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Showing posts from May, 2009

The Nissan Leaf Gets a New Rear Axle

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Well, I finally have a salvage title for the 2013 Nissan LEAF (Actually I dont have the title yet, but I think they mail it to me. We are far from settled with the insurance company for sure. It has been six months since Angie was rear ended. The following chart shows a very sad and disturbing trend. Insurance companies aren't paying out. It should be criminal. I went shopping for a new rear axle so I can get the car driving again. The rear ended axle was so bent, the car couldn't move. The new one with no connecting bits was over a thousand dollars. The cheapest used ones I could find on ebay were over 500 dollars. I finally scored at a local used parts place for 95 dollars (removed) and with associated bits such as bearings, bushings, parts of the brakes. It took me a concentrated day with cancelled and moved meetings to get the axle replaced and the car running again. The accomplishment felt good. I am now configuring the car with tractor tires and other modifications t...
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Progress. I have some trim to finish inside and out. In the course of this project I had to monkey with the following connections through the wall: Main Power, 200 Amp Main phone line Outside electrical outlet Satellite TV connection Outside water spigot Numerous low voltage connections to barn 110 VAC line to road (2) main ground connections
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Saturday I went spent some time with Douglas and his new horse. I can't say I would jump to get a horse. But, I always think new experiences are a good idea. His horse is really nice and he has a great financial and care taking plan for it.
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Progress?
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I had an MRI of my foot. The achilles tendon is torn. I am getting around, but I have to be very careful. I am using the crutches a lot. If I am not careful I can rupture it then it has to be connected surgically. I expect to be in a splint boot for a number of weeks. With the boot I can safely apply pressure to the leg. I got the back field mowed. Every time it gets better. We will take hay off it this year. The Holder tractor mows about 4 acres an hour. It takes me a bit over 4 hours to get the field done. I seem to have run over a skunk with it or something. The smell is pretty well dissipated now, however. The project is to rebuild the basement wall this Memorial day weekend. I have two new swinging patio doors. They were not cheap. They set me back about 4200.00 bucks and took two months to arrive. It is in preparation for getting the decks done and the house finished.
"Courage is about seeing, feeling and knowing fear; taking steps forward only because it is the right thing to do." Charles Dowdell I have had a relapse with my Achilles tendon. I am on crutches again. This is a most curious injury. When I sleep it gets worse not better.
Here is a link (hopefully) of the Webcam of the Greene Airport where I take my flying instruction. About 3/4 of the way through the video you catch a glimpse of me turning the plane around for another take off and landing. I will be soloing soon. It has been a long time coming. Like most things it is a matter of sticking with something, living thru the ups and downs and just plain keep coming back. Video of Greene Airport
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The North Pole.
My Achilles tendon is much better. I was weaning myself off the crutches Friday. Today I am sore, but so much better. I still have the ankle brace on; the cripple part is gone. The emotional part of the injury was much worse than the physical part. It was the first time I had ever used crutches even though I had had some bad sprains over the years. With the sprains it was a matter of moving slower and deliberately. With the Achilles injury it has been a matter of getting around at all or not and a dependence on crutches. It was about 10 days. I heal fast, but I need to remember better.
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The recent news of the Swine Flu is a bit suspicious. I think there is a possibility that the news outbreak is a means to refocus attention of the Americans away from the recovering economy. I mean, it is especially suspect when I hear a public service message from the CDC recommending that you keep extra food and supplies on hand in case of a wider outbreak. Give me a break. A couple weeks worth of food will only stimulate the economy. It will not help you out in the event of a pandemic. If you think the Federal Govt. does not manipulate the news think again. I suspect more people in the US were killed by Lightning in the last couple of months rather than the Swine Flu. Don't believe everything you hear. All the world's a stage.