Simple Pleasures...

Just curious you haven’t had to use your snowblower in 6-7 years? I

I’m a firm believer in leaving your lawn mower or snowblower over the off season with a half tank of gas and a couple shots of Seafoam. Though 6-7 years with no trouble would be a simple pleasure.

I've always let my mower and snowblower burn any remaining fuel until they start to sputter. At this point I choke the engine so that it's fully consumed. This has always worked for me.

I’d actually meant that it’s 6 or 7 years old and still starts on the first pull. I definitely drain the gas every year from it and the mower.

I just always see my neighbors messing around with their blowers. it’s nice that I can spend 10 minutes with things like checking the oil and inflating the tires and then it is all set for winter

I never fully drained, but would add some Stabil when either device was about 1/4 full, run for 10 minutes and then leave it alone until the next season. It was very rare for me to have a problem

So I guess the bottom line is if you have a system that works for you there's no reason to change!

But I've heard from people who know the No. 1 issue with small gasoline engines is bad gas.

I forgot to mention that I buy a small amount of new gas and add the Stabil at the end.

Draining completely and allowing your gas tank to sit empty for long periods can allow water vapor to condense which could lead to corrosion in the fuel lines, carburetor, tank and cylinders. Additionally any plastic and rubber components in your fuel system will dry out, likely become brittle and may have to be replaced prematurely.

A small amount of (fresh) gas + Stabil should prevent not only that but the gas from 'going bad'.

Ran into a regular customer of the liquor store I PT at, at LTD today. He joined our group, and mentioned:

So one year I headed up to the UP, stayed at a hotel, real nice, right on the lake, called The Fitz...

I lost it.

I mean, are you kidding me?

We took an off road Jeep tour in Moab a couple months ago and the driver started talking about all these different jobs he’s had. It turned out he started talking about a job he had at Disney and we learned he knows a couple we met on an Alaskan cruise nearly 8 years ago and have become friends with over the years.

It is really a tiny world sometimes

Had the same thing at White Bear Meadery this summer... the weekend before heading up. We were chatting about travel and I said I was going to the UP and they said "I remember hearing about this BBQ place that has really good whiskey & beer selection"

"Yeah, my group has the hotel booked for the weekend"

"How many rooms"

"All of them"

Queue jaw-drop.

Some year I need to do that trip. Maybe not with the GPL crew but I'm sure given how much I love the Apostle Island area I'd probably really like the UP

It's total relaxation. 50-50 shot of having internet/etc, gorgeous scenery. A good family trip, or a good couple's getaway. Depends on how you plan it. It really is an escape from the real world.

Anyone have a good list of stuff to do and eat/drink up there?

Both true statements. Leaving bad gas can and will gum up the gas in the carbs and those can be a finicky bitch! I learned the hard way on a motorcycle that I needed to adjust them on with new pipes. Ended up taking it it.

I use Seafoam myself, I think both are similar in a lot of ways, but I see way more recommendations for Seafoam than Sta-bil.

I don't know which of you didn this but the Gophers haven't been that bad. This btw might be the greatest headline ever.

<a href=" https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/11/16/naked-man-tsa-checkpoint-minneapolis-msp-airport-assault-masturbation /" class="bbcode_url"> https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/11/16/naked-man-tsa-checkpoint-minneapolis-msp-airport-assault-masturbation/

‘It’s A Free Country’: Man Threatens TSA Agent’s Life, Throws Checkpoint Stanchion, Strips Naked & Masturbates

Slap Shot wrote:

I don't know which of you didn this but the Gophers haven't been that bad. This btw might be the greatest headline ever.

<a href=" https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/11/16/naked-man-tsa-checkpoint-minneapolis-msp-airport-assault-masturbation /" class="bbcode_url"> https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/11/16/naked-man-tsa-checkpoint-minneapolis-msp-airport-assault-masturbation/

‘It’s A Free Country’: Man Threatens TSA Agent’s Life, Throws Checkpoint Stanchion, Strips Naked & Masturbates

Now THAT'S multi-tasking

Chris83 wrote:

Now THAT'S multi-tasking

Yes for sure but the story is definitely NOT a "Simple Pleasure". :crazy:

Slap Shot wrote:

I don't know which of you didn this but the Gophers haven't been that bad. This btw might be the greatest headline ever.

<a href=" https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/11/16/naked-man-tsa-checkpoint-minneapolis-msp-airport-assault-masturbation /" class="bbcode_url"> https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/11/16/naked-man-tsa-checkpoint-minneapolis-msp-airport-assault-masturbation/

‘It’s A Free Country’: Man Threatens TSA Agent’s Life, Throws Checkpoint Stanchion, Strips Naked & Masturbates

:biggrin2: I find it funny that the last 2 points were left out of most media stories. Threats and throwing YES. Naked and wanking off NOOO. Poor Julie at Kare11 isn’t going to report that tidbit.

Yes.

Kelly Red wrote:

Slap Shot wrote:

I don't know which of you didn this but the Gophers haven't been that bad. This btw might be the greatest headline ever.

<a href=" https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/11/16/naked-man-tsa-checkpoint-minneapolis-msp-airport-assault-masturbation /" class="bbcode_url"> https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/11/16/naked-man-tsa-checkpoint-minneapolis-msp-airport-assault-masturbation/

‘It’s A Free Country’: Man Threatens TSA Agent’s Life, Throws Checkpoint Stanchion, Strips Naked & Masturbates

:biggrin2: I find it funny that the last 2 points were left out of most media stories. Threats and throwing YES. Naked and wanking off NOOO. Poor Julie at Kare11 isn’t going to report that tidbit.

The wanking happened an HOUR before the assault?

Can I get it? Haha

PMed.

Edit: I don't think the first message (non-Suomi's) was sent. User error on my part. If it wasn't sent, lemme know.

You PM’d me Rube.

Fired up the pellet stove in the shop tonight. The 700 mph wind in Fargo has chilled me to the bone and I just needed to see some flames. While I don’t want winter to come, the faster it gets here the faster it can leave and I can be back out on my boat loving life!

As long [mention]The Rube[/mention] mentioned the Taco pizza at the Ambassador you’ll be fine…

We don't know because it's a secret.

Here's the rundown, TLDR for some, fine.

Downtown Houghton:

Townie bars:

B&B: dingy, locals only, never have seen tourists outside of this group. Cheap-arse drinks.

Douglass House (aka "The Dog"). Same as above, but a little more fun atmosphere.

Mid-level bars:

The Downtowner (aka The DT): Bro-bar. Known for cheap Long Island Pitchers (they don't bother with glasses, it's literally a pitcher with 2 straws). This past summer, they cost $9.50. Beautiful deck, decent wings. Edit: the pitchers are Thursdays only.

Keweenwa Brewing Company: cheap beer compared to here, and equally as good. No food served, but BYO is allowed, and some places deliver there. Nice looking space.

Higher end:

The Ambassador (aka The Ambo): Great food, calm/relaxed atmosphere. Tostada Pizza and a fishbowl (drink of choice) is the way to go.

The Library: Ditto for atmosphere, but even better food, and they make a mean Old Fashioned.

The gem is still Fitzgerald's in Eagle River. Inn/restaurant, and it's ALL top notch. RIGHT on Lake Superior (we're talking feet from the deck to the lake). It's my Zen.

I’m hungry and thirsty now…

*Keweenaw Brewing Co.

Don’t forget Suomi for greasy diner breakfast!

Bonfire (formerly continental fire co.) is high end food and drinks. But excellent, cool space and definitely worth a stop.

Isn’t there a place with great BBQ?

Yeah, Fitzgerald’s.

Yes, Bonfire is the "snooty" place, relatively. I enjoyed their drinks, the food is okay, a little too hipster for me. key word on the menu: aioli.

Does snooty in Da Up mean no spitoons?

"Snooty" , in both the UP & daRange, means no Buck knives on the belts. Be the belts around male or female waists. ?

Don't think I got a PM

It was pretty much the breakdown I posted above.

As someone who worked in retail for 20+ years in a prior life and who's wife still is in retail management, this is great news. I just hope the other big retailers follow. The only positive thing the pandemic brought seems to be the curtailing of stores open on Thanksgiving.

[media] https://twitter.com/RebeccaJarvis/status/1462771933062127623 [/media]

Right out of school I worked at Target for a while. Had to go in on Thanksgiving at 6pm and be there until 2am or something silly like that. Walked out of the store and upped the ante in the job search. Motivated me big time to get out. Hated working holidays. Last time I ever did that. Happy to see that change. IMO it’s the right thing to do.

Good on Target. When I was at Menards we had Thanksgiving off, but opened at an ungodly hour on Friday. You also stayed into the wee morning hours of Thanksgiving itself getting everything set up after your Wednesday shift. I swore I'd never take a bad attitude from a retail employee personally ever again, and so far I've managed to do it.

It never bothered me to work holidays (granted I haven’t done so in many years). I always figured that’s what I signed up for. I even volunteered a couple times to work holiday shifts to help people with family plans. When possible we adjusted our own family plans to different days or off shift times.

But I would be interested to see if Target even loses money by closing down. I would guess most people will just shop on different days to they make up for lost business on fri and sat.

They may lose some for people who don’t plan and NEED something immediately, but that small loss may likely wash with savings for closing the store for the day.

I think a couple of factors are playing into some of the companies decision being closed on Thanksgiving. This year, I think a lot has to do with the employee shortage. My wife's retail store is so shorthanded that they can barely cover the hours open now. In this climate, the retail employee has the hammer, and if they don't like their job, they can go down the street to get a similar job for about or more money. Which plays into my 2nd thought about this. Companies are trying to create good will amongst employees so closing on Turkey Day may lead to a better attitude with employees. My wife's company opened on Thanksgiving a few years ago, but the pandemic changed that, and am hoping that they will continue to be closed on that day. Not sure what time they open on Black Friday, but she has to be at work at 4am. Since we live an hour from her work, you can imagine what time she has to get up.

https://twitter.com/spittinchiclets/status/1462820074935439370

Bingo. Been in retail my entire life. 21 years of it Home Depot. We have never opened on Thanksgiving. As for staying late Wednesday to set the store, since you can’t sign everything or bring certain items out before 9pm (closing), it can get dicey. I always had a good plan and never kept anyone past midnight, but my last year as a Store Manager (2013) I started setting product on Tuesday and covering it with black plastic and now the entire company does it. I wasn’t the pioneer of the idea.

Anyway, going in at 5:30am to open on Friday was always fun. I get that it’s not for some, but the rush of opening the doors and things being organized chaos for 30 minutes was fun. Working BF also made for a great excuse to not travel over T-Day.

So what is everyone doing for Thanksgiving? Cooking yourself? Dinner at family? Favorite dish?

We’re being very easy this year, we had an early holiday this last weekend out in Seattle. So on the official day it will be just us and my college friend, we’re roasting a nice chicken. Doing stuffing, gravy, green beans (not that nasty casserole), pumpkin streusel pie, LOTS of cocktails. It will be low key and very relaxed.

Please do not make this political: due to unvaxxed people in the family, it's just going to be me and my parents this year. I don't like that all the family is not going to be there, however, I have to be cautious, due to an auto-immune thing I have.

Favorite dish is more like a favorite side: radishes. I love radishes. If there are none, I will raise a ruckus.

Going to the parents. Bringing the mother in law.

My mom makes all the traditional fare and I enjoy all of it and eat myself into a food coma without fail.

Then there’s turkey and miracle whip sandwiches later with the leftovers.

This comedian has it spot on what retail employees are thinking sometimes...

[media] https://twitter.com/ASovietOnion/status/1463095457857552388 [/media]

Staying home with my wife and my 2 youngest. My 2 oldest are with their mom this year. Even after 11 years, not having them on the holidays still stinks, but we manage. It probably eats me up more than them, which is good!

For dinner this year, I had a standing rib roast in my freezer that I have been waiting to make, probably should wait until Christmas, but I want to clear my freezer for another 1/2 cow so we are doing Thanksgiving a bit different and we don't really like turkey all that much.

So, I am smoking the rib roast and I am making my Mom's wild rice hotdish that is a staple of a Thanksgiving meal for my family since I can remember and before. Actually, it was my grandpa's recipe that was passed to my uncle and then my Mom made it because my uncle handed her the recipe!

My wife volunteered to make the mashed potatoes and stuffing so yesterday I picked up some ready-made mashed potatoes from Costco (at her request) and she will get some Stove Top stuffing at the store today.....she is a VERY good baker but when it comes to food, she is a culinary master chef with Kraft mac & cheese and that is about it.

We are hosting my parents this year. Traditional dinner with family sausage and sage stuffing (actually stuffed into the bird). Home made mashed potatoes and gravy as well as cranberry chutney. Im also planning to have mimosas.

And my wife wants to make a childhood favorite chocolate pie desert that her grandma used to make. First time I’ve heard of it. It has a baked meringue crust. Sounds interesting.

I love making food from scratch so Thanksgiving is always a great day.

This is the first year of sharing our daughter with her future in-laws for the holidays. She is going up to the Cities to her fiance's grandparents for lunch and then they are coming back to Mankato to have supper with us. My son has football practice at 5:00 so my wife, me, and him are eating our Thanksgiving at lunch. Then we are doing appetizers with my daughter and her fiance' after my son's practice and play some jackbox games for some fun.

We were possibly going to Iowa but those plans were fluid with how Mankato West did in the football playoffs. I will admit that I am fine with not traveling to the in-laws and watching my son and his teammates play football is much more fun.

Heading to my mom's on Thursday with my daughters. My bride needs to stay home because she caught my head cold from last week. I love Thanksgiving at mom's. When I see and smell the cranberry relish, cooked carrots, and dressing, it turns me back into a 10 year old kid. Turkey? Who cares .

There is a group of kids in my neighborhood who play football EVERY day. They are all 10-11 years old and they don't take a day off. Today it is 44 degrees with a 15 mph wind and most of them are in short sleeves. Love it!

Reminds me on my childhood.

My boys on the other hand never seem to leave the house, but that may be due to how much time they are at the rink/soccer fields. I wish they'd join this group, but I can't blame them too much.