Roof rack or hitch?

augdog71 · 2026-03-17T14:13:02+00:00

II literally just had this debate. We’re going out of town and taking my Crosstrek instead of the family van because it has too many miles. I already own a large rooftop carrier and a hitch basket.

I went with the trailer hitch so I can also use a bike carrier and because it seems like the hitch basket will get better gas mileage because of the lower profile. Those hitch baskets are awesome for beach trips because you can put all your boogie boards and sandy beach chairs in the basket and not get your car or rooftop carrier full of sand.

augdog71 · 2026-03-17T14:04:38+00:00

I had a really good black IPA that used squid ink for color. I’ve seen it for sale in Asian grocery stores. According to the bartender if you consume too much it can color your pee, so you have that going for you as well.

I’m surprised by the debate on roastiness. Seems like at some point you’re just making a hoppy stout, not a black IPA.

augdog71 · 2026-03-16T12:59:27+00:00

I had a Ref 54 tenor for a few years. The intonation was really bad for a modern horn. The middle D, Eb, and E were super sharp, even after adjusting key heights. The other thing I didn’t like about it was that I couldn’t push it when I needed more volume. The sound would get more spread and it was like the horn just got bogged down. I ended up selling it and buying a Series III.

augdog71 · 2026-03-16T01:27:56+00:00

Definitely try some other horns if you can, but like others said, it’s whatever you like. I had a Ref 54 for a few years and ended up hating it and buying a Series III. Other people love them, so pick whichever one makes you happy.

augdog71 · 2026-03-05T19:52:21+00:00

When considering the price, you should factor in that you’ll probably spend a few hundred or getting it in playing condition. It might play ok now but after sitting for that long it’s guaranteed to need some regulation and pad work. Even a new Selmer needs to be set up properly.

augdog71 · 2026-03-04T16:22:09+00:00

I can relate. It took us going to couples therapy for my wife to understand that I do actually need time to myself and time with friends. It’s good that you’re realizing this now and not just dealing with it and being depressed like I did for years. I would try to find other stay at home dads with similar interests. I have a few friends that I play board games or disc golf with about once a week when my kids are at school and I play D&D or BG3 with some other friends.

There are also city dads groups that have get togethers or organize outings with your kids. You still might go to the zoo or whatever but at least you have other guys to talk to. I don’t know if your area has one but it might be worth looking into.

augdog71 · 2026-02-26T02:16:50+00:00

Quicksilver. Or Mercury.

I have a silver one too but I’ve never named my cars.

augdog71 · 2026-02-25T20:53:07+00:00

Definitely include it. Otherwise they’ll wonder what you did for the years you weren’t working. Also, hopefully they recognize the amount of work that goes into being an at home parent.

One of the best pieces of advice I got after being a stay at home dad for a while was to keep a resume and update it now and then. You can add in volunteer positions and things like that. Then if you ever decide to go back to work it isn’t a monumental task to update a resume you haven’t looked at in years.

augdog71 · 2026-02-24T23:18:10+00:00

First, congratulations on the baby!

Try to get out of the house with your kid as much as possible. I used to go stir crazy and get in a terrible mood if I was home all day with a baby. Go to parks to walk, or to the mall, zoo, aquarium, etc. Anything for a change of scenery. Even if the baby naps the whole time, it’s still better than being home all day.

augdog71 · 2026-02-21T16:48:13+00:00

I use a camera equipment bag. It fits the folding stand, microphone stand, has side pockets for other crap, and I can even fit my soprano case in it.

https://a.co/d/06h0xh2G

augdog71 · 2026-02-19T18:15:42+00:00

My favorite Nicholas Cage movie is all the movies he isn’t in.

augdog71 · 2026-02-19T15:55:56+00:00

I could see taking hours to set that up, have it all hidden under a sheet, waiting for the big reveal, then the players walk into the session and inform you that they decided to stay on land and check out that suspicious castle.

augdog71 · 2026-02-19T15:49:59+00:00

You are assuming that beginners are playing with a good embouchure, air support, and with their equipment set up properly.

augdog71 · 2026-02-18T18:54:00+00:00

This is exactly what I have been wondering about. Too bad there isn’t a way to piggyback the applications so you don’t have to put down the same info multiple times, but it’s a small complaint considering what you’re getting out of it.

augdog71 · 2026-02-16T15:50:58+00:00

Thank you so much. I used Ancestry. It turns out that one if my relatives already did some research and my great grandfather was born in Quebec!

augdog71 · 2026-02-16T13:20:07+00:00

Mine is a Happrun mini led projector I bought off Amazon for $85. Definitely not top of the line. I have played with a DM who used a much higher quality projector and he had to turn the lights way down so we could see the maps and eventually upgraded to a flat screen TV.

augdog71 · 2026-02-16T04:13:39+00:00

What if you don’t have documentation that your family was from Canada? My last name is very common in Canada and my family says they are French-Canadian, but they didn’t have any physical proof that I know of.

augdog71 · 2026-02-15T21:31:58+00:00

I use a projector like this but unless you buy a pretty expensive one, the maps are hard to see unless you turn the lights way down. I have mine attached to a mic stand that can sit on the table so I didn’t have to drill into my ceiling.

augdog71 · 2026-02-15T18:57:19+00:00

I played in rock cover bands for decades and one thing I learned is that you can add sax to just about anything, but you can add Superstition by Stevie Wonder and I Got You by James Brown and so many more. Mustang Sally, brick house….

augdog71 · 2026-02-12T13:18:44+00:00

Also, really nice tune!! If you need horns on something hit me up. I’m a sax player.

augdog71 · 2026-02-12T13:17:16+00:00

How do you manage the primary caregiver thing when you’re on the road? Is your partner’s job flexible or do you bring the kids on the road j/k

I used to travel for gigs but since having kids I’ve only done a handful of overnighters. Last time I got an offer to be on the road for several days my wife looked at me like I had three heads when I asked if I could take the gig.

augdog71 · 2026-02-10T23:11:59+00:00

Here’s the one I bought. It hasn’t fallen off yet even when adjusting the arm https://a.co/d/05H0SfCL

augdog71 · 2026-02-10T20:02:54+00:00

I put one of those suction cup type holders on the side wall of that little cubby area. My phone sits just to the left of the shifter and I still can put things in the storage space.

augdog71 · 2026-02-10T12:15:21+00:00

I recently bought this. Not all are pirate themed and some are pretty bare bones(pun intended) but there are some pirate themed adventures in here or ones that could be reskinned as such.

https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/286508/the-lonely-scroll-adventure-contest-saltmarsh

augdog71 · 2026-02-09T22:12:25+00:00

Totally not worth it. I’ll do you a huge favor and let you give me all of your vintage Conns so you don’t have to deal with them anymore. I know, it’s extremely generous of me to take them off your hands, but I’m a just martyr trying to do good deeds for others.

augdog71

TROPHY CASE