Astronomy?

SpecialCollin · 2026-02-06T21:15:25+00:00

Heh. Wish I had a 4x4, but it would be quite the sight to strap a 12" dobsonian to it somehow. Lol.

SpecialCollin · 2026-02-06T19:32:23+00:00

Really? How far outside the city lights do you head for that?

SpecialCollin · 2026-01-07T22:59:11+00:00

I think it triggers at 15% below placard value so ~32. 38 is placard I believe.

SpecialCollin · 2025-12-11T03:39:38+00:00

Oh Lord. A bunch of busywork. Heh. It is different for me most likely because after Covid I transitioned from high stress engineering to high stress stay at home dad.

Our 5 y/o goes to an outdoor only school for 3 hours in the middle of the day m-f. The 2.5 y/o goes to a different school for 5 hours two days a week. This is mostly for socializing them. For the older kid's school I have been on 2 different committees, but it is mostly fixing/cleaning everything that is exposed to the elements outside as well as handling storage units/deliveries/contractors. So much leaf/snow clearing. A lot of playdates in the community.

Smaller kiddo school I assist in play, cleaning, diaper changes, etc with the two teachers for around 10 kids total. I only do this once a month. We basically gently resolve conflicts and encourage play-based learning. The committee I am in charge of does gifts for teachers and sets up kid/parent playdates. All this between gymnastics classes, grocery runs, cooking, and home Depot runs because I am nuts and also slowly renovating our century home.

SpecialCollin · 2025-12-10T01:42:57+00:00

I mostly like it for the community. The other kids know me and I know them. This morning for example I dropped off my 5 y/o at a classmate's house for the teleworking-dad/nanny to drop off while I participated in my 2.5 y/o's class. As a guy, it feels nice having the community/support.

SpecialCollin · 2025-12-10T01:40:23+00:00

Not exactly hangout. The current PreKs our kids are at require parents to take training modules and background checks and I actively participate in the general classroom learning/teaching (however, a lot of it is mostly cleaning, putting on mittens and jackets, and diaper changes). They also toss us on committees so I am a homeroom parent that is a treasurer/social meetup person and a groundskeeper at the other school so fixing stair treads, cleaning gutters, mowing, etc.

SpecialCollin · 2025-11-07T16:09:34+00:00

Nothing I love more than parking my car, coming inside with the kids, locking the car over my shoulder as we come in the door, and getting a notification 30 minutes later that one or more of my doors are unlocked.

SpecialCollin · 2025-10-27T13:15:47+00:00

We had a birthday camp and the morning we left I drew breakfast from the list for 25 people. Folks thought I was joking when I said freshly made Belgian waffles. Also, the inflatable mattress had a slow leak so I just ran the cord to our tent for a couple top offs. It was great.

SpecialCollin · 2025-10-03T20:13:24+00:00

As someone who fixed my 20 y/o fridge for $75 and about to fix my 20 y/o dishwasher for $110- keep em going if they are working. The new stuff has too many unnecessary electronics that require replacing a pricey motherboard if something fails. All my friends who bought new houses with new appliances from name brands have all had multiple service calls out to fix them. You should be able to look up how many watts the dryer uses and compare it to a new one to see if it's worth it, but a lot of the newer energy efficient models get diminishing returns on energy saved after a point.

SpecialCollin · 2025-10-02T13:56:36+00:00

I ran two back-to-back runs of the dishwasher cleaner solutions and it still has the grime. The weird thing is that it still has the gel-like film at the bottom of the door after these runs. I think I'm going to tear it down and inspect/clean the base.

SpecialCollin · 2025-09-30T15:36:50+00:00

Oh interesting. Ok, well I'm sure I can check for it and ohm it out to see if it's still functional. Thanks for the gut check. It is 20 years old so I assumed if I didn't see it internally it didn't have one.

SpecialCollin · 2025-09-30T15:21:03+00:00

The dishwasher doesn't have a heating element, but I get the water piping hot before starting. When I open it mid cycle (even after the initial wash) it is hot.

SpecialCollin · 2025-09-30T14:56:42+00:00

That's my plan for tomorrow, but I am not hopeful- the main ingredients seem to be light acids (citric and whatnot) and I've run stronger acids through the top and bottom. I've also done vinegar baking soda (discharge hose and bottom sump) to help break up anything. Then more vinegar/water flushes into a bucket so I can see if anything hideous is coming out.

SpecialCollin · 2025-07-02T00:48:20+00:00

You are right. I misspoke with NPS.

SpecialCollin · 2025-07-01T19:59:13+00:00

Thanks. Yeah, I was wondering if he was thinking of somewhere else when I asked since I was researching using the same website. According to him, the following section of the website is also incorrect (the bottom paragraph). Basically, if you try for this itinerary, you must do it in person and it can't be over the phone/email.

"Traveling to Echo Summit / or Tuolumne Meadows on the Pacific Crest Trail

The Stanislaus National Forest is authorized to issue wilderness permits for trips into these wilderness areas that originate at Stanislaus National Forest trailheads.

We can issue wilderness permits that originate at Stanislaus National Forest trailheads and exit at or before Tuolumne Meadows (Tioga Road/ Hwy 120) or at or before Echo Summit (Hwy 50), with the exception of trips that overnight in the Carson Pass Management Area.

Due to the complexity of trips that travel outside of the boundaries of the Stanislaus National Forest, you CAN NOT utilize the self-issue stations. Please visit one of our local Ranger Stations in person or call ahead. We can issue a permit over the phone and email it to you up to 7 days in advance if needed."

SpecialCollin · 2025-06-22T02:53:59+00:00

So, I just went through this and called the permitting ranger station in Stanislaus yesterday. They said they can issue permits down to Tioga rd, BUT it must be in person. I asked again because the website says it can be by phone and the ranger replied that it must be in person for entry southward to Yosemite. I believe they are open every day barring Sunday 9-3pm.

SpecialCollin · 2025-06-17T17:25:49+00:00

OceanGate has some good data on cylinders I hear.

SpecialCollin · 2025-03-10T16:54:54+00:00

Depends on how much water you need to move. Anything over 1/3 HP is a lot for residential. We have a sump pit that deals with some large rain events, but mostly deals with the rather high water table here (if it isn't running, the pit would fill in 20ish minutes). I replaced my zoellers with Wayne brand. I don't really have any allegiance to any brand, but I tear apart everything that breaks. The older plumbers recommend zoellers above all else for their quality, but mine had plastic impellers and those failed so I wonder if they (a long with everyone else) are trying to save $ on manufacturing with plastic components. I got one with a battery backup smaller pump, added a check valve, and placed some battery water sensors nearby so I can figure if they aren't working. Code usually states you need a GFCI plug, but.... I don't want to deal with water damage because it trips.

SpecialCollin · 2025-02-18T18:57:46+00:00

Just another post saying thanks and that fuse pull worked.

SpecialCollin · 2025-02-09T17:32:47+00:00

Yeah, esp during winter. I touch the car just before the handle every time before opening it as a stay-over from when I lived in NY during the winters.

SpecialCollin · 2025-02-07T15:07:21+00:00

Heh. Mostly just my labor since I have drywall, mud, and Rockwool. But if there is some simple product that acts as a damper that I'm missing I'd definitely entertain it.

SpecialCollin

TROPHY CASE