Click HERE to view Gridiron.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
University of Kansas Clapping Class
Hawk fans will be unable to refer to GT fans as nerds after this...
Go Jackets!
Go Jackets!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Warranty World - Lessons in Car Warranties
Our three year standard warranty on our 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee is expiring soon. About 6 months ago the letters started coming alerting us to this fact and offering us special limited time offers on warranty extensions.
Notice how it is made to look like it is official - straight from Chrysler/Dealer. Dial these yahoos up however and you are talking with someone in St. Louis about your warranty.
Here is a sampling of the offers I received from these guys.
1. Warranty through 2015 or 75K miles (whichever comes first) for $3144
2. Warranty through 2014 or 60K miles (whichever comes first) for $2749
Additionally - the above offers had $100 deductibles associated with each claim.
Fortunately - we also received a real post card from Chrysler proper.
They made me two offers that were substantially better deals.
1. Warranty through forever or infinite miles for $3025 (not transferable)
2. Warranty through 2014 or 60K miles (whichever comes first) for $1250
These also included the $100 deductible. We chose the $1250 option and capitalized on the fact that Jack's Uncle Dermot works at Chrysler to reduce the cost down to ~$1000.
My lessons learned - don't deal with the dealer at all on warranties. Not at the beginning when you buy the car or anytime thereafter... if you want an extended warranty then buy it straight from the manufacturer sometime close to when you need it. You'll then know how the car has performed and have details on mileage, driving, etc.
Notice how it is made to look like it is official - straight from Chrysler/Dealer. Dial these yahoos up however and you are talking with someone in St. Louis about your warranty.
Here is a sampling of the offers I received from these guys.
1. Warranty through 2015 or 75K miles (whichever comes first) for $3144
2. Warranty through 2014 or 60K miles (whichever comes first) for $2749
Additionally - the above offers had $100 deductibles associated with each claim.
Fortunately - we also received a real post card from Chrysler proper.
They made me two offers that were substantially better deals.
1. Warranty through forever or infinite miles for $3025 (not transferable)
2. Warranty through 2014 or 60K miles (whichever comes first) for $1250
These also included the $100 deductible. We chose the $1250 option and capitalized on the fact that Jack's Uncle Dermot works at Chrysler to reduce the cost down to ~$1000.
My lessons learned - don't deal with the dealer at all on warranties. Not at the beginning when you buy the car or anytime thereafter... if you want an extended warranty then buy it straight from the manufacturer sometime close to when you need it. You'll then know how the car has performed and have details on mileage, driving, etc.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Project River Rock
We had become fed up with our front yard landscaping. The bark and mulch that I would dump on each Summer would deteriorate by the next season causing me to go out and buy more. Weeds popped through. Grass grew. It was a mess without defined boundaries. To resolve this problem, we bought 150 interconnecting edging stones, and ordered two tons of river rock. I placed the edging stones over the past week. Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. the man in the dump truck came and dumped the river rock. We finished shoveling it into place at about 1:30 p.m.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Almond Milk...cows shouldn't go anywhere
You keep reading about the health benefits of almond milk so I picked up a box of the stuff at the grocery store up in Michigan.
As you can see, I went chocolate in hopes of getting others to try it. My take - can't really tell the difference between this and any other kind of chocolate milk. Here's the problem - when you ask people if they'd like to have a glass of almond milk they look at you funny and politely decline.
Next I'll like for unflavored almond milk and see how it does with cereal. I did notice it is loaded down with vitamin E, potassium and magnesium.
As you can see, I went chocolate in hopes of getting others to try it. My take - can't really tell the difference between this and any other kind of chocolate milk. Here's the problem - when you ask people if they'd like to have a glass of almond milk they look at you funny and politely decline.
Next I'll like for unflavored almond milk and see how it does with cereal. I did notice it is loaded down with vitamin E, potassium and magnesium.
Monday, August 16, 2010
The BLT (Bear Lake Tavern) Run
We did the Bear Lake Tavern run while in Michigan...not a typical run, the trip to Bear Lake tavern happens via wave-runners and involves three lakes. Here's the high level route:
The hard part of the run is the part through Lake Michigan. It was fairly windy so there were 4-5' waves to contend with. It is about 12 miles in length and when you are arrive you are definitely ready to down some 'cakes for breakfast. You are also completely soaked.
Here I am with two of the regulars: Marty Skinner and Larry DeYoung.
And here is Rick heading out of Muskegon lake back to Lake Michigan.
The hard part of the run is the part through Lake Michigan. It was fairly windy so there were 4-5' waves to contend with. It is about 12 miles in length and when you are arrive you are definitely ready to down some 'cakes for breakfast. You are also completely soaked.
Here I am with two of the regulars: Marty Skinner and Larry DeYoung.
And here is Rick heading out of Muskegon lake back to Lake Michigan.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Jack's Third Birthday Videos!
Here are some videos from Jack's 3rd Birthday party. He was in a great mood and had lots of fun with his friends.
Here he rides around "Flinstone style" and then hops on a ball.
Zipline!
Ball Time!
Here he rides around "Flinstone style" and then hops on a ball.
Zipline!
Ball Time!
Monday, August 09, 2010
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Adventures in Snapple
I've been drinking some Snapple lately. On Donald Trump's reality show "Celebrity Apprentice", one of the challenges was to create a new flavor of Snapple. Two of the flavors were considered good enough to produce and sell. Erin watches the show, so I was familiar enough with them to recognize them on the store shelf.
The best of the two flavors is called "Trop*a*Rocka. It was created by rock star Bret Michaels. It's a good tasting diet tea with tropical fruit flavors.
The least of the new flavors is called "Compassionberry". It was created by someone named Holly Robinson Peete. I'm not sure why she's a celebrity. The tea is sweetened with sugar and has some berry flavors. To me, it tasted like normal sweetened tea mixed with Kool-aid.
The other reason I've been drinking the occasional Snapple lately is because I can get it really cheaply. You can now find 16 ounce cans of Snapple (instead of a bottle) for only 79¢. The 79¢ price is printed right on the can. That's already a good price for a convenience store beverage. But I also noticed stacks of a 50¢ off coupon in stores near the Snapple cooler. The coupon clearly says it is good on any 16 ounce Snapple. I presented the coupon with the 79¢ can of Snapple. The clerk was somewhat confused by this. She thought maybe the coupon could only be used on bottles of Snapple. Ultimately, however, she could not argue with the clarity of the printed language, and I walked out with a 29¢ can of Snapple.
The best of the two flavors is called "Trop*a*Rocka. It was created by rock star Bret Michaels. It's a good tasting diet tea with tropical fruit flavors.
The least of the new flavors is called "Compassionberry". It was created by someone named Holly Robinson Peete. I'm not sure why she's a celebrity. The tea is sweetened with sugar and has some berry flavors. To me, it tasted like normal sweetened tea mixed with Kool-aid.
The other reason I've been drinking the occasional Snapple lately is because I can get it really cheaply. You can now find 16 ounce cans of Snapple (instead of a bottle) for only 79¢. The 79¢ price is printed right on the can. That's already a good price for a convenience store beverage. But I also noticed stacks of a 50¢ off coupon in stores near the Snapple cooler. The coupon clearly says it is good on any 16 ounce Snapple. I presented the coupon with the 79¢ can of Snapple. The clerk was somewhat confused by this. She thought maybe the coupon could only be used on bottles of Snapple. Ultimately, however, she could not argue with the clarity of the printed language, and I walked out with a 29¢ can of Snapple.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Texas Considering Several New License Plates including...
This one for Husker fans in the state:
and this one for the local Hog fans:
and this one for the local Hog fans:
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Clearance KU at Old Navy
Ran across a pretty cool KU shirt for ~$5 at Old Navy the other day. Had already scored a clearance Michigan shirt a few months prior. Sadly - GT doesn't seem to be cool enough to merit an Old Navy tee.
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Visitor Location Details
