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Folks got power back today! 

Onward

I shaved a blower hole.

This shows the twistys that hit-

https://www.4029tv.com/article/map-arkansas-tornadoes-radar/60950995

I secured the bumper cover on rear of my folks' SUV at lunch and et shop pizza. Screwed a new drip rail on the GMC job, did other cab and fender stuff. Climbed house and cleaned gutters when I got home. They were new last year but an entire ecosystem evolved in there. More rain n storms ahead. Then I pulled weeds while two loose cats observed. Longest short week ever, just due to worry.

All only bad to report here. Day five of my 80 something parents being without power and authorities are still unable to label the magnitude of the storm but say a dozen tornadoes in the state Sunday are confirmed. One with a record breaking 1.8 mile path width. Boss has two lakeside houses each with multiple holes through roofs. Mom boldly ventured out yesterday and got rearended by a Malibu slammed into by an F150 with Utah plates. Message to world: Stop messing with my folks. Drip rail for my cab project showed up yesterday but still only have one of four pan brace sections needed and blasting operation has been pushed aside, forgotten. Happy summer to all. 

Storms around 3 AM, probably a tornado, went right by my folks' house. They are fine but will be without power or gas for awhile, utilities were hit hard across the county and one fatality has been reported. Their street access is blocked by trees, and... its about to be hot and muggy plus more severe weather possible this afternoon. Uh oh. Goodbye holiday, goodbye comfort, and hello hassles. As we count our blessings.

Oh... that last pic was just a screenshot from my Oldsmobile days. No particular significance.

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A new era. Shelby's son mowed my grass this week. They grow up fast.

That is something you can be right proud of. 

Matt, that's a good collection of pimples.

Wut? Nothing some talc based putty and dibenzoyl peroxide paste won't clear up.

Well I installed my first inner tube yesterday on Dad's mower as an 87th BD effort.

I'm in the midst of working out a patience-required roof dent on the 71 job. No holes so far. 

Welp... GT's fans do spin but ambient temp reading was stuck on 64 with it over 80 outside. So I look up the number and find a Standard brand in stock at closest store. Scribble down the number, run 3 miles to there. Noticed when parking that temp was 220 or so. Right after watching it stay stable in my driveway at 210 or under for like 20 minutes. Temp drops to normal (180-190) while driving. Hmm.

Pop hood, yep 225-230 idling with both fans whirring away. Hmm. Enter store, wait, am told that store does not stock the item. Go down the street 1.4 miles. I do this and get it plus a bonus toy for myself. Random 220°F spike cruising 35 mph coming home. Hmm

Change sensor in driveway. Neighbor has taken the GT's specific parking spot in street, leaving space in front of their house. Hmm. Ambient temp now stuck at 67. Hmm

Back into neighbor vehicle then pull forward a couple inches to park as placeholder to defend my territory. Abort further auto repair thoughts because of that. Wanted to keep going, keep driving to keep working things out. But no.

The tire we concluded here months ago was ruined, is doing fine. I would have liked to have taken another stab at straightening up the LR wheel from the hit n run better today also. May as well drop that because with the temps I'm seeing, fans must be slow so must special order $200 item to find out. Before a fan nearly catches fire like on the GTP awhile back. Smokin cherry red, it got.

Hmm. After the GT sat a spell, keyed on to see ambient temp... 94°. About right. Mysterious but unrelated to engine temp issue. Normal is rock steady 180° with little fan action required. Another bad replacement water pump? GM 3800 cooling systems require meticulous burping and have no tolerance for leaks. But it does leak barely, don't know where. Hmm.

Doing laundry now and oh... hello ant friend(s). Dadgummit. Its them weeds on death row at work. Again. Welcome to my home little amigos. Not.

Another anti-Matt-er Sunday. Just cancel the progress statement, move my peg back to square one and geek on the red 41 in the pic.   

That was quite the gathering at Atwood, Bill. Thanks for sharing some real juicy stuff. 

The 99 GT ( my backup DD ) lives again, been driving it around this morning after swapping in fan relays off the 02 GTP (RIP). Fans work now, thats all. Still has a long list of needs but it could fill in, in a pinch. Been a few months since it was viable for the commute so thats progress!

Cab pics. I found out it gets EFI.

Believe it... or not!

Since last post I removed and gutted the 71 job cab, saw a video of a cat eating corn on the cob, and observed a high speed police pursuit from a yard away. While covered in ants and with crooked spine from squatting inside auto / truck bodies.

Dad has to remove the spark plug from his old push mower and dump gas down the hole to start it, but Mom doesn't want them to have a new gifted one. She does the push mowing for exercise. A brand new self propelled one would be put in a garage sale and money given to church.

My health insurance assigned a lady pediatrician in Texarkana as my doctor. I don't use it, just pay it. I am 57 and live in the opposite corner of my state.

My car insurer states that bills are sent 19 days prior to due date and cancels me monthly now after 40 something years because the USPS now requires two weeks or more to take mail between Arkansas and Georgia. Statement printed on 14th for due date of 20th arrives on the 4th of following month, forcing electronic pay.

My fixed rate only mortgage ever payment amount is now over half escrow and my DD drives like it has square tires. I'm kind of glad no child of mine was ever born. This will be my fourth summer with no car A/C.

Feeling kind of sick from digging with fingernails into damp encrusted vehicle flooring infested with wildlife, as is my exclusive job requirement now. All dirty work goes to Matt, lowest on totem pole and unable to be heard or seen.

The cat eating corn though... 

Me too, Phil. Its a long bed 4x4 which makes the odds slim for customizing. All I know about it is '71, 350 Qjet, tube headers, looks like it might run, whole bed is toast, roof is badly dented, aaand of course...

All I need, to get to work on it is the bare cab and it is crawling with ants. I scattered ant poison on the floor and seat today.