How are you all killing time (if you're able)?

[FrancisZ]

In the summer time, frequently I am stuck looking for odd jobs. So far, I've been teaching summer school; and, starting in August, will be tutoring on Friday's. But in the meantime...

Can I work in a shameless plug here? I've been working on one of those "Hubpages" for fun, and also for profit (potentially...though probably not realistically). Just some minor car maintenance stuff I've wanted to share with the rest of the world. It's free; and I left space for comments if you find me either cool, or grossly inaccurate and ought to be corrected.

http://hubpages.com/hub/My-Personal-History-with-General-Motors-Cars But seriously...

How are you managing in the off season. I teach during the year, and almost never get paid in the summer, so I can't take a vacation. How do you pass the time? So far, I've made 2 1000-piece puzzles, repaired some things about the house, and have been mowing my lawn down to mud. Also, lately, it seems like it's been "Francis versus the Ants, and other household pests!"

I'm thinking of getting another job also--because, apparently, two just isn't enough to survive in this day and age.

 

[FrancisZ]

I made another Hub. Please, give it gander.

http://hubpages.com/hub/WARNING-Read-Your-Labels

 

[Pythagorean]

Research and playing with baby and outdoors (hiking canoeing)

sometimes all three at once!

 

[FrancisZ]

Research and playing with baby and outdoors (hiking canoeing)

sometimes all three at once!

Well, "Little Albert" I pray your baby is not.

 

[zomgwtf]

This summer me and my friends have gone exploring places mostly that have historical stories around them or are 'haunted'. It's pretty fun we're normally go out at like 10pm get back home at 4am.

During the day time I go biking or play tennis... sometimes me and my one friend go around the GTA looking for new nice areas to take pictures as he got a new camera. There's lots to do so little time! I still want to go golfing and paintballing and stuff too!

 

[FrancisZ]

This summer me and my friends have gone exploring places mostly that have historical stories around them or are 'haunted'. It's pretty fun we're normally go out at like 10pm get back home at 4am.

During the day time I go biking or play tennis... sometimes me and my one friend go around the GTA looking for new nice areas to take pictures as he got a new camera. There's lots to do so little time! I still want to go golfing and paintballing and stuff too!

Sounds intriguing. I'm usually up for a quick fright...except if it involves locking me in a closet (*eyes shift from side-to-side*). I'd really hate that. :)

 

[Pythagorean]

Well, "Little Albert" I pray your baby is not.

Haha, no, bit I successfully performed the Meltzoff experiment when she was first born.

 

[turbo]

Planting and tending my garden, stacking firewood, sawing big pine and poplar logs into boards and framing lumber with my neighbor. Other chores, as necessary. Just bought a Husqvarna brush-cutter/trimmer today to maintain the property and cut new growth on the roads into my wood-lot.

 

[Pythagorean]

I felled for my first tree with a husqy. And ran away like a little girl as it came down in the opposite direction.

 

[turbo]

My chain saw is a ~30 year old Husqvarna Rancher (actually it was an earlier model that was re-branded as the Rancher a couple of years later). I have felled and bucked up countless cords of firewood with that, and the only repair has been for a fuel line that rotted.

 

[Pythagorean]

My chain saw is a ~30 year old Husqvarna Rancher (actually it was an earlier model that was re-branded as the Rancher a couple of years later). I have felled and bucked up countless cords of firewood with that, and the only repair has been for a fuel line that rotted.

I forgot what mine was, some number. It just needed a new spark plug and fuel filter and some mixture adjustments when I got it. It hadn't been cleaned very well and the chain lock mechanism had worn away, but it did the trick.

 

[turbo]

Mine is a model 61 (61.5 cc). I misspoke about the Rancher - just looked it up and it has only 48.5 cc displacement - probably meant for occasional use by homeowners.

 

[FrancisZ]

Well, after many years of disappointing weed-wackers, of various brands and models: I've finally decided to suck it up and buy a battery operated one.

I purchased this one from Home Depot: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YK4UZ0/?tag=pfamazon01-20

And honestly: the sheer forcefulness of it is perfectly fine, in comparison to a gas trimmer; it just doesn't last very long. If you get one also, I highly recommend buying a second battery and the 2-hour charger (versus the lousy 9-hour one that comes with the wacker in the box).

Black & Decker, while not usually my favorite company (for a lot of reasons), has made a pretty decent trimmer in this particular model. You won't have to tether yourself to an electrical outlet; and it doesn't vibrate or deafen like the typical gas trimmer would (nor does it pollute the air immediately around you--yuck!).

I've had so many weed-wackers in my life. And somehow, even despite my best efforts to maintenance them, they always seem to break. I can't keep one past a single season--and I always take the fluids out! If it isn't aggravating you with the darn wacking twine, then it's the awful pull-start string (which eventually, always snaps).

The weed-wacker is without a doubt my least favorite "modern convenience."

 

[turbo]

My New Husqvarna brush-cutter/weed whacker is a keeper. Very robust with a nice clean (and quiet) 40cc 4-stroke engine. It came with a variety of cutters and guards, including a tree saw, a grass and weed saw, and a string trimmer.

My little Echo trimmer beats me to death. I have too much steep terrain to whack, so a nice heavy straight-shaft trimmer with a double shoulder-harness fits the bill.

 

[dlgoff]

...so a nice heavy straight-shaft trimmer with a double shoulder-harness fits the bill.

That reminds me of the time I was killing time cutting out some old black berry canes with a trimmer like that. Cut through a big clump of grass/bumble bee nest. Did you know you shouldn't run from bumble bees?

 

[turbo]

That reminds me of the time I was killing time cutting out some old black berry canes with a trimmer like that. Cut through a big clump of grass/bumble bee nest. Did you know you shouldn't run from bumble bees?

Yep! But you MUST run from white-faced hornets. They will chase you for miles, but they will only bump you and not sting you if you keep running fast. When they sting, you are in a world of hurt!

 

[dlgoff]

I can believe that turbo. I was chased around a city block by just a bunch of honey bees.

I was in a world of hurt from the bumble bee stings. A friend had to take me to the ER.

 

[turbo]

Bumble bees are passive. If they are riled up and you do not exhibit evasive or aggressive behaviors, they will not hurt you. They are the best pollinators in my garden right now, and I can move squash and cucumber vines to train them to my cattle-panel fences with no fear of getting stung. They are busy critters and they adapt to my changes with no aggression.

 

[Pattonias]

Way more Jiu-Jitsu than I should. I have been practicing for about six months and for the last two months or so our school has had a lot of really experienced JiuJitsu and grappling students come in. All of the sudden the progress I thought I had made melted away and I quickly discovered that I have about the skill necessary to be a effective training dummy. I spend a great deal of time being sore and reflecting on being sore.

I love it though and eventually I hope that I can give these guys a run for their money. I really love martial arts and I hope that I always will. I wouldn't mind being that 85 year old man who still gets out there and rolls around. My grandfather is still at it. Although these days he concentrates more on teaching TaiChi.

 

[dlgoff]

Way more Jiu-Jitsu than I should. I have been practicing for about six months and for the last two months or so our school has had a lot of really experienced JiuJitsu and grappling students come in. All of the sudden the progress I thought I had made melted away and I quickly discovered that I have about the skill necessary to be a effective training dummy. I spend a great deal of time being sore and reflecting on being sore.

I love it though and eventually I hope that I can give these guys a run for their money. I really love martial arts and I hope that I always will. I wouldn't mind being that 85 year old man who still gets out there and rolls around. My grandfather is still at it. Although these days he concentrates more on teaching TaiChi.

One of the tenants of Tae Kwon Do is:

Indomitable Spirit: To have courage in the face of adversity. A Taekwondo student should never be dominated by, or have his spirit broken by another.

My daughter managed to stick with Tae Kwon Do for more than 10 years and has black belts in two styles; 2nd in traditional and 3rd in songahm (ATA).

 

[FrancisZ]

Bumble bees are passive. If they are riled up and you do not exhibit evasive or aggressive behaviors, they will not hurt you. They are the best pollinators in my garden right now, and I can move squash and cucumber vines to train them to my cattle-panel fences with no fear of getting stung. They are busy critters and they adapt to my changes with no aggression.

You've a real green thumb, don't you Turbo.