Do it yourself

Quote: DRich

That is one of the few projects that I was able to do by myself. It was incredibly simple.

I've replaced several t-stats over the years. Simple enough. My problem is I only have an oil boiler heating system with no AC and no C wire.

Quote: GenoDRPh

I've replaced several t-stats over the years. Simple enough. My problem is I only have an oil boiler heating system with no AC and no C wire.

I don't even know what an oil boiler heating system is or what a c-wire is.

I married in my early twenties and while the "love" was there the marriage didn't last: oh well.

She blessed me with a son and never tried to F me over: we remain cordial to this day and live in the same town so we often see each other, e.g. at our son's home for get togethers.

She has a good heart but few marketable skills and notwithstanding her near-poverty status she is busy helping others and never complains.

Last year I gave her a hundred bucks for xmas but I decided to do something special this year, to help both her and her daughter (born before we met) who finally got off of drugs and is rebuilding her life.

I decided to engage in a big DIY project: I searched for and found a used car to buy and bring up to snuff: I bought a Toyota Avalon XLS with pretty high miles that runs like the proverbial top yet had mechanical issues: I've spent some time recently repairing it as I enjoy working on cars; inter alia I've rebuilt the front and rear suspension, had it aligned, did body work, changed all fluids, worked on an oil leak, repaired a blown sub woofer, and repaired fault causing CEL to come on. I also detailed it.

Now she has a huge upgrade over the old, ratty yet reliable Kia and she gave the Kia to her carless daughter to help her to start over in rebuilding her life.

One new trick I learned is that now it is a lot easier to replace struts than it used to be; time was you had to remove the assembly then take it apart using spring compressors: not any more, now they sell the entire "loaded strut assembly" which makes the job so much easier, and for entry-level quality Monroe Quick-Struts the cost is less than $100 per side from Rockauto.

So glad I taught myself in my twenties to work on, maintain and repair vehicles: probably the best DIY move I've ever made.

Quote: missedhervee

I married in my early twenties and while the "love" was there the marriage didn't last: oh well.

She blessed me with a son

So counting on my fingers and toes and consulting my abacus this son of yours must be around 60 by now if you were in your early twenties. Or pushing 60 anyway.

LOL

Nope, he's MUCH younger than 60.

Quote: missedhervee

LOL

Nope, he's MUCH younger than 60.

57 isn't much younger. I'm 75 and you're older than I am and I have a daughter in her early fifties so give me a break.

Bob, once again you bring up this false age accusation.

I am most assuredly NOT older than you.

For the record: you are YEARS older than I am: I ain't gonna say how many years, gotta keep you guessing.

Quote: missedhervee

Bob, once again you bring up this false age accusation.

I am most assuredly NOT older than you.

For the record: you are YEARS older than I am: I ain't gonna say how many years, gotta keep you guessing.

No you're not. You've given yourself away way too many times. My guess is 78 or 79. Certainly not younger than that.

Quote: Evenbob

No you're not. You've given yourself away way too many times. My guess is 78 or 79. Certainly not younger than that.

LOL

I'd make a forum bet with you, any amount, that you're wrong but I've posted elsewhere that I don't make forum bets and were I to make the bet I am certain you'd never pay me.

"78 or 79" is WAY off the mark...think younger...much younger...

Quote: missedhervee

LOL

I'd make a forum bet with you, any amount, that you're wrong but I've posted elsewhere that I don't make forum bets and were I to make the bet I am cetain you'd never pay me.

"78 or 79" is WAY off the mark...think younger...much younger...

In years past you talked way too much about being in college in the late 1960s which would put you at your late seventies now. Mid to late seventies. When you're going to dispense crap you really have to keep it straight or you contradict yourself like you're doing now. I believe you graduated from college right around 1970. You do the math.