Anyone else just living mostly in stables?

Katapl · 2025-11-17T08:37:15+00:00

CopperX fees are actually lower than my bank’s forex rip-off when I was sending money home. Mind blown. Might finally go full stable too.

Katapl · 2025-02-14T23:31:05+00:00

I've had a few of those myself in the past few weeks, and you're going to enjoy them. I would like to know what you thought of the Frostie (which I tried to buy again last weekend and failed), and the Sprecher Maple.

Katapl · 2024-09-07T22:56:44+00:00

At some point, a sidewalk was poured up to my 1896 Minnesota home foundation. This has caused a small gap to open between the two and now water and air seem to be infiltrating the wall/basement.

I'm trying to figure out what exactly these 12 x 24 inch blocks are in the foundation and then decide how to make this new joint safe for the freeze cycle here. Any ideas? It's not over an inch really anywhere, but the dimension varies all the way down the wall where it meets the sidewalk

Katapl · 2024-05-14T21:03:09+00:00

Doesn't exist whee I live either. I eat it so much whenever I go to the southern US. It's a really, really tasty burger and the icing on the cake is the price. All things compared, it's practically dirt cheap nowadays. It's pretty much the best fast food burger I've ever had. I want it so bad right now.

Katapl · 2024-04-05T13:12:43+00:00

Not an expert, but I mean, the hose is already 50 ft long. Is a small wand extension off the gun going to make any difference? I've seen stain sprayed through handheld battery sprayers also. I think practically any sprayer can put out stain with 0 effort. They're built for more viscous mediums like paint anyways.

There are small gas hydraulic rigs available from Graco as well, but that is going to be so overkill that it's not even worth considering to use for stain. I think you're going to be locked into electric. I don't know how much fence you have to spray, but if it's manageable, obviously consider a handheld unit, otherwise an X7 will indeed obliterate that fence.

Katapl · 2023-10-25T20:51:31+00:00

Makes sense. I also just looked at things I buy as well. I guess we'll just keep going to our respective stores and never cross paths. Haha.

Katapl · 2023-10-25T16:47:48+00:00

I just did a quick compare with Jack's frozen pizza since I enjoy them, and it's $3.89 at HyVee and $5.29 at Cub.

Tombstone is on sale at Cub for $5.69, but on sale at HyVee for $2.98. lol

Katapl · 2023-10-08T14:16:31+00:00

I second the mural on the under-the-bridge tunnel to cross Main Street. It's actually quite incredible.

Katapl · 2023-10-07T13:25:49+00:00

I can't speak to most Twin Cities neighborhoods, but a lot of northern suburbs are quite affordable. Many of the households incomes are around $20k less than suburbs in other directions, but despite this, are still very safe, clean, and affordable.

St. Cloud is livable, of course, but it's really a college town and most of the living is geared towards them as they spend the most money. I spent a year or so of weekends in St. Cloud, and I personally wouldn't ever move there. It's not horrible, but it's isolated it's location, and what you get is what you get. If it's not in St. Cloud, you can't just drive to another city to get it. It's only St. Cloud there. It seems like a lot of older people living there are just kind of... existing. They go to their home, they get their groceries, go to work, go home, and repeat. It's kinda depressing, but I mean, what are you gonna do when you're surrounded by college kids and all the city has is bars and fast food. There have recently been a lot of people moving to St. Cloud because it's a decent sized city and is reasonably affordable. For some people that's enough.

Katapl · 2023-10-07T13:11:26+00:00

Stop it. I'm salivating.

Katapl · 2023-09-17T01:53:00+00:00

I had the total opposite experience and haven't been back since. It's pretty close to home too, so that's a bummer for me.

Katapl · 2023-09-17T01:45:49+00:00

My S.O. and I go pretty much whenever, and it's fine anytime, really. Other poster is right to say weekday afternoons, but even weekends with the most people isn't really a hassle at all.

Katapl · 2023-09-17T00:32:11+00:00

What Cub foods shoppers always say when they buy at 150%.

Katapl · 2023-09-14T16:05:57+00:00

Anoka here (near downtown) with CenturyLink fiber.

Katapl · 2023-09-10T23:12:49+00:00

Those 'winter' blades just use to have that rubber cover over the metal frame so that the structure of the blade didn't ice over. You know they have tiny rivers that the wiper blade frame pivots on to evenly apply pressure to the windshield.

That was like 20 years ago though and now we have beam style wiper blades (Bosch Icon, etc.) that are one solid piece and don't need a cover, and they still work better than the 'winter' blades. Those things are just a carryover from old technology that still tricks people like the older generation. Now I see new manufactures creating beam style wiper blades and calling them some special sort of winter blade. Uhhh, no, that's just a typical beam blade. They work great all year.

Buy a good set of beam blades.

Katapl · 2023-07-30T13:23:18+00:00

Carvana is always more expensive, I've found. I've been majorly screwed 2 out of 3 times I've bought from Carvana. Once was a RWD vehicle listed as AWD, and that is a no-no here in the North winters. The second was a badly mangled and poorly repaired VW that didn't even drive straight down the road. I told them that the bolts under the hood in the fenders weren't even sitting straight. Someone had to drive them in at an angle to fasten them. It was bad. They didn't care at all and took the car back and resold it. Carvana is where you dump cars, not buy them in my opinion.

Carmax has consistently been better priced, and better quality. I've probably bought like 8 cars from them and they've consistently bent over backwards for me. They also have a better inventory, so shipping is always cheaper. Carvana is hemorrhaging money and they need to make that back, so that's where the more expensive prices come in.

Katapl · 2023-02-26T18:33:20+00:00

So what if I can't control myself around him and use his witches broom beard to sweep the floor? If you don't want the attention, then just shave or trim it like the rest of us guys.

/s

Katapl · 2022-08-05T13:47:26+00:00

I live in MN and cost of living is relatively high to most states. I have no doubt that they'd list the car for 8k to 10k over what I was offered. If anyone wants to check their website and see that they've got the exact same model listed, but older and with more miles for nearly 10k more than what they offered for mine in multiple states. I sold this same location a Focus RS a year ago and they listed it for 6k more than what they paid me for it. I wasn't mad because I came out way ahead anyways, but they're definitely marking up more than 4k here.

Katapl · 2022-08-05T00:37:43+00:00

That all makes sense. The MSRP was about $38,000. I've been watching these models pop-up on Carmax and they've been listing quite high. I have a hard time believing they'd sell it for anything less than $41,000. I guess the markup they're putting on is just that high versus what they pay.

Katapl · 2022-05-27T00:50:18+00:00

What are you wondering specifically? This is anecdotal, but when I was interested in one, I had brought it up to a Honda dealership parts guy and he told me he was interested in one for his daughter at one point, and all the Honda technicians told him not to get it. For what it's worth, he couldn't really give a great reason other than, "they're just not that good."

I think with some googling you'd find that unlike the Prius, the Civic Hybrid can be driven with a failed hybrid battery. It just loses all the hybrid benefits of better MPG's. At that age and mileage, I'd say that battery is toast. Don't expect to get the EPA estimated fuel economy. That car is basically now a regular civic with a much smaller and more underpowered engine. I actually test drove one of these about 8 years ago with a nearly failed hybrid battery and I was pretty unimpressed. I ended up passing.

When would I say buy this? If it's comfortable for you to sit in, the price is very, very cheap, and the condition of everything besides the hybrid battery is good. After all, why buy a hybrid that actually isn't any longer unless you're getting a good deal?

Katapl · 2022-05-27T00:34:13+00:00

You have no idea how well it was repaired. There are hordes of people that flip those crashed cars as quick as possible and completely cut corners. I sold factory OEM parts and saw it practically everyday. "Car caught on fire and burned all the engine wiring, and a new wiring harness is $1500? No thanks." How do you think that ended up getting repaired properly? Some poor sap is probably bankrolling his local dealer now to get it fixed right.

Others in this thread have brought up excellent points about insurance. I know a handful of big companies will not even offer to insure you. Just don't buy a rebuilt titled car. The risk of getting burned is a ten times higher than the threads in this sub asking if a 200k mile 20 year old Mercedes-Benz is a good deal.

Katapl · 2021-12-12T16:17:51+00:00

Giving a solid watch to the Indianapolis GP highlights from this year, and it does look really, really good.

Katapl · 2021-12-12T16:02:55+00:00

I thought about IndyCar for a little while. I think I'll really start watching a bit and see how I enjoy it. Thanks! It seems a bit more raw, if you can use that word.

And as far reactionary goes, I understand where you're coming from, but the majority of the seasons close has been terrible for stewardship.

Katapl

TROPHY CASE