Flat

It has been a while, yet again. I'd wanted to get more blogging in this year, and may have been somewhat successful. Anyway, last month my wife and I went up to northern California for a anniversary weekend. It was pretty fun.

We flew out of Long Beach, which is always a far superior experience than Los Angeles. The options of the flight were early morning or late evening. To keep from blowing the whole day (and as the day wears on, it seems more likely for a flight delay) we elected the morning flight. Of course, this means arriving well before check in time at our lodging. We got our rental car, one of the style I like where they just point you to the class of car you've rented and tell you to take your pick. I like the hatch style of the Hyundai Accent, so we took that and just started cruising about at random. First city areas, then farmlands, then we were in a forest area.

When I pulled off to take a few pictures, I noticed that the Hyundai is a 512'er!!! Pretty cool. Got to catch the end of The Woody Show on KFOG, and then discovered that our rental had satellite radio, and listened to that some. It was getting towards that time, so we started looking for someplace to eat. Rolling down the freeway, and suddenly the tire pressure light comes on!!! It began making a noise of a flat, and there was an exit coming up, so I kept going along to get off the freeway. The road we exited onto had no shoulder, so I continued to the next cross street and turned onto it, then pulled off to the side.

Yeah, it was flat all right. I moved our luggage out of the trunk into the back seat to get at the spare. Surprise, no spare!!! Just a compressor and a can of sealant. I have heard the sealant can foul the tire pressure sensors, so before I tried it, I called the rental company. They said to give it a try, so I went ahead. Connect the sealant to the line and compressor and let it run for 3 minutes. I did that, and it was as flat as ever. I noticed that there were three of one brand of tire, and a fourth was different, and the one that had gone flat had some cupping on the edge. I suspect that there has been some kind of suspension damage that causes one tire to wear quickly.

Called the rental company back, and they said they would send a truck. Could be an hour and 15 minutes, but it was only about the 15 minute. Back to the rental place, where the tow truck couldn't get into the garage because of the height, so he dropped us outside the structure. Went back, and they said to get another of my choosing, and suggested a Kia Rio S that was almost new, less than 1,000 miles. Also got phenomenal mileage.

Where we'd pulled off the road, there was a dead mouse laying there. Not a great sign, but the rest of the weekend was fine. At first I was thinking that this was the first time I'd had such a problem with a rental, but then I remembered the Mazda that had a window come off it's tracks. Was also thinking it's the first flat I've had in a while, but there was the shanking of Jade from earlier this year, as well as tires on Scruffy that would get low on air. So, this was the first time I've had an automotive incident where I've been stuck on the side of the road since the couple of times where AAA Screwed me over!!!

A Most Random Confluence of Events

Since the first time we went, the Renaissance Pleasure Faire has been an annual pilgrimage for at least part of the family. Interestingly, the younger has been the only one to hit it every year. Two years back both the boys and I went, along with the olders' girl. Last year was the first year since I've switched to working the Saturday shift, and it was shortly after the oldest shipped out to boot camp, so that year mom and the younger were the only attendees. This year, mom wasn't interested in going so much, so it was the younger and I. Good times!!!

While we were there, this happened...

We're walking along, and see an apple on the ground off to the side of the road. The boy says, "It looks like there's a smiley face on that apple" I look bit closer, and sure enough, there's indentations on the apple in the shape of a smiley face!!! Just then, an older lady in full Ren Faire garb holding two cabbages comes running up to us. To the boy, she asks, "would you like to play a free game???" Yea, sure!!! A cabbage she hands to him, and says to try and hit the apple with it. From about ten feet, he throws the cabbage at it, and scores a direct hit, fracturing the apple into at least two pieces!!! "You did it!!! Let me get you your prize!!!", she says, and runs off. Quickly she returns, and presents him with a radish!!!

As we were heading off, she has further inspected the apple, and calls after us, "You knocked the smile off his face!!!"

Wanna Go Scream Punk???

Don't know that I've made mention here, but starting this year I'm on the weekend crew at work. It was a few years that I'd put my name in when there'd be an opening, and finally they took me on. Not only do you get a weekday swap, but they bump your pay by $1 to sweeten the deal. So, one of the advantages, I get Fridays off now. Yesterday we went to the local Six Flags park, Magic Mountain, to (finally!) take advantage of some of the payback from the epic fail at Six Flags Great America!!! After I'd gone off on the park director there for their screw up and they're lame attempt at a buy off, he asks me what I thought would be appropriate. Well... I honestly wasn't prepared for that!!! Thought we were gonna have to go round and round before we got anywhere, so off the top of my head, I said I thought a full refund of the season passes I'd bought would be right, along with passes back to his scummy park to try and get on the one coaster I'd wanted to ride (which he kicked with, but I never did get the chance to make it back) along with the $25 of park vouchers & complimentary drink voucher.

He was good about it, refunding the season pass price that very day, and sending an Email with the code to redeem for new passes back at the local park. Apparently doing the refund voided the passes we had, so new ones needed issued.

So, last time we'd gone was on Memorial Day to activate our passes. The two I'd wanted to hit while we were there were Full Throttle, new since last time I'd been there, and the just re-opened Twisted Colossus. The former kept breaking down, and the latter had a 3+ hour line by the time we made it in. Didn't get on either. It was truly a terrible day to go.

The area around Twisted Colossus has been re-themed as the "Scream Punk" zone. That's mostly what I've got shots of here, the theming elements. There's a lot of pipe construction with valve wheels and gauges, and a lot of gears.

The second photo you can even see what looks to be a flex fan from a diesel truck.

And the fourth shot features three automotive flexplates, entwined with bicycle style chain. I don't think those go together.

Off to one side they have the hemi powered steam tractor. Every few minutes it does a blast of steam from it's stack.

A closer inspection reveals that it appears to be a genuine hemi engine!!! I was getting the closer shot for the Monster Energy coil cover.

I would have liked to see the show, "Kwerk" that they have in the GearWorks Theatre, but it wasn't going on while we were in the area. They've got that, the old (relatively) Scream coaster, and the flagship Twisted Colossus in the area. Needs MORE, I think.

They do have a new sandwich shop and a gift stand, too, but I still say more...

SO, about that Twisted Colossus... Last year for my birthday they closed down the Colossus coaster. It still held it's own in my opinion, with an awesome drop and great air time whoops, but it was old and a rough ride. I always think all they have to do is put new bearings or wheels on these old coasters, but I'm no expert.

Shortly after, they announced they were going to re-make it. Nice. While they were working on it, it caught on fire!!! From that point, I always thought they should re-title it the Phoenix, but no, they went with Twisted Colossus.

More Steam Punk theming on the line going in, and the coaster cars themselves.

It used to have two tracks, but they changed that... kinda. Now it makes one circuit of the track, and comes back for a second trip through on the other track!!! Two times through for the wait of one!!! Good deal!!!

Seems like it doesn't have quite the drop of the old one, but it now has twisted barrel roll inversions, and several of what they call "High Five" effects, where you're opposite the other train. Oh, and SMOOTH like a dream!!! Probably my #2 favorite coaster now, behind the always epic X2 (which we didn't make it on again... from this point on, don't know if I'll be able to make it again, they're calendar doesn't have many Fridays, my off day).

AND!!! on the way out, I found on the ground my very own Steam Punk Souvenir!!!

Recovery

Here's a project I did the other day. As you can see in the first shot, kitty cat's claw post is ALL tore up!!! He's vicious with those claws!!!

I've seen the claw posts wrapped with rope, and that seemed like a pretty good way to go. Figured all I'd have to do is get some nice, fibrous rope, unbolt the post from the base, pry the top cap off, secure the rope under the top cap, wrap to the base, and bolt it back on with the rope under the post!!! Easy, huh???

Started in, and the first complication arose: The wood block for the top splintered into pieces, first one edge as it was being knocked loose, then in the middle as I attempted to hammer the top back into place with the rope under it, to where it was unusable. I pulled out some long finishing nails instead, hammered them partway in, then bent them over to secure the rope end. Not pretty, but functional. Wrapped away, and ended with another. While trying to secure the end under the post by bolting it down, and the hole stripped out!!! Used half a dozen 3" drywall screws and fixed that up... kind of. it's leaning back about 5°!!!

And the final results??? The wrap started out real good, but came up short on the bottom end. Apparently you need more than 50' of rope to pull this off. Now remains to be seen how durable it is!!!

Another project I undertook recently was re-purposing the 80's era stereo cabinet in our front room. One of the things I got for Christmas last year was a 46" LED TV for our front room. There's only one place it fits well in our front room, and that's diagonal in the corner. I bought a mount kit and had the idea of running a 2x4 across the corner and hanging it from that, but haven't done that. I just stuck it on top of the wood and glass stereo cabinet. The tuner/amplifier in the stereo hasn't worked in a couple years (and I link to a post where it ended up working afterwards!!! I'm thinking it was a year or several months later that it really quit, so maybe only a year or so). The tape player gave up the ghost years ago. I think the turntable was fine, but I never really used that anyway. My vintage 18-disc player was the only thing going that I might have used, but without an amp, it wasn't seeing any action either. So, finally, I took all that out, and set up the DVD/VHS player on the top where the turntable goes, used the next shelf for DVDs, put the old VHS 2 drawer cabinet on the bottom, with a row of VHS tapes on top of it, and a digital clock off to the side. Not shown is the sound bar on the floor to the front. New TV's have really bad audio!!! We've got a 17" flat screen TV in the bedroom, and it's got better sound than the new TV!!! In retrospect, I could have kept my 18 disc player onboard and ran it through the sound bar, but these days most our music gets played on pocket sized devices!!! Anyway, I'm more pleased with the way this came out than the claw post!!!

50 50 Finally!!!

Here it FINALLY is, the pics & my take on Slater's 50/50 Burger!!! The pictures were from just over a year back, which was the last time I was there. Stacked, I'd been to more recently, but it's closer (more on that later) and the wait is usually less.

First food shot is their vampire dip, which is amazing. Roasted garlic, cheese & artichoke dip! Served in a sourdough bread bowl with fried pita chips, cut & pasted from their website (the description, not the photo). Damn, now I want some!!! Probably shouldn't be doing a food post when I'm hungry!!!

Next shot is my first born's creation. Sloppy!!! Almost always translates to delicious, and this was no exception.

And there's the wife with the younger, and her creation.

It's been more than a year, so I don't remember most of it, but I think it was their featured Cinco de Mayo burger, I want to say with chorizo instead of bacon in the 50/50 blend, but don't quote me. Probably jalapenos and it sure looks like black bean and corn salsa.

There I am, with my creation. Don't know what all it had for sure, but I know this: bleu cheese, garlic aioli (which spell check doesn't seem to recognize,but suggests ravioli, which might be pretty good!!!), and grilled onions were in there!!!

Next shot reveals that dill pickle and tomato were also involved, which sounds like what I'd get!!! Probably more than that, in sauces, as baconnaise is also on the menu. In the background is the first born's again, and in the center was the subject of that particular shot, a little sample of their chili!!! It sounded too much to have on the burger with all the other deliciousness involved, but almost every time I go to a place with chili, I want to see how they've done. I think my consensus was fairly tasty but nothing that would put it over the top. In other words, nothing like mine or Tommy Burgers!!! Good of them to let me try a taste, tho!!!

Funny thing, though, for all the bacon included in the burger patty, I really don't taste it that much... kinda defeats the purpose!!!

And the younger, what does he get??? Grilled cheese!!! Not a bigly adventurous eater (although I'm pretty sure he had some vampire dip, and probably ate of the bread bowl containing it), but look at how he's attacking his food!!! Probably had more to do with the 45 minute drive to get there and the two hour wait once you're there!!! But hey, the burgers are made with 50% sirloin and 50% bacon!!!

So why now do I finally do a post on Slater's 50/50 Burger??? Because I recently found out about another build-a-burger spot nearby, The Counter. WAY closer to home for me than either 50/50 or Stacked, and when we made it there yesterday, there was no waiting for a table!!! Looking at 50/50's website so I could link to it in this post, however, and I see there's now another location, probably a mile closer than The Counter!!! Of course, it's in Old Town Pasadena, where it's going to cost you to park, and if it's like the other ones I've been to, there's the wait. Also, I think that The Counter ended up being just a tad less pricey than Stacked, and a fair amount less than 50/50. Probably the next time I visit The Counter I'll bring along my camera and feature it!!!

But, oh, that vampire dip!!!

Renaissance, Man!!!

Last weekend the boys and I did something I think about most every year, but until then never managed to do. We went to the Renaissance Pleasure Faire!!! It was a great time!!!

It gave us a chance to geek it up a little, too. I had a white shirt with a black and white pattern on either side of the opening that was plausible. The older broke out his ninja gauntlets and boots, tied bandannas around the ankles (they're kinda small now...) and found a black shirt with white on either side of the opening, kinda opposite to mine. The younger had the shoulder guard and cape from last year's Halloween, this time with a dark hoodie, that came out pretty good!!!

First place we saw right after entering was an eatery. However, they had a helmet on the table that the younger wanted to try on. Went pretty good with his outfit, actually!!!

Next place we stopped in at was a couple of brothers doing a juggling act!!! They were great, both at juggling and at the routine and theatrics!!! As witness to their juggling skills, the wooden battle ax wasn't part of their props, but something the kid in the front row was holding!!!

But THIS was one of the main attractions for the older boy!!!

Turkey leg!!! I bought myself a bratwurst with sauteed onions.

Down to the bone!!! Which he saved, originally thinking to give it to the neighbor's dog, but now he's thinking knife handle.

The younger had wanted to bring a bow and arrows... This worked out better, I think!!!

Aye, the only picture I got of myself!!!

Geese and goslings in the pond there. Another first, the grounds there I've been driving by for more than 20 years, probably, and this was the first time I've actually been in!!! I've got more pictures I may do as another post...

And there's the older, wearing the younger's shoulder guard & cape arrangement. Works nicely, huh???

The younger had to take it off, to go on the trampoline-bungee cord rig there!!!

Dr. Who reference FTW!!! There was a tad of that other places here and there, too. In fact, the older had been considering going as the Dr. to this event, too.

One of the other things we were impressed by was the falconry show.

Owls, hawks, and a peregrine falcon. The peregrine falcon went off on a little tangent a couple of times, going after other birds flying through the area!!!

The joust "to the death" was a great spectacle, too. Hint for photography, though, don't get a seat directly behind a pole!!!

After one was knocked from his steed, various other combat ensued. Not only implementing a bullwhip, but lighting it on fire!!! The first few cracks after dousing and igniting it produced impressive balls of fire!!!

What, exactly, are you proposing here???

Fairly late in the afternoon... he wasn't just putting it on, he was OUT!!!

Confused???

Steampunk goes just fine at the faire, too!!!

And one (well, two) last things as an attraction...

Pushed up,

pushed together,

and displayed nicely!!!