These are a few of my favorite things...

Every once in a while, I get down in the dumps (for what ever reason). When it gets to be a little too much, I make lists. Lists of things that I like.

I take this list and use it for two reasons. First and foremost, to remind myself that things really aren't that bad and to snap out of it, and second, to use the list as sort of a snapshot of where I am in life. Something I can look back on and smile at.

I just make a list, with no description. Generally I keep them to myself, but I figured what the heck.

So, here is a list.

New socks
Canvas tool bags
Hammers
New Balance shoes
Old hardback books
Wooden pews
Blue ink pens
Worn hand tools
Old dogs
New dogs
All dogs
Laserdisc
North West North Carolina
A smile
Little kid's "Why?"
Box fans
A handshake
Ponytails
SeaQuest
Wintergreen Life Savers
Old kitchens
Obsolete technology
Shortbread cookies
9V Batteries
NASA
80s SciFi/Fantasy movies
Boston Terriers
Mint Chocolate chip ice cream
The Golden Girls
Summer Storms

YouTube Discovery

I enjoy YouTube

I watch it a lot. Ask my wife.


I think, at it's core, YouTube is a great place. As with anything there are goods and bads, but I want to focus on the good. There are a few channels I really enjoy, and I though I'd share a few of them.

Ill break them down into categories for you, however a few of the channels bleed into one another. There are other channels I watch, but these are my favorite.

Give them a look.

People/Life/Vlogs

Casey Neistat - I have followed him for years. Very creative person, who shares his daily life in New York, as a creator. Beautifully put together videos. Well filmed and edited. Almost daily uploads. Semi inspirational. Very random, and I like it.

AvE - A Canadian with a horrible mouth. He has an incredible amount of knowledge. He tears all kinds of things apart, tells you why they work (or don't), and then puts them back together and tests them to see if they can do what they say they can. Performs other tests as well. Very mechanical/shop oriented channel. Skookem.

Hamish Patterson - This guy is a wonder. Kind of an inspirational/good vibes guy. Californian who tries to stay with the high frequencies. Also can teach you proper bowl cut maintenance. Channel is more of a personal vlog.

Wranglerstar - Homesteading Vlog. I originally stated watching this guy for his review and usage of old tools. He does some woodworking, and other homestead like things. While he still does this, he has slowly turned his channel into a semi inspirational/life coachy/opinion vlog. He mimics Casey Neistat's form a lot, and it drives me crazy. He also has starting using click bait titles, which annoy me as well.

Makers/Repairs/Tinkerers

Cooking with Shotgun Red - Random cooking channel I stumbled across. I think I've seen this guy before, but cant place it. Cooks food you want to eat. Full recipes.

Jimmy Diresta - This guys is awesome. He makes things. All kinds of things.

Primitive Technology - Very interesting channel. Young man builds huts and homes, and all the things primitive man would. He does not use anything but what nature gives him. He has built forges, weapons, tools, all kinds of things. He only posts once or twice a month. Also, he never talks. Turn Closed Captions on because that's where he does his commentary. Real life Minecraft.

Project Farm - Just subscribed to this channel. This guys tests a lot of myths car/mechanical guys toss around. He test things like the effects of certain motor oils and additives, whether or not Seafoam works, and other things like that.

This Old House - It's This Old House. Lots of videos on home repair and home improvement.

Cars/Automotive/Motorsports

84hachi - Guys has an 1984 Toyota Corolla SR5 (Non 4AGE) He works on it. I like him because he did not go the typical 4AGE route, but instead decided to work with what he had. He is currently doing a side draft carb build. He kinda sounds like Strong Sad.

Cars and Cameras - a karting channel. "It'll be fine". Where I get a lot of inspiration from with my go karts.

Donut Media - Videos on the history of certain cars (Always funny and over the top). Also take the time to explain how certain things on cars work.

Jafromobile - This guy builds DSMs. While he sticks to the 4G63 engine, his approach to building and modding is amazing, and can be applied to any engine build. Very detail oriented. He hand builds all his engines, and has an old school way of doing them.

Mighty Car Mods - It's MCM. I have been with them since episode 1. An Australian car show, that originally started with basic DIY car mods, they have since moved to bigger builds. They still throw in a DIY episode here or there. They occasionally make short movies as well. I love them so much I have purchased DVDs of their free YouTube videos.

Regular Cars - an interesting car review show. As the title suggests, they review cars. Mostly regular cars. However, sometimes the episodes can get... perverted/weird. Think a "Ren and Stimpy" car review show.
 
Sloppy Mechanics - Take a 100+ k mile GM 6.0 out of a Van in a junkyard, reuse every part you can, and add a Chinese turbo. Get 1000 WHEEL horsepower. That's pretty much it. This guy takes the most homebrew DIY cheap methods he can to make as much HP as he can, and shows you how you can too.

Tom's Turbo Garage - another car building show. This guy's attention to detail is OCD like. It actually annoys me quite a bit. BUT. He builds some awesome cars. V8 Miata, Galant VR4, and others. He hasn't posted in awhile, but there are plenty of videos to watch.

Other/Entertainment

Air Force Proud 95 - a pilot in real life who plays Microsoft Flight Simulator. He messes with people. It's funny. Sometimes he vlogs while flying to local airports.

Bill Wurtz - he makes weird music videos. Very catchy, amazing, weird music videos.

First We Feast - Food oriented. They make other videos, but the main thing I watch is the "Hot Ones" videos. They make hot wings that range from mild to insane heat, and sit down with notable people and interview them while eating them. It's a pretty great show.

Hydraulic Press Channel - this channel takes things an squishes them with an industrial press. If you fold paper more than 7 times it EXPLODES.

Seth Everman - pretty funny guy that plays the piano.

Skippy62able (LA Beast) - a nonsense channel where the LA BEAST trys to eat  and drink things you shouldn't, or in quantities you shouldn't. Food challenges and other things. Pure gold entertainment.

Videogame Dunkey - hilarious reviews and opinions on videogames.

Musical Monday 2

COUNTRY (AND COUNTRY-ISH)

Not going to waste any time here. Here are some of my favorite country songs.
Don't hate. Country is good.

Here are some of my favorite county/fringe country songs

Junk Post?

Same old same.

It's that time again, oncall. (EDIT: I wrote this before I went oncall. It's over now, and I dont want to rewrite the whole thing.)
So far so good, but we are just 2 days into. Anything good happens I'll let you know.

Day to day life has been average, random at best.

Been tinkering around the garage. Going to use this week to tidy up my side, and start working on the go karts. I need to tighten down the Jegs kart, and get some wheels on it. The neighbor bought some weird looking off road kart, and now the oldest son really wants to get on a kart. KART BATTLE.

I'm going to start working on my second 212 engine, get all the "Stage 3" parts in it, and get that on the other kart frame.

Trying to keep the Passat clean now that its in the garage, and I'm remembering why I hate black cars. They only look good from 20 feet.

In preparation for next hurricane season, I purchased a generator from Harbor Freight. Their 8750/7500W Predator.

My in-laws let me borrow their generator last year, when the power was out for a day or two. It was a great help, so I figured we'd get one ourselves.  It's sized decently, and I think it will power pretty much what ever we need. I plan on hooking it up to the home through a interconnect breaker.

I need to do some electrical math and add up what I think the demand will be for us. I don't plan on having the generator run everything in the house, but all bedrooms and the refrigerator should be fine.
Eventually I am going to see if it can handle the HVAC system solo, but worst case I'll buy a window unit for one of the bedrooms, and we will hunker down in their as a family on hot nights.

Oncall Catch Up

Had a couple of main breaks, and a lot of little stuff. Nothing too bad. As I type it's 8PM on Sunday, just a few more hours to go.

Main break in Lake Asbury

This one was in OP. 

So... That's it. More to follow. I guess.

Musical Monday

Moday's, for the most part, are horrible.
Music, for the most part, is good.
Lets take the two, combine, and find out what happens.

Every Monday, Ill be sharing a play list of music. This playlist will be themed. A certain subject, style, genre, decade, whatever.

FAIR WARNING
I dont usually listen to overly explicit music, but there might be some. Coming from a listening stand point, I usually just focus on instruments and the over all sound, and bleeps and cut outs drive me crazy. Just letting you know, while most of the music is PGish, there might be some hard PG13/Rs


NO MORE. MUSIC NOW.

This week I'm going to share some bass. Famous or funky bass lines, or just bass lines I like.
All the songs here I listen to because the bass.



A small, playlist. There are obviously a ton more, but these are a recent favorite.

BRO. COME ON.

sorry.

i'll try harder.




it's been tough.




the aspen is gone.

Pulled her out, and sent her off. 

Well, I put up a post in an Apsen/Volare Facebook group, and in one hour, she was spoken for. Gentleman came out and hauled it away. He plans on making it a daily driver. He has a few at his house, and was glad to take in another.

This, of course lead to a CLEANish GARAGE!

Bro there is another car in there now!

Some much room for activities.

I've got most of the garage set up the way I want now. Just some tidying up to do.
Plenty of room to work in the garage now.


Well, that's it for right now. I have another post already typed out that I will release tomorrow. Trying to get back in the groove again.

Captains Log : Seven - Old Habits Die Hard.

So...

It's been a minute. (Like almost a month!?)



Life has been hectic these past couple of weeks. Nothing too serious, just a lot all at once. Really took a hit with that oncall week, and just haven't been able to keep up ever since. I lost a 30 year battle with my neighbor over a giant oak tree. I wouldn't say lost, more like gave in after we both came to an agreement that I might not have wanted to take in the first place. Long story short, the tree was cut down. That's gotten me down in the dumps. Other than that, not too much has changed. Ill just try to get you guys up to date.

Go Karts: Acquired another kart. Like a legit kart! Helped my buddy out with some things, and he paid me in a kart frame! He and his kids race dirt ovals, so it's set up for that. I haven't really had a chance to work on anything, but that leads me to my next thing.

Tires are wider on one side, for all the sweet turning action on a dirt oval.

The Aspen: Well, I've finally decided to let it go. My garage is at maximum capacity, and there is now zero room to do anything. I am heavily attached to the Aspen, as it was my Great Grandpa's, and the starting point for my automotive interests. However, the time has come to let it go. I was adamant to not just scrap it, as even though it's not worth anything from a money standpoint, it does mean a great deal to me. I found a guy local who wants it, and plans on using everything he can off of it before it goes to scrap. Once it's gone, I can start work on the garage.

The Duke will live on in our hearts and our minds.

The Garage: As mentioned before, the garage is full. At one point in time, two cars fit in the garage. I worked out of it as well, doing small auto repair for friends and family, as well as bike repair for the local kids. I can't do any thing in it now. The two kart frames, as well as four bikes and two lawn mowers and a plethora of other things has turned the garage into a waste land of stuff. Once the Aspen is gone, I hope to replace the space it leaves with a small go kart garage and repair space. That would allow me to move all my tool chests and repair items to one side, and allow the wife to park her Passat in the garage.





That's pretty much it. There are a few other things going on right now that we might get into later.

• Disaster Relief tool bag has grown! Tool Showcase and Review to come!
• Good bye VW Rabbit? Selling of the Rabbit and it's (possibly) blasphemous replacement!?
• Campground Prep. Getting ready for camping and possible VW Passat prep for light towing.
• Yard Improvement. Its no secret I hate yard work. However, summer is upon us, and I have ideas!

Well, that wraps up this post, I have a few more set up for this week, and there is always the chance of a leak at work!