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ejm009 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 2:16 pm Picacho Peak State Park and Mount Lemon are popular with hikers.

Climbing to the top of Picacho Peak is one of my most memorable hikes. But it should not be attempted by inexperienced hikers or those that are afraid of heights.

Sometimes a small stone can get caught in the brake system. Try driving in reverse and see if the sound changes.

TarHeel2002 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 2:29 pm It is a vehicle service agreement. 8 year 125k didn’t seem too bad to me either considering I’m hanging into this car long term. Do I really have until 3 yr 36k to decide? That’s great

Yes, you have 3 years/36k to decide.

This is the quote I got for a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. A Seinna shouldn't be much different. Everything was handled via email and credit card.

Toyota Extra Care, Platinum coverage with $0 deductible: 8 yrs. / 125K - $1505.00

Is it a warranty or a vehicle service agreement? Generally, VSAs do not cover everything that the original warranty covers. And if it is a VSA then you can probably save half the $2895 cost by purchasing it online from a dealer that discounts VSAs. Toyota of Greenfield, MA was one such dealer. And you have until 36,000 miles to decide if you still think you need this.

OpenMinded1 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:03 am

Striker wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:00 am Make that 2025.
https://www.21cpw.com/usps-postal-servi ... s-in-2025/

Thanks. Hadn't heard about that. I'll have to look into it. I wonder what the rationale is. Seems like it would raise rates because group size will be reduced.

Supposedly this will reduce the costs for Postal retirees/employees and the Postal Service as a whole, without a reduction in benefits. I'll believe it when I see it.

Is the fan blade assembly loose on the shaft? This was the cause of my noisy bathroom fan.

If you don't mind your stuff becoming mouse infested and you don't mind rent increases every few months, then self-storage is the way to go.

It appears that you need a drone with an obstacle avoidance function. Even my cheap DJI Spark has this.

White Oak wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 10:53 pm

shunkman wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 6:54 pm

White Oak wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 6:16 pm A few ideas:

Sight and Sound Theater

Shady Maple Smorgasbord

Hershey Park isn't too far

Shopping at the Rockvale outlets

The Rockvale outlets are in a severe decline.

Okay, it has been a while since I've been there. Are the Tanger Outlets also in decline?

No, the Tanger Outlets seem to be doing much better.

White Oak wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 6:16 pm A few ideas:

Sight and Sound Theater

Shady Maple Smorgasbord

Hershey Park isn't too far

Shopping at the Rockvale outlets

The Rockvale outlets are in a severe decline.

* Visit Lititz which is a walkable historic small town with many nice restaurants and shops

* Ephrata Cloister

* Great hiking and biking opportunities along the Susquehanna River

* Visit the "The Amish Farm and House" just down the road from Dutch Wonderland

Outdoor cat Outdoor cats kill all kinds of other wildlife too such as birds that help keep insects under control. They also don't live as long (the cat). Around here a Great Horned Owl can easily take a cat. Not to mention cars. We would have like to have an indoor cat. However, she has insistently destroyed screens to provide herself with outdoor access. We relented, and put in a pet door to avoid continued damage. She's 17 and quite healthy despite being outside in an area with hawks and coyotes. However, there aren't rabbits around here because she kills the babies any time they have some. The neighbors are quite pleased with her efforts. In my neighborhood the roaming cats are much more likely to be targets than the rabbits might be.

coolasadog wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 1:43 pm Maybe not possible in a tract house neighborhood, but a well calibrated pellet gun will take care of things.

I live where neighbors are further apart. They seem to get the picture after a few kills. Once or twice each spring usually delivers the message.

This could be a violation of State game laws.

bwalling wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 11:13 am Outdoor cat

Outdoor cats kill all kinds of other wildlife too such as birds that help keep insects under control.

Other than wild birds, rabbits are one of the few wild animals that I don't mind hanging out in my yard. They are entertaining to watch especially when they are chasing other rabbits around. And they might actually help you control the clover in your yard.

I believe that if you purchase your HAs at Costco they would be insured against loss or damage for two years at no additional cost

This sounds like a phishing scam to me.

I'm a casual rider and the metrics I'm interested in are current speed, ride duration, and average speed on current ride. I just use one of the simple Cat Eye bike computers on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cat+eye+bike+computer&crid=3UR02UFZRW0UH&sprefix=cat+eye+bike+computer%2Caps%2C140&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 I generally don't spend over over $40 on one and they usually last 3 - 5 years. The best known IOS bike app is Strava. It has limited free features and I generally object to monthly fees. My DW's cell phone interferes with her wireless Cat Eye bike computer. She has to keep her phone a couple of feet away from her Cat Eye. This is something to keep in mind if one intends to mount their phone on their bike's handlebar. I do...

After my first season last year I was recommended to get a bike computer. Here’s one that is a potential: Help me decide on this product: Limited-time deal: Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V1 GPS Cycling/Bike Computer https://a.co/d/1F6Zz4Q I still don’t really get how this will help me? Let’s me know my power? Helps me how on those dredded hills? I want to bike at least as much this year given the holiday pounds I’ve gained :(. Hopefully aim for imperial century after my first metric hundred last year. So, advice on biking computers please? Now, I also am interested in an Apple Watch to pair with my iPhone 13 Pro max. Can the watch, or another watch, not also help with bike computer stuff? Note: I’ve been waiting for a while for Apple to get blood pres...

Cars can often rust MORE (in climates such as MA) when stored nightly in a warm garage.

TLC1957 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:37 pm

shunkman wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:12 pm My lawyer told me to never put ANYTHING in a safe deposit box.

Do you mean in a bank or your home? Where did they suggest you store important documents?

He said don't use BANK safe deposit boxes. He suggested using a fire-resistant lock box at home. And his law office securely stores notarized copies of my Will, POA, etc. My other important documents can be reproduced without too much effort. Also, if one dies, valuables stored in safe deposit boxes are subject to State laws pertaining to probate, inheritance taxation, etc.

My lawyer told me to never put ANYTHING in a safe deposit box.

Did you try using PA's online application for state tax filing? It is free and has worked well for me.

For work, I traveled often between PA and Greensboro NC. My employer allowed me to fly at their cost or drive a company car. Mostly I chose to drive due to the hassles and delays of flying. And a few times I took my bicycle along for afterwork recreation.

A professional quality pipe camera will include a transmitter locator.

Can you access it easier from the back?

On a Toyota Rav4 hybrid, just apply the accelerator pedal to activate the internal combustion engine and the pedestrian backup warning will remain silent.

You might have better luck calling OPM for help with these issues.

Our HOA's standard replacement shingle is the GAF Timberline HDZ. We have had no complaints from any homeowners. Look for a contractor with GAF's "MASTER ELITE" status.

I have seen pet urine stains that look like this. Do the stains have an odor?

Do you still need a raised platform for the water heater? I believe that modern gas water heaters are no longer required to be raised off of the garage floor. Maybe this would reduce the replacement cost?

If they are using the US Mail and it seems to be a fraud, then report this to the USPS Postal Inspectors (law enforcement arm of the Postal Service). Mail fraud is a serious federal offense.

MtnTravel wrote: ↑Sun Jan 15, 2023 8:49 am

shunkman wrote: ↑Sun Jan 15, 2023 7:49 am We have a regional airport a couple of miles away from our home and our bedroom faces the airport. We use cellular shades and heavy room darkening curtains. This helps some. Using a sound machine is what we found helps the most.

Do you have the single or double cell? We have single-cell cellular shades throughout the house, except for this one high window in the master, and don't seem to have a noise problem (other than the regular city noises) anywhere else. The double cell shades are nearly twice the cost. I'm willing to pay if it makes a noticeable difference.

Our blinds are only single cell with a foil interior.

We have a regional airport a couple of miles away from our home and our bedroom faces the airport. We use cellular shades and heavy room darkening curtains. This helps some. Using a sound machine is what we found helps the most.

Today, the USPS OCR technology can read just about any font and even most handwriting. The preferred address should go on the line right above the city/state/zipcode.

I was once gifted a gift card for a restaurant that I never would have visited otherwise. We ordered a big expensive meal and when it came time to pay I was told the gift card had a zero balance. I never told the elderly person that gave me the card.

AQ wrote: ↑Wed Jan 04, 2023 6:35 pm

shunkman wrote: ↑Wed Jan 04, 2023 4:05 pm Sometimes a "roof leak" is just a leaking rubber boot around a vent pipe. I had one fail after about 15 years.

The leak comes out of an air vent. So I wonder if something is similar here? I climbed up to the attic, but there are a lot of insulation materials there, and I couldn't see the floor clearly. I am concerned either falling down on a weak spot, or accidentally step on an electric line, so I haven't located the exact leaking spot yet.

Another issue that I have experienced with plumbing roof vents is that during construction, the plumber failed to glue the PVC roof vent piping in a couple of places allowing water to leak out of the pipe joints during heavy rains.

Sometimes a "roof leak" is just a leaking rubber boot around a vent pipe. I had one fail after about 15 years.

Another consideration is possible bacteria growth in the water heater if the temperature is set lower for vacation mode. Maybe this is more of a problem with on-site well water than it is with a chlorinated public water supply. We recently discovered this the hard way at our getaway cabin. The water temperature needs to be set at 140-160 degrees to kill or prevent bacteria.

There is no harm that I know of. Turning off the supply does not drain the water heater and if there is no supply water pressure, there will be no feed water pressure.

Atlantic City

I rolled my TSP over to VG (BND, VOO, VXUS) but retained about 20% in the G fund.

sqw12 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:40 am

shunkman wrote: ↑Sun Dec 11, 2022 5:53 pm Dead mouse. Been there done that.

Yes, I do wonder if it's a dead mouse. I heard some pitter patter in that area a few weeks ago, but nothing since. I'm inclined to get one of those endoscopes to take a look. Question: I suppose I can't just leave the mouse there, right? Probably a dumb question, but figured I'd ask.

We have a constant battle with mice in the attic of our cabin. If an odor does develop it is usually gone within a week or so. I don't think you necessarily need to remove the dead mouse but do whatever you can to prevent more mice. We use poison because there are not many other good options with our cabin being unoccupied for extended periods.

Dead mouse. Been there done that.

I'm another potential Sienna owner that has been waiting for the new car market to stabilize. Siennas in particular are in short supply. I am going to keep waiting.

As a TSP investor since the day of its inception, I don't understand your question.

Blue456 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 7:31 pm Unfortunately, our house was built with major pipes located on the outside walls. We are very worried about these pipes freezing.

This is a code violation in many areas. One you get your furnace running again you may want to investigate relocating these pipes

My parents were divorced in the 1980s. My mother remarried but that marriage ended too. When my re-married father passed away recently the SSA contacted my mother by mail and said she may be eligible for additional benefits. She will now be getting about $200 more per month based on my father's earnings and survivor benefits.

It sounds like maybe you need a dehumidifier. What is the humidity level in your basement? We keep a ceiling fan running 24/7 and a dehumidifier set to 50% all year in our below-grade family room.

I prefer Costco's pecans.