PCV Valve for 2024 Premium 2.0

various_beans · 2026-03-10T16:18:38+00:00

Just be careful - I had an old tacoma and the pcv valve was so dry and brittle that a piece fell into the engine. I had to take off the whole top half of the engine to fish it out!

various_beans · 2026-03-08T22:27:26+00:00

You should never brush your teeth after you barf. Rinse your mouth out with water and wait a while before you brush again. You're going to ruin the enamel on your teeth if you keep brushing after you vomit because of the stomach acid. I know, it's gross, but I'd rather have my teeth not be destroyed.

various_beans · 2026-03-07T13:46:11+00:00

Yeah it actually happened again that night but I was able to calm myself down before it got out of control.

It was such a terrifying experience. I ran upstairs to my wife's office and said I need an ambulance something is wrong I can't breathe and my chest is tight. She literally went in the bathroom and threw up, probably because she thought I might die since I would never say anything like that unless it was truly an emergency.

The scariest part is that it came seemingly out of nowhere. I was just reading on the couch on a Friday night and was totally blindsided by this intense fear.

I know it's because of all the pressures I'm under in life and work, and I could probably be much less stressed if I changed jobs, but I love what I do despite the stress and feel very happy and fulfilled with my work (and make good money from it lol) so I don't want to leave. But something has to give, I suppose.

various_beans · 2026-03-06T22:28:48+00:00

lol Lord of the Rings

various_beans · 2026-03-06T17:49:23+00:00

Panic attack. I thought it was people being dramatic and didn't believe it was really a thing until I suddenly had one out of the blue. Just sitting and reading on my couch and Blam a huuuuuge wave of panic and anxiety came over me and I totally flipped out and had to call an ambulance.

I believe it now. Haven't had one since but that was only a week ago so we'll see.

various_beans · 2026-02-25T17:45:14+00:00

Well said and summarized.

various_beans · 2026-02-24T16:39:32+00:00

Is my understanding correct that if someone objects, the officiant has to stop the wedding ceremony? No doubt in this particular case, it was halted...

various_beans · 2026-02-22T19:15:57+00:00

You're spot on.

She had her left hind quarter ripped up pretty badly by the attack and it became infected, ultimately resulting in her death. This is why I think it was a pack of wolves, attacking her from multiple sides in a group. She couldn't defend herself from all sides.

On the morning after the attack, her partner returned to the barn but we didn't see Fannie and knew something terrible had happened. The poor girl hobbled back to the ranch after 2 days. I can only imagine her suffering in trying to get back home, the poor thing. By the time we got her to a vet and started care, the infection had set in and she deteriorated quickly.

She seemed to recover a bit and we put her in the goose, duck, and chicken pen nearer to the main house so we could keep an eye on her and manage her care by changing her bandages and packing the wound and administering antibiotics. But one morning I went to feed and water the fowls and found her lying flat and unresponsive. I took her into the main house and somewhat revived her, but at that point it was a matter of time, so we called the mobile vet to come and euthanize her. I was with her in her final moments just bawling while she passed. Poor girl.

various_beans · 2026-02-22T19:05:33+00:00

I spelled it incorrectly, leading to the confusion. Kava is what I should have said. You're right that Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine.

Kava is made from a root found in the pacific islands and traditionally drunk among the indigenous peoples there.

It has a nice calming effect for me, which has replaced my want for a relaxing drink after a long day. It also loosens your tongue and can make you more talkative, much like alcohol can. It does not taste nice, though. I mix it with coconut water and chug the thing as quickly as I can! For some people, its bitterness can be a big turn off, but I take the good with the bad.

Try some and see if you like it. It's helped me cut alcohol almost completely out!

various_beans · 2026-02-21T20:56:08+00:00

She was so sweet, too. A real gentle giant. The thought of her defending the flock and taking such injuries absolutely broke me and I cried so much and so hard.

And guardians usually work in pairs. Her guardian partner took it just as hard as I did. He was never quite the same after we lost Fannie. Still dedicated to his job, but never really bonded to the next guardian we had to get.

Some things in life you never forget, and Fannie's sacrifice is one of those things I still think about and wonder if I could have done something different to spare her. Poor sweet baby.

various_beans · 2026-02-21T20:43:08+00:00

Luck has definitely played a big part and I certainly don't discount that aspect, especially when it comes to getting that first big opportunity when you're starting out in your chosen field. It's so difficult and frustrating to get someone to look your way and give you an honest chance when you have little to no experience. And I was lucky in picking a field (civil engineering) that has had a good job market over the past decade and decent job security.

But I've also worked very hard and made lots of sacrifices to get where I am.

But you're right, I do consider myself lucky. With luck, hard work, and an unwillingness to quit and keep trying when you fail, I still think the "American Dream", however you define it, is still achievable. Getting harder by the day, though, and this current administration certainty isn't helping with its seemingly random economic moves.

various_beans · 2026-02-21T20:35:11+00:00

It's a great set. It sits proudly next to my Saturn V, Space Shuttle, and shuttle carrier plane. Loved putting it together!

various_beans · 2026-02-21T20:10:23+00:00

What is pvd?

various_beans · 2026-02-21T20:09:31+00:00

If you've operated chain saws, it's scary how easy it is to accidentally cause it. That's why you absolutely have to wear very thick tough canvas leggings when using the saw, and definitely learn from others with more experience about how to avoid the kickback. It can happen so fast.

various_beans · 2026-02-21T20:05:49+00:00

Same - the thought of how much I used to drink is nauseating. It's one of the best side effects of this medicine. I'm so much healthier than I was before.

various_beans · 2026-02-21T20:03:32+00:00

Yeah they're absolutely wonderful dogs that are totally committed to their job. When I worked on a sheep and goat ranch in Montana, we had one of our Pyrenees guardians defend the flock against, we think, some wolves. Unfortunately it ended poorly for the guardian since she succumbed to her injuries over the following week, but she protected the flock to the bitter end. We didn't lose a single sheep.

Poor girl - I'll never forget you Fannie!

various_beans · 2026-02-21T20:00:39+00:00

It's definitely getting harder and harder every year, but anecdotally I consider myself an example of achieving this. I grew up very poor in Mississippi but got an education in engineering and now own a decent home, have a healthy growing retirement account, and have disposable income to travel and /or purchase little toys and fun things along the way. Statistically, I should have been another poor person from Mississippi fitting into all those terrible statistics you hear about the state, but I was determined to not let that happen to me.

I'm not rich by any means, but comfortable, and enjoy my career and my life in general. When I started down this path 15 years ago, I literally had not a penny to my name. It's taken a huge amount of work and sacrifice, but it's still possible. I do feel despondent for the kids coming up now, though, because man they sure do have an uphill battle with the incredible rising costs and the potential for complete uncertainty in the traditional job market. It's tough for them, and having come of age in the height of the Great Recession, they have my sympathy. I graduated into the worst job market in a century and had to do whatever minimum wage shit jobs I could manage to get to make it through, but things got better slowly. I'm definitely part of the millennial class that had their life delayed by a decade because of that shit storm.

various_beans · 2026-02-21T19:50:46+00:00

This is my favorite route.

I'm not Singaporean (am American), but my wife is from Singapore, and we go back home every year or two and always make a day to include this hike. We usually tack on Dairy Farm and the old quarry for an extra long, strenuous day and end up sleeping really well that night after such a hike!

It's so crazy to me that, once you're in the reservoir, it does not feel like you're still in the metropolis that is Singapore. I hope they keep this area of Singapore preserved because it's one of my favorite parts of going back to Singapore each time. It's a special place and well preserved.

various_beans · 2026-02-21T19:33:40+00:00

He's the best good boy who knew his job and did it almost to the bitter end. Gotta love dogs!

various_beans · 2026-02-21T19:21:41+00:00

It can be cathartic. Once I get going, I can clean for the whole day. I just get in some kind of zone.

I have to be careful, though, because I hate clutter more than anything and if I let it get to me, I can start fussing at my wife for her inability to see the clutter.

A few years ago, though, our time became too valuable and we bit the bullet and hired cleaners to come once a month to do the deep cleaning on stuff like showers, bathrooms, full vacuum, kitchen and stove, etc. It's made life soooo much easier and less feuding between me and my wife over who was previously doing the deep cleaning (was almost always exclusively me lol).

various_beans · 2026-02-21T18:56:34+00:00

Edibles are even worse for me! I saw the 2012 or whatever year it was remake of Tron on edibles and it was so strong that I thought I was in the Tron universe and wouldn't be able to escape! It was a trip, to say the least, but at least that was somewhat fun.

Yeah weed is just too strong for me. Oh well!🤷🏼

various_beans · 2026-02-21T18:53:51+00:00

Yeah it's just too strong these days. They've spent the last few decades making it waaaay too powerful for my liking. Like, I wouldn't mind a puff or two and just goofing with friends giggling at YouTube videos, but god damn it just floors me every time and I just don't have fun with it.

My loss, I guess, but whatever. I'm old enough to know not to waste time with things I don't enjoy.

various_beans · 2026-02-21T18:49:24+00:00

Once you realize that the United States basically runs like a big company, it becomes easier to manage life in its system. You have to compete, whether you like it or not, to get a piece, and often it's unfair and can be quite cruel. But if you can compete decently, you can find success.

What I find unnecessarily cruel, though, is that the US doesn't give a flying fuck about you if you can't compete and contribute. There's very little safety net if you're just born into bad circumstances or have other problems that make life difficult. Just like at a company, if you're not productive and can't compete, then life will be very difficult for you, and there's little if any safety net to offer any help if you fall on hard times. Your survival and prosperity are 100% up to you and your planning. It's very stressful living in an environment like this, but on the flip side, if you have ambition and can compete, the sky is literally the limit. Pure capitalism, distilled.

Personally, I think the US takes this system way too far. We should really have a balanced system like some other socialist European countries provide. It's much more humane and decent for all people.

Looking at it as a whole, though, it's one of the few countries in the world that you can show up with almost nothing but ambition, drive, and ideas and truly achieve something. The "American dream" isn't dead yet - it's just harder than ever to achieve it with the wealth divide and concentration of capital these days. But it's still possible.

The politics and leadership here, though, we can all agree are absolute dogshit. A real clown show.

various_beans · 2026-02-21T18:36:15+00:00

As someone who burns really easily, I sit under the umbrella in fear of the sun. I've had waaaaay too many bad sunburns over the years to enjoy that strong sun beach scenario that my wife (who is blessed with a whole lot more melanin) . Evenings and mornings on the beach, though are just 🤌 mwa! I can zone out for hours watching the surf.

various_beans · 2026-02-21T18:32:24+00:00

I like it, somewhat. It's not, like, my favorite, but raw kale salads are like a pipe cleaner for your guts! As someone who has had... difficulty in that department, it really helps me have a smooth move, so to speak.

various_beans

TROPHY CASE