Grand Am Off Topic Thread

Now they are talking impeachment. Obama will definitely lay low for a long time. But who knows what the feds have. He did not get the hint when Ryan was imprisoned.

Now Obama wants Blagojevich to resign.

No they are saying that it was Jessie Jackson SR. that was the one buying the senate seat.

Just goes to show you give them a little power and they OD trying to pull some BS scam. I think our Gov. is the biggest crook in the USA.

Try and say that in China. :p

Lovin the snow ! :D

Now Sears is talking about filling for bankruptcy or just closing its doors. That would be a bigger blow to the economy, we are going to be really screwed if this happens. What about all the Craft mans tools I have, no more warranty. They are also talking that the real estate is going to take another big hit. This time it will be the commercial sector that will be hit. You think it is bad now just wait, every one is saying it is just a recession. I beg to differ we are in a depression, and it is going to get much deeper.

Now Sears is talking about filling for bankruptcy or just closing its doors. That would be a bigger blow to the economy, we are going to be really screwed if this happens. What about all the Craft mans tools I have, no more warranty. They are also talking that the real estate is going to take another big hit. This time it will be the commercial sector that will be hit. You think it is bad now just wait, every one is saying it is just a recession. I beg to differ we are in a depression, and it is going to get much deeper.


http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/It-Once-Had-Everything-But-Now-.html

I have a few Sears tools not realy worried about the warranty any more. Most of them I have I've given to my kids as they are cheaper then my other brands if lost or stolen.
As with Sears, didnt they just buy out Kmart ?

Yeah we are in a very deep recession, and a depression usualy does follow. :mad:

My business has doubled in the last couple months, if not tripled! A lot of new customers fixing thier autos instead of trading in or buying a new one, and that's good to me ! :D :thumbsup:

Weathers total crap up here, snow and freezing rain. Wished I could find some studded snow tires for the GT. :sly:

Be carefull out there my AF friends!

Nothing is happening here yet, the weather is calling for 12 inches. we will see if that happens. Just put on some snow chains and you should be ok.

lol yeah I found a pair of chains for my tower just in case we get a bunch of ice here.
Earlier this week every a$hhole in my county decided to drive into the ditches and fields. :shakehead Most were just stuck no damage, which kinda sucked on my part. I guess it could have been a busier week if that was the case. And just think its not even "officialy" winter. :(

To top that at lunch today I was driving the GT and my tensioner pulley exploded! Left me road side untill one of the guys at the shop finaly answered the phone, to come pick me up with the tower, what a week!!! :lol:

edit...

well I guess we might get a little snow.... or something.. :rolleyes:
http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=ilx&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=yes

Yeah I saw the northeast is getting some snow today! I somewhat miss it but not really at the same time. Xi Stranded in the Gt... :disappoin Well my aunt got partially stranded in her caddy the day after thanksgiving. She's had a SES light for a quite few months now... she knew what it was which is the catalytic converter. She didn't get it replaced since they wanted 1500 to replace it. So after a nice 250 mile round trip to visit her sister ( my mother) she got back and the car just wouldn't go anymore. it got all plugged up. Somehow she got it home, then to argue with the service tech at the dealer about bringing the car in. ( the moron told her they were too busy, she said too bad I'm bringing the car anyways) She finally got the car there ( only after about 2 hours of trying to get the car out of the driveway since she has to go up hill at 35-40 degree angle) Much to the dealers dislike they put an aftermarket cat in for 300 bucks. All fixed now! I guess it was time for an 2001 Caddy Deville with 150,000 miles on it.

So xeroinfinity are you ready for round 2. I had at least 3" of ice on my car and truck. At least the power did not go out here. There were some lines down around me. The weather is saying to get ready for more snow.

Yeah I had a some ice, probly 1/2-3/4" but most of it melted off Friday morning as it warmed up a little here.
Almost got up to 50 deg Friday then back down to freezing by dark. :screwy:

Now its like 5 deg here, -15 or more with the 20-30mph winds. I bet you folks north of me are even colder. :eek7:

I've had to deice my solar panels twice already and winter has just began. I keep thinking all this wind going to waste. I should invest in a wind turbine soon. :grinyes:

Be safe out there everyone and bundle up !!

It is -2 right now. I was looking into solar panels, to run the house complete I am looking at around $75 grand. That would run the complete house including both ac units in the summer.

Thats Cold !!

Yeah solar is still pricey. I paid about that(minus the 10k fed gov rebate) but I had a lot of batteries lead acid and 1 500watt inverter.
Several were damaged over the 4 years I had them so I traded them in and got a 40% return toward newer panels, which are more productive under low light. Now I have 2 500 watt inverters and lithium batteries.

I used to have them on my roof but it was hell getting up thier and clearing them in the winter. SO now I have the new ones on a huge pole that can rotate to track the sun. Its just manual right now but next spring I'm attaching a motor assembly which will auto track to maintain maximum power.

I was able to get another $10k rebate from the Fed Gov. it just makes my mad indiana doesnt offer any rebates or tax credits for alternative power. :mad:
I actual quit feeding the grid just this year. Why should my neighbors benefit from my $$$ :p

Wind turbines would be a great set up for you in the chicago area, its always windy there. I saw some 3-4KW turbines for $1200, you still would need batteries to store the power and the inverter(s) to run everything.

Which if everyone just bought a inverter or two and then lower the power coming in from the pole to 24vlts we'd save $1000's over a life time. Plus it would lower greenhouse gases and our petro suply would last longer.
:uhoh: I guess then no one would get so rich off or needs for power. :lol:

Looks like more freezing rain... better take a nap, its going to be another long night! :uhoh:

Be carefull on your Holiday travels everyone !

It has been snowing on and off all day. No freezing rain yet but that could change at any time.

i'm taken a break ! its ice hell here right now!! I cant believe how many people that are inverted in the ditches. I guess they shouldnt have been out driving. :lol:

Its supposed to warm up in the morning, I hope so ! :grinyes:

People are just plain dumb and should not be driving in this type of weather. I use the wife's Chevy truck 4X4. She has a Ford Explorer 4X4, that she drives to work now. I remember one year, I was doing field service I was on I55 on my way home. I am coming up to the I80 west bound exit. The van started going side ways. I got it under control. State police had around 20 squads, people were in the ditches and even upside down. People are always in too much of a hurry. It is always best to slow down and get home safe.

I just saw on the news that Sharper Image went belly up. All stores are closing and if you had a gift card you shit out of luck.

yeah thier are some idiots out there thats for sure. I like how the 4x4 guys think they can drive 50-60 mph on ice. :shakehead: What realy gets my goat is when I pull the same guy out of the ditch more then once per night. :angryfire Driving slow, is better then walking slow. At least I wasnt out all night towin.

lol at the gift cards! I dont do those anymore. You always seem to get left holding a card with money on it that has expired... :(

Well everyone have a Merry Christmas !

Should have charged the guy double.

Are you ready for the thunder storms on Saturday.

Should have charged the guy double. Well I didnt do that but when I got the second call out for him I went and do a fwe others first.
He had AAA so tow was free to him. I did mention it to his insurance agent that he was told by the Cops to stay home and off the icey roads.
The real problem/gripe was, the second time he was over 100 ft off in a field and my cable on my winch is only 100ft so I had to carefully drive out into the field. :mad:

On tomorrows storms I hope it misses me! I heard thunder christmas night about 7-8pm. Could have some tornadoes in those southern states. :yikes:

At least its friday !

I did not hear any thunder Christmas night. Tomorrow is is going to be in the 50's. So hopefully it will melt my driveway it is one big sheet of ice. The bastard snow plow driver piled the end of the drive with all the ice and slush. It is at least 3 feet high and completely frozen. It took me almost 3 hrs to get the mound of ice cleared from half of the end of driveway.

I hate it when they do that!
I used to live in town and they'd always do that with snow and or the slush which when frozen is hard as pavement!
I drove over some one time in my 97 GA years ago and I thought I broke the under panels or some major suspension parts.

Its been foggy here today, but in the uper 40's. Only about 100-150 ft of visibility all day. Its windy now so I think the fogs blowing away.

The fog has gotten worse, I can barely see my neighbor back porch light. I have a call in to the county's road commissioner's office. I injured my back in 2001 and have not been the same. I am paying for it now after doing the drive way.

I hope everyone has had a good christmas and holiday season so far! Just stay safe everyone through the new year!

The fog has gotten worse, I can barely see my neighbor back porch light. I have a call in to the county's road commissioner's office. I injured my back in 2001 and have not been the same. I am paying for it now after doing the drive way.
You should have waited for the ice all to melt ! Good Luck with the back thing ! I know my back goes out every now and again. I visit my chiropractor regularly. :grinyes:
Yeah the fog cleard out here and then rained and rained and rained. It was flooded everywhere around here, of course more towing. lol

I hope everyone has had a good christmas and holiday season so far! Just stay safe everyone through the new year!

Glad to see you stoped in grfnkl !
I forsee my next injury from playing Wii, other then that my holiday has been good.

So did every one get what they wanted for christmas ??

Oh and AF is functioning better these days.

Unfortunately the wife's explorer running boards were hitting the ice mound. I had no choice. Round 2 is going to be tomorrow. I am hoping that I will not have to get the rest. The neighbors screened in porch is toast, the wind got it before he got a chance to take canvas roof off. It is all ripped up.

Yeah it would suck more to rip off/loose the running boards.
I swear this weather... It was -20 last week, then xmas eve and christmas was in the 50's. Yesterday it was in the 60's here, thats T shirts with no coat weather and today its in the 30s.
Good thing , my yard and back drive was a mud pit! Which was fun on the ATV's and dirt bikes. :D

It was realy windy here yesterday too.
Just kept thinking about those dollar$ wasting away. :lol:

Be carefull out there everyone !

Plus I would never hear the end of it. My front and back yards are duck swimming ponds. Later in the week it is going to be in the mid fourties. The rest of the ice will finally melt.

Yeah I didnt tear up my yard or drive much. Keeping the kids off of it is another story. lol
We hav a nice wooded area next to my house where we have trails for riding.
I havnt had much time for riding myself. If this weather would just stay consistant, I'd have more free time to play. :D

Everyone have a great and safe new year(s)!

it's a lot quieter here now! :(

Happy new years everyone and hope you had a good xmas! constant ice storms here have made me drive my mom's Pontiac Torrent a hell of a lot more than my slidezilla fwd grand am lol :P

My front yard has several large holes in it from last night festivities.

I got so drunk new years eve, I dont even remember it. :D
Dont remember seeing the ball drop either but I know I was awake. :lol:

Yeah Vipey not much you can do on ice, besides skate. Unless you have chains or studed tires(which are illegal in Indiana).
I've pulled more SUV's inverted in the ditch then ever in one season! People just think they can drive normal 55-60mph on ice in thier 4x4's.

Btw doctorhrdware, how did you get all the holes ?
Explosive devices ?? :D :lol:

I have a chemistry background also.:lol2: :grinyes:

I know I had a few morters from the fourth, but I dont remember them either.

I remember hot chicks were crashed on my cooch. :grinyes:

I am to old for that stuff. Besides I am diabetic and drinking is out of the qusetion. I use to hang out at Streeters in Downtown Chicago. Those days are long gone.

I hope everyone had a good new years! For me, it was one crazy night. Lots of Drinks, Food and fireworks. Can't complain!

Never to old ! :lol:
Though being a diabetic will put a damper on drinks. Not worth loosing a limb or any other body parts.
I had a friend who was diabetic and he drank, you notice I said "had", he drank way to much and died! :(

I dont go out to bars any more myself, just cant afford the risks involved. Plus I dont drink that often just special occations. lol

I use to rack up a 2 to 3 hundred dollar bar bill a night. I am amazed that I was never pulled over. Usually had about 45 mile drive home. That bill was mainly for me and mabe a few rounds for my friends. That drinking was before I found out that I was diabetic. I may have a drink on new years and that is it. I loved my stoli and a nice dark imported beer.

Damn ! I didnt drink quiet that much(at the bar)lol
I used to be able to drink the darks but I just cant stomache it anymore. :(
A couple Michelobs or Heinekens and I'm all good. :D

Blagojevich is impeached by the House with a vote 114-1, a sad day for Illinois politics. This now sets up the Senate to remove him from the governor's office.

ABout time they canned him ! He acts like he's done nothing wrong. lol

Looks like more snow/ice is on its way.
Had some flurries this morning it melted today now its muddy again. :rolleyes:

It is still snow covered here. Must be nice to be close to the lake, none of the snow melted.

Im not close to lake michigan , though the tipi river is in front.
Yeah we got 5-6" of snow yesterday with a little ice under that. Another busy day for us. Right now radar looks like some more might be headed our way, oh joy ! lol

Have fun towing the idiots out of the ditches.

It was icey lastnight surprised thier wasnt more accidents.
Maybe they learned from thier previous experiances. :grinno:

Im ready for some snow removal too. I have 12 contratcs with bussinesses for plowing, plus I throw down some sand/salt. But if I dont do the lots a certain amount of times I dont make as much money.

At least today is quiet, for now.

We have been getting some light fluries on and off most of the mornings.

being sick sucks :(

I bumped my oil up to 10w30 just recently...

did a motor flush... added new royal purple to the motor and also put in a qt of risoline or w/e.. .to clean it even more untill the next oil change...

Also ran seafoam thru the PCV to clean things up.. not LOTS of smoke but a good amount :popcorn: def. gave me back some pep to my beat up toy lol

so far from me going thicker, less motor noise, valvetrain is less noisy :p and it just purrs now, really smooth.... I wonder how many miles I'm actually going to get out of my grand am lol

currently 197k miles

Hows the snow XI ? :lol:

Hey Gir ! Long time no see.. :D

You can keep your sickness', I'll have no part of it! lol
My SE has over 200k miles on the bottom end, runs great.

Getting ready to gut it pretty much and redo the body, and probly new carpet/customize the interior a bit. Found a 4dr GT with blk leather(it's been wrecked), realy cheap, I just have to go pick it up.
Its getting pretty rusty too in the rear quarters & trunk.

Not much snow here(some good amount on its way) just cold frozen ground.

.....crunchcrunchcrunch... :sly:

At least I can look forward to some extra work this week.

Xeroinfinity are you ready for the Blizzard warnings. Have fun doing all the tows in the next couple of days. There is also another Blizzard warning on Thursday also, then a deep freeze also. Where I am at we have like 3 to 4 inches of snow on the ground. Well I change the power window regulator. It took me only 45 minutes to complete the job. I am getting very good at changing them out. :iceslolan

Yeah Im about as ready as Im going to be. I'll get a nap or two in before the big slam that'll help. :grinyes:

We have a little snow coverage now nothing to write home about. But from what the weather maps are showing we could get 5-6". No biggy on that little snow, its the 15-20mph(30mph gusts) winds thats going to cause problems and close the roads overnight.

Yea more school delays. :rolleyes:

Edit>>

I forgot about the subxero cold coming, I think its spitting snow right now...
At least I got a nap in.

Oh and this should warm up the evening, very much! :D
http://i34.tinypic.com/qqe1wk.gif

It has been snowing pretty good here for a couple of hours now. The bizzard warning will expire at 12:00pm tomorrow afternoon.

we got a good dusting here, just kinda fizzled out. It actualy warmed up and was raining a little before midnight.
Winds picked up this morning and temps are droppin fast! We are in a Blizzard watch/warning for tomorrow-thursday.

Its those minus temps thats going to hurt over the next few days. :eek7:

We got about 5 or 6 iniches of snow here. The temp here stayed around 27 and we did not get any rain or freezing rain. Just all snow. The temp here now is 18. The winds here are calm maybe 1 or 2 mph if that.

all i keep hearing is how everyone is getting hit with some type of snow storm or really cold artic blast! I'm glad I'm living in a warmer climate!!! I may go visit my fam back in jersey in a month or two... my luck it'll be a blizzard while I'm there! I'm so thankful i got my grand am garaged last year before it rusts away on me.

I agree gir being sick does suck... I've been dealing with tonsillitis for almost 5 days now. :shakehead I think the meds suck worse then the damn illness!

Not much snow just flurries and some realy cold wind today.
I bet the next snow coming will be a greater amount.

Hey grfnkl ! I keep forgeting youre way down in PR. I bet it is nice and warm there. :p You might want to wait for spring to visit, this winter has pounded the east coast pretty good and its only January. :rolleyes:

The current temp here is at 3 degrees.

Well we are having a heat wave it is 9 degrees, was there a web site problem. I was getting a server was busy this morning and could not connect. Xeroinfinity stay warm and hopefully you wont have to many tows. I heard that I65 was closed down due a 20 car pile up.