March 31, 2022 Kia Sedona Rear Brake Job $455.10

 Picked up my 2011 Kia Sedona van from D & S Garage in Brownville, NY today after they did a rear wheel brake job and repaired leaking brake line. The total came to $455.10

They replaced a section of brake line that leaked where it was clamped ro the frame. They also replaced one rear brake caliper, both rotors and pads.  I do a lot of my own automotive repairs, but simple didn't want to deal with this one. I have had this garage do various repairs on my vehicles over the years. In general their work is very good and they are quick getting the job done. I highly recommend them. Their prices too are very competitive and usually less than their competitors. 

Bill from D&S Garage, Brownville, NY, for rear brake job on 2011 Kia Sedona.

On another note we had partly sunny weather and some rain today. High temperature reached 62 F.

I spent some time on my garage clean up project and also visited my Celebrity Brother for a bit. 

March 29, 2022. Burning Scrap Wood, Internet quit working

 

Burning scrap wood in a fire cauldron created by artist Will Salisbury, Omar NY.  photo copyright Gary Walts 2022

It was sunny and cold in Chaumont, NY. I haven't cleaned out the garage in forever. Among the clutter is an accumulation of scrap wood from many different projects. Scrap wood is wonderful to have on hand, never, it can get out of hand. Every few years I get rid of most of it. So today I set about burning it in a fire cauldron. It is an outdoor fire pit, not like one normally finds. This one was made by Will Salisbury of Omar, NY. Will is an artists and is most noted for working with steel. 

Also today a technician from our internet provider, Spectrum, spent a couple hours here troubleshooting our internet system. We lost service around 12:30. Among other things he changed a filter on the pole where the line comes in from the street. He also replaced our router and we were back in business about 5:30-6:00

I believe this was the 33rd day of the Ukraine-Russia War.

March 28, 2022 Kia mini van blows out brake line

My 2011 Kia Sedona gets loaded on a flat bed wrecker to be taken to D&S Garage in Brownville for a brake line repair.     photo copyright Gary Walts 2022

Today I had my 2011 Kia Sedona mini van towed to D&S Garage on Paddy Hill, Brownville, NY after a brake line blew out.  The brake line failed a few days ago while I was leaving the Chaumont Post Office. I was fortunate it happened there, just a couple blocks from home. I'm sure I could fix it myself, but I don't feel like it. So being a 16 year member of AAA  (Triple A) Had them tow it to the garage. The tow truck/wrecker came out of Clayton. 

On another note I stopped by Walrath Tax Service in Brownville, NY to sign and pickup codes of my 2021 income taxes. I owe NY State $400.00 and the Federal government $2,000.00 Yikes! Much of that is from making withdrawals from my 401K retirement account. The money contributions while I was working were never taxed. Now that I am using the money it is time to pay the piper. 

I had a couple of guitar lessons today at the Copley House here in Chaumont. 

It was cold, blustery and some snow today here, high temp of about 19 degrees. The low last night was 10 degrees. Currently at about 11:00pm it is 15.

March 27, 2022 Snow in Chaumont

Snow on the walk outside our back door, Sunday, March 27, 2022.  iPhone photo copyright Gary Walts 2022

We awoke to some snow on the ground here in Chaumont, NY today. Not unusual  for March. Temp stayed in mid 30's, high of 37F.  I'm working on losing some weight. I'd like to drop at least 15 pounds. So I'm not drinking much beer or wine. Had a nice middy dinner of chicken with peas and onions. This evening had a couple of fried eggs and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on Rye bread. Spent a couple hours cleaning up and organizing the garage. That place is a real mess. 

This evening the Better Half and I watched The Godfather, movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola. A great, classic film. 

I continue following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That's another mess. Amazing what a job Ukraine is doing defending their country and giving Russia a good whipping. 

March 25, 2022 I find a 36 year old check, uncashed

 I find a 36 year old check

A check for guitar gig from May, 1986 that I never cashed. 

 Today I found an unopened letter amid some old notebooks and memorabilia that has been stored in my garage for many years. Inside was check written out to me for $25.00, payment for a guitar gig I did at Jefferson Community College, Watertown, NY, back in May of 1986. I can't believe that I never opened it. Never cashed the check. It's crazy. 

The event was for graduating nursing students receiving pins. The bank was Marine Midland Bank which is no longer in operation.

A check from 36 years ago that I never cashed. Found it while cleaning out the garage and throwing useless old records & memorabilia away.

 On another note, It was a grey, cloudy day in Chaumont, NY. Temperature stayed around 40 degrees. I raked up part of our yard. That was good exercise. We had chicken, French fries and peas for dinner. I believe it's the 28th day of the Russia - Ukraine War. Russia has taken quite a beating. Ukraine has suffered a great deal of damage. It is also the 3rd day of applying Efudex cream to my forehead as treatment for actinic keratosis. 

Blood Donation Reveals I Have Covid 19 Antibodies

March 20, 2022

 A couple days ago I learned through Red Cross website that my March 8 blood donation contained Covid 19 antibodies. After some quick research I understand that I must have recently had a Covid infection. I had gotten the Moderna vaccine, both parts, as soon as it was available as well as the booster. Since then I have felt hale and hearty with the exception of a few days back in January. I wouldn't say I was ever sick, but for 3 or 4 days (maybe longer, don't remember) I was feeling abnormally tired and had some achy muscles. My head seemed a little foggy too. That's it. The Better Half joked that I should get a Covid test, but being vaccinated and not actually sick, we didn't seriously consider it. That was right around January 10 or 11.  

Screen shot grabbed from Red Cross web site reveal my COVID-19 test results

My COVID-19 test result came back REACTIVE+

The following is from the Red Cross web site:

Reactive+ test result: Antibody levels were detected at levels high enough that your plasma may be used as convalescent plasma. I would say the Modern vaccine worked wonderfully  in keeping my infection so mild that I didn't seriously think I had one.

March 8, 2022: I donate Blood

I Donate Blood

Tuesday, March 8, 2022 I donated blood at a Red Cross Blood Drive held at the Watertown Eagles Club. 

My arm hooked up as I donate blood at Watertown Eagles Club

This was my 5th time donating blood. 

Beautiful Weather on St. Patricks Day in Northern NY: Photo a Robin

 

Harbinger of Spring: Robin perched in a tree at our home in Chaumonnt, NY.  photo copyright Gary Walts 2022

It was a beautiful day weather wisher in Chaumont, NY. The sun has been out, a nice mild wind, temperature hit 62 degrees F. Then I snapped a photo of a Robing sitting in a tree in our yard. Those birds are the classic harbinger of Spring in this region. 

Later this evening we are meeting The Better Half's daughter B & her hubby at the Tug Hill Winery, Lowville, NY. 

The Better Half & I at Tug Hill Winery:

The Better Half & I at Tug Hill Winery, Lowville, NY,  St Patrick's Day

Saturday March 12, 2022Snowy Morning

A Currier & Ives style winter scene greeted us this morning in Chaumont, NY. View from our front porch.  

Awoke this March morning to a snowy landscape outside our windows, reminiscent of a Currier & Ives print. I put in some guitar practice, shoveled some snow and made some guacamole. Near sunset we took a drive and I snapped some pix as then went down. It was a beautiful sky. Temp today stand around 25 degrees. Currently (11:30pm) it is 15.  

A Currier & Ives style winter scene greeted us this morning in Chaumont, NY. View from our front porch. 

At the end of the day I snapped this sunset at nearby Pillar Point, Town of Brownville.

Sunset on Pillar Point, NY, Town of Brownville. Sony a6600 camera with Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens. 
Photo copyright Gary Walts 2022

Friday March 11, 2022. I replaced light fixture in kitchen

Today I replaced a light fixture in the kitchen of home in Chaumont, NY.  

Ceiling light fixture quit. discovered burnt out socket that the T8 bulb plugs into.

February 23rd one of the 2x4 foot fluorescent light fixtures in our kitchen ceiling suddenly quit. Quick inspection revealed burnt end on one of the 4 tubes and the socket it plugs into. What caused it? I don't know. Wasn't able to find a similar replacement locally so ordered one at Home Depot. It took a couple weeks to get here. The fixture arrived at the store when they said it would, however, it was damaged and had to be returned. The replacement arrived about a week later. it as ok and I competed the project today. 

Closer view of T8 light bulb socket that burned and quit working.

Light fixture arrived from Home Depot in a damaged carton. The fixture proved to be ok.

I donate blood. Tuesday, March 8, 2022 March

I donate blood at a Red Cross Blood Drive at the Eagles Club, Watertown, NY     

I donated blood a couple days back, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 to be exact.  At 1:45 in the afternoon. It was at the Watertown Eagles Club on Washington St. My blood type is O negative, evidently the rarest and most valued type. That's because it is known as universal in that it can given to anyone, no matter what type of blood they have. In the past year or so I have donated 4 or 5 times. 

By the way, if you notice my really long thumb nail, there is a reason for that. I am classical guitar player and I grow my right hand nails for picking the guitar strings.

March 6, 2022 Rapid rising price of gas is an outrage

A Valero gas station attendant changes the price at the pumps as I was filling my tank. Unreal. Gary Walts photo copyright 2022

 

The price of gasoline has reached  new high here in the North Country region of New York State. Just a week ago it was about $3.59 / gallon. Yesterday the cheapest I could find was $3.85 a gallon.  That was at the Valero station located at corner of Arsenal & Court Sts., Watertown. Other stations in the area were $4.19 to $4.29 a gallon. My tank was on empty so I figured I better fill up.

As I was filling up, the person working at Valero came out and started changing the price on the pumps. Went from $3.85 to $4.05 a gallon. Wow. And it's the same gas in their tank. It's not like a new shipment came in at a higher price. The only time I saw gas hit $4.00 a gallon was at the end of GW Bush's presidency. It was at a convenient store in Beaver Falls, NY. That price didn't last very long. It seems to me that our country was energy independent just a year or so ago. What the Hell as happened?

I understand Putin's invasion of Ukraine has created a world wide upheaval, but gasoline, natural gas and home heating oil have been steadily rising sine President Biden's inauguration.

This is the most I ave ever paid for a gallon of gas.  Unreal. Gary Walts photo copyright 2022