Random Thoughts

[Chris]

I will say 2 things:

1. I have to take my daughter to swim practice at 6:30am. Without daylight saving times, we would leave for swim practice and then be done with swim practice in the dark, and I appreciate some sunlight early in the morning for the early birds so they don't live their entire day in darkness.

2. There are lots of people in Alaska, Scandinavia, and Russia who don't see the sun for 6 months. I question their life choices.

Having said all that, screw daylight savings time, and get rid of time zones.

There is more than one reason that my wife and I live in Helsinki in the summer and south Florida in the winter.

Over there the sun never really comes up in the winter, you just get a lighter shade of gray. What sunrise they do get occurs at about 9:30-10am and the sun sets around 3:30. It is dark by 4pm. People who work normal office-type jobs never see the sun during the week. Wake up and go to work in the dark, go home in the dark. It’s not a surprise to me why Finland has a high incidence of both depression and suicide.

The summer is the exact opposite. Sunrise at 3- 3:30 am, sunset near midnight.

 

[RedWolf]

Prayers up skinsmarydu 🙏

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Anyone else tired of Daylight Savings time and having to change all their clocks?

Is your preference Standard time (Fall), or Daylight savings time (Spring)? I don't really have a preference other than longer days in the summer is nice, but I wish the government would eliminate one of them like they've been talking about doing for years.

I have two stand alone clocks that I need to change, an oven clock, two coffee machine clocks, car clocks, and the worst is a G -Shock sports watch that I have to watch a video to remind me how to change the time on it.

And don't forget all our internal clocks that need to adjust. My dog was up an hour earlier this morning.

I'm not sure farmers need the extra hour of daylight nowadays so maybe we should leave it at Standard time?

I just found four more clocks to update for the time change.

I've got two lamps on timers that are off an hour now.

Also, My A/C and heater have time settings too. My house is two zones so there are two more clocks to change.

Damn!

 

[Chris]

There is more than one reason that my wife and I live in Helsinki in the summer and south Florida in the winter.

Over there the sun never really comes up in the winter, you just get a lighter shade of gray. What sunrise they do get occurs at about 9:30-10am and the sun sets around 3:30. It is dark by 4pm. People who work normal office-type jobs never see the sun during the week. Wake up and go to work in the dark, go home in the dark. It’s not a surprise to me why Finland has a high incidence of both depression and suicide.

The summer is the exact opposite. Sunrise at 3- 3:30 am, sunset near midnight.

For anyone interested in a pretty well done and accurate depiction of life in Helsinki. (PSA- it was recorded in July not January.)

 

[RedWolf]

I just found four more clocks to update for the time change.

I've got two lamps on timers that are off an hour now.

Also, My A/C and heater have time settings too. My house is two zones so there are two more clocks to change.

Damn!

Time keeps on slippin' into the future



Old school analog tape echo - Echoplex.

 

[Boone]

OK, I've got a lot to unload.
My step-sister passed away from early Alzheimers a few months ago. Now her brother is at UVA with a form of Leukemia.

He taught me how to ride a motorcycle. We had 5 acres, a track, and fun...from a YZ 80 tp a KX...which threw me off the back of it because it had so much more power!!!

I love this kid...I punted a football and fucked up my ankle once, he carried me everywhere until I was okay. When he had mono, I heard the cowbell ring cuz my dad would have to get him to the bathroom. He's a good man.

Begging for your prayers or good wishes.

Sorry to hear this and sending good thoughts and love your way. Sometimes life sucks!

 

[Ashburn Dave]

OK, I've got a lot to unload.
My step-sister passed away from early Alzheimers a few months ago. Now her brother is at UVA with a form of Leukemia.

He taught me how to ride a motorcycle. We had 5 acres, a track, and fun...from a YZ 80 tp a KX...which threw me off the back of it because it had so much more power!!!

I love this kid...I punted a football and fucked up my ankle once, he carried me everywhere until I was okay. When he had mono, I heard the cowbell ring cuz my dad would have to get him to the bathroom. He's a good man.

Begging for your prayers or good wishes.

Prayers for both of you.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

There is more than one reason that my wife and I live in Helsinki in the summer and south Florida in the winter.

Over there the sun never really comes up in the winter, you just get a lighter shade of gray. What sunrise they do get occurs at about 9:30-10am and the sun sets around 3:30. It is dark by 4pm. People who work normal office-type jobs never see the sun during the week. Wake up and go to work in the dark, go home in the dark. It’s not a surprise to me why Finland has a high incidence of both depression and suicide.

The summer is the exact opposite. Sunrise at 3- 3:30 am, sunset near midnight.

Do you have any issues with leaving your places empty for six months while you're at the other location?

When we left our primary home vacant for one month this year, we came back to a phorid fly infestation after just one month. These are the little flies that get into your drinks and food and apparently, they breed in the sink drains. We're now pouring bleach down all the drains each night until they are gone.

The other concern I had was squatters finding out my primary was vacant.

Next year we'll be at our secondary in Myrtle beach for two months, so I'll have to do something different that time for the flies. Not sure how to prevent squatters, other than not posting on Facebooks that we're gone.

 

[Chris]

Do you have any issues with leaving your places empty for six months while you're at the other location?

When we left our primary home vacant for one month this year, we came back to a phorid fly infestation after just one month. These are the little flies that get into your drinks and food and apparently, they breed in the sink drains. We're now pouring bleach down all the drains each night until they are gone.

The other concern I had was squatters finding out my primary was vacant.

Next year we'll be at our secondary in Myrtle beach for two months, so I'll have to do something different that time for the flies. Not sure how to prevent squatters, other than not posting on Facebooks that we're gone.

The first year yes, quite a bit. We have been doing this for 5 years now, have developed and exercised a plan that works. The only reoccurring pain in the butt is that the last two summers the a/c has had a condenser fail. I turn the wifi back on a few days before returning and can see by the indoor temp that the system in not cooling. I have a wonderful repair tech that will come by within hours of our arrival to fix. This October he added a hard-starter kit which hopefully will help.

My biggest concern is if our hurricane shutters need to be put up. I have a good friend that will do that if needed. So far that has not been necessary but it is only a matter of time.

As far as squatters are concerned, I have great neighbors on both sides that take care of me AND that collect my mail and lawn service that ensures that the house doesn’t look abandoned or uncared for.

My wife has an adult son that lives in the house in Helsinki, so no issues or concerns there.

 

[skinsmarydu]

I'd like to thank you all for your prayers and good wishes for my step-bro. He got his stem cell transplant and things are going better so far.

Thanks again to Redskins Nation. HAIL to all of you!!!

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I have determined that dog trainers are a pain in the ass. One asked me if I pet my dog when she approaches me. Of course I said, that's one of the great things about owning a loving dog. WRONG! I was told. You are giving up control to the dog. She is to be waved away and gets praise (reward) only on your terms. What a load of crap, my dog knows exactly who the boss is and is really well behaved. I see no reason to be mean to her.
,
Another trainer insists a puppy should be crated at all times until 6 months, they are only to come out for structured specific events such as meal time, play time, and to go out. Then back in the crate. Again that's a load of crap, I need my puppy to learn how to live and be part of the family from an early age and it has always worked out.

 

[Boone]

Yeah - those sound like crazy suggestions. You on the other hand sound like a normal, loving human! If I'm a dog, I'm choosing you, lol...

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Yeah - those sound like crazy suggestions. You on the other hand sound like a normal, loving human! If I'm a dog, I'm choosing you, lol...

Nikki is extremely well behaved but she struggles with leash pulling. This is the first dog I have tried to leash train,, all the others were off leash but the world has changed and now I need to leash her on some of my walks. So I reached out to a few of them to see if they can spend a session or at most 2 to learn the correct technique. Both insisted I enroll in their program and adhere to their idea of how to train a dog.

 

[Chris]

I have found Cesar Millan very helpful.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Ceaser is a good watch. He knows what it takes to be a proper alpha with dogs.

I've had shepherds, pit bulls, dalmatians, and recently, we've moved to smaller dogs like beagles and cockers. Being alpha is the biggest problem I see with new dog owners because they don't realize that if they aren't the alpha, then the dog will be.

Walking a dog, especially in the morning, is like the dog reading the morning newspaper. Every sniff is a new article they need to read. Them pulling you though is a different story. A lot of patience is required to stop the pulling.

We usually wait until ours dies before finding a new one but we're starting to think it might be better to get the new dog when your current one is around 8 years old. This way the old dog can help with the training.

 

[RedWolf]

Some dogs need to be highly trained i.e. Malinoise, Cane Corso, Great Danes, etc

 

[skinsmarydu]

Some dogs need to be highly trained i.e. Malinoise, Cane Corso, Great Danes, etc

Great Danes are fuckin' awesome. We had two (at different times, and under very different circumstances), but damn, they're so damn loyal and loving.
I know Riggotoni would agree! How's Layla???
(Oh, btw...showed "Cobblestone Glory" to Redskinskinfan today...she's helping me decide where to hang it here in the new place...)

 

[Riggotoni]

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I have found Cesar Millan very helpful.

Thanks for this. But it reminded me of a recent golf lesson where the instructor said my swing looked good, all he did was have me raise my chin to be able to clear my shoulders. I got in the car and realized it's not as simple as raising my chin and I'll immediately go back to shooting 81's. I'd be surprised if Nikki stops pulling by simply attaching the leash to the top and me being more relaxed.

But I will try it for sure.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

We usually wait until ours dies before finding a new one but we're starting to think it might be better to get the new dog when your current one is around 8 years old. This way the old dog can help with the training.

I'm debating this right now. I've done rescues and puppies. I know this is very selfish but I prefer to raise a dog from puppy, it's the only way to get a dog that you know will be well behaved. But we've had 2 dogs and we really don't want that again. I've found the perfect breeder, her Shepherds are half working line and half show line. What this means is a wonderful, calm personality but when it's time to play she's ready to go.

But getting a puppy from a specific breeder is not like buying a blanket from Walmart, you have to be patient. And at 66 and retired I can't imagine life without a dog, she is my main source of entertainment. So I'm thinking of doing as you are planning so I won't go a year without a dog but the wife is not onboard. So I'll probably foster rescues until the new puppy is available.