follow signs supposedly indicating the Heritage Trail, I finally found the trailhead I was looking for - blocked by a fallen tree and looking mostly like a dirt singletrack into the woods. I think more investigation is called for, possibly on foot and starting at a different point on the trail (probably the park near Harmony Mills.)
Still, it was nice to ride a different section of the bike path that I haven't been on in quite a while. I considered going down into the park as well, but between the hills I'd have to climb to get back out and all the people who walk their dogs off leash there - I decided to save that for another day.
Spotted a few bunnies along the way, and lots of robins - it had rained earlier, which I guess drives their preferred foods out of hiding - plus catbirds and even a few flickers.
JMH
12.8 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path and Through Cohoes
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Today when I pulled up MapMyRide to get an estimate of the distance for the route I was thinking about, I noticed a trail I'd never seen before running from a park near the Harmony Mills apartments to just a bit short of the bike path. A bit of research suggested it was rideable on both mountain and road bikes, and zooming in with Googlemaps showed a clearly defined path, either stone dust or pavement.
Unfortunately I didn't print a map because it looked pretty easy to find - yeah, right. I rode the bike path from Colonie Mohawk River Park to the Alexander Street parking lot, then dropped down into Cohoes on my way back. After wandering around a bit and trying to follow signs supposedly indicating the Heritage Trail, I finally found the trailhead I was looking for - blocked by a fallen tree and looking mostly like a dirt singletrack into the woods. I think more investigation is called for, possibly on foot and starting at a different point on the trail (probably the park near Harmony Mills.)
Still, it was nice to ride a different section of the bike path that I haven't been on in quite a while. I considered going down into the park as well, but between the hills I'd have to climb to get back out and all the people who walk their dogs off leash there - I decided to save that for another day.
Spotted a few bunnies along the way, and lots of robins - it had rained earlier, which I guess drives their preferred foods out of hiding - plus catbirds and even a few flickers.
Tuesday, August 06, 2019
Sunday, August 04, 2019
Saturday, August 03, 2019
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