SOLD!

Belinda and I sold the Nissan today. We were sad to see it go. A 1996 model with 148,000 miles, clean interior, and air conditioning. Minimal leaks from the oil pan seal and didn't burn a drop of oil and no major mechanical work other than a clutch and normal maintenance.

However, Belinda and I have purchased newer vehicles, but it was a great vehicle to run to the grocery store in and not have to worry about dings and scratches. The parking lots here are BRUTAL. Also newer Ford Trucks are the number one vehicle stolen in Houston.

Time to get the Jeep street legal!

Bought a new truck.

Belinda and I decided that it was time to get a new truck. Turns out we bought A LOT of truck. Its a 2008 F-250 4x4 Lariat with all the bells and whistles except the satellite navigation (we own a nice Garmin) and heated seats (it was 75 degrees above zero yesterday). Powered folding and extending mirrors, back-up camera in the review mirror, powered sliding glass window in the back window, adjustable gas and break pedal, amd a motor with very little rawr! The 6.4L Powerstroke has been muted with tons of sound deadening. If anyone has ever been next to a Cummins at a stop light you know exactly what I mean.

It will be a daily commuter for Belinda because the park and ride is about 2 miles from the house and I will still drive the Jetta 15 miles one way to work. Damn.

Doggie Door.

Coco and Guinness are large dogs. During the week the dogs are confined to the house or a walk around the block. If they do not get enough exercise they become naughty as a means to expel the extra energy. Belinda and I have found a drainage canal that runs through our subdivision that is mowed and maintained allowing the dogs to run and play. Afterwards they normally get a bath. It had begun to rain that afternoon we took them out there so I slid the steel insert in the dog door so after the bath they couldn't go outside. Little did I know that neither of the dogs paid attention when we let them out of the bathroom and both dogs bulldozed right into the door.

WTF Did we order.

Went to lunch with some co-workers and they were giving me some flack for not ordering the large order of chicken fried steak. Turns out the joke was on them.

CMT Redneck Wedding

They call them like they see them. I went to a CMT filming of CMT's My Big Fat Redneck Wedding. Even I cringed a little.

I found an NSX I want

Daddy likey

The New House.

Per Raven's Request.

Durty Nelly's

Belinda and I went to the Riverwalk in San Antonio for Nic and Katrina's wedding. This is the sign that was posted out front of Durty Nelly's.

Hurricane Ike

I don't really have a plethora of photos from the Hurricane. I think that we were too busy being in shock from buying our new house, coming to Houston, and experiencing a frickin' Hurricane. We were without power for about a week. During that time Belinda and I were still going to work. Its was almost like a long camping trip in a nice house. The evenings were really eerie almost like a bad slasher flick.

And Were Back

6 weeks after the Hurricane I finally have internet at the house. And boy do I have some pictures.

Stay Tuned.

All Aboard! HA HA HA!

I don't think this is what Ozzy had in mind for his crazy train. Even the pink Chryslers are bigger in Texas.

I-10 What a great place to drive

Traveling along Interstate 10 back to Houston at 80 mph (the posted speed limit) Belinda and I came across a tractor trailer that somehow caught fire that was full of cases of Bud Light. I guess that one of the tires blew out or bad wiring may have been the culprit.

???

I was having lunch with some friends at BJ's Brewhouse. When we left I rode with Victor back to his house and met Belinda with a puzzled look on her face. The 'bubble' had started on her way back driving down the interstate. Fortunately we changed the tired before any real or serious damaged had occured.

National Oilwell Varco

I had a really good interview yesterday afternoon with NOV. It was a change of pace actually having a Certified Personal Consultant helping with my job search. Basically, I have been pre-qualified for the positions that my CPC recommends me for and it skips the 'weeding' out process.

Questions like: Where do you see yourself in five years? Based on a personal experience give an example of conflict resolution you have implemented. and What do you have to offer to the Company?

The position at NOV would require me to design Drilling Rig Manifolds* based on customer specifications. Starting with off the shelf parts from the warehouse, I would create manifolds in Solidworks and then submit them to the customer for assembly in the machine shop located behind the building.

*Rig Manifolds are a way of metering production from an oil or gas well

New House...Again.

We finally have an offer on our house in Seminole and should close by the 9th of September. We also have a new contract on a house in Spring TX which is the north side of Houston. The Spring home is supposed to close on the 12th of September. The nice thing about that house is its brand f-ing new.

Can we eat them!?

There has been tons of mushrooms around the apt. complex I am living in right now. I have had none stop steady rain for the past week and it has been AWESOME...the kind of rain that wakes you up.

HOLY CRAP! is the building falling down. NO. But the pool keeps overflowing and the groundskeepers keep getting their golf cart stuck all over the place.

Smart crazy Belgian offroad test

Ygnition.

I can have any internet service I want in my new apt as long as its Ygnition. On the front page of the website the guy on the right looks confused while the woman on the left has that smile like she is hoping her Television will work.

I tried to sign up online in Seminole that way it is set up when I get to Houston. If I go that route I HAVE TO HAVE cable before I get internet, which is super lame and they are pricey. Not only that, there only indication of decent internet service is "high speed internet with e-mail account!" The Apt. complex doesn't offer any other service.

Guilded Shame

Gold-trimmed Camry spotted in Dubai.

Come to beautiful West Texas!

Were it rains when the sun is shining.

You have proved yourself worthy. Will you join me?

The secret government Eggo Project!

Inserting toaster pastry.

Contact Dr. Jemima.

YUM!

Axles

When I replaced the starter on my Jeep I used one for a 1982 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with a 360 V-8. The battery that I replaced I used one for a 1979 CJ-5 with the 304 V-8.

I now have to replace an axle seal on the driver side front axle. I had assumed that the axles were also off a Grand Wagoneer because few vehicles came with both Dana 44's front and rear axles; Jeep Grand Wagoneers and International Scout II's. The possibility of it being Jeep axles was ruled out by the bolt patterns for the wheels and tires and the location of the front diff. Jeep was on the driver's side and International was on the passenger. Mine is on the passenger side. Jeep also used a 6 on 5.5 bolt pattern and International used 5 on 5.5. My wheels and tires are 5 on 5.5. Furthermore, my Jeep has disc brakes in the front and Scouts only came with front disc brakes from 1974 to 1980 assuming that my front axle doesn't have a drum to disc conversion.

I have a pic posted of a Scout II front axle that has been modified to be put into a Jeep CJ-5. I have the same modification on my Jeep.

Something else that is interesting is my OX Locker Manual for my front axle is for a Jeep TJ (1996-present) rear Dana 44.

Tires still off.

Problems/ Fixes so far on the Jeep

Fixed Replaced
1. Oil Pressure Line
2. Valve Cover Seal
3. Rear Diff Seal
4. Battery
5. Starter

To Do List.
1. Front axle hub seal
2. Transmission and Oil Pan Seal
3. Ox Locker has forceful engagement
4. Missing Warn Hub screw
5. Stress crack in steering box bracket
6. Bad ground on headlights or faulty switch
7. Brake lights work intermittently
8. BRAKES! Good pressure but needs new rubber lines, rotors, pads, and drums
9. Put front tires back on

IT Guy Vs Dumb Employees

IT Guy Vs Dumb Employees - Watch more free videos

FREE! GAS!

I received this gem in the mail the other day.

Car Salesmans/Dealerships have gone so far as to send me advertisements, or rather Belinda newspaper clippings claiming "buy our car/truck and we will buy your gas for a year." There was no return address on the envelope and I have no idea who J is.

Hail Stones. Take Two.

The storm hit at around midnight. Honestly, I thought someone was breaking into my house because my north windows were busted out my hail stones. I was having flashbacks from Socorro from a few years back.

First Stuck

It has finally rained enough in Hobbs to take my Jeep in the rain. I was throwing donuts in 2wd and high centered the rear-end. I short pull from a GMC 3500 and I was back to my old antics.

Forecast

NOAA calls for temperature highs of 104 for the next 4 days. They tell me its a 'dry heat' well, so is a bonfire.

Don't worry, its only burnt popcorn.

For those of you fortunate few out there that lived in the Altamirano Student Apartments at New Mexico Tech remember the lovely and serene sound of fire alarms at all hours of the day and night. I had flashbacks because at 4 a.m. (insert my best wtf you have to be sh*ttin' me) the fire alarm went off in our hotel suite. I was told by hotel staff that someone burnt some popcorn in their room. POPCORN!

Stealth Tape.

I was behind this Merc driving around in Houston. Color-matching the duct tape doesn't make it better.

Address?

The house Belinda and I are considering is in an new area in Spring, TX. So new in fact that you can't find the address with googlemaps or mapquest. This was the best I could do. We also purchased a Garmin GPS and I even did the online updates and was still unable to find the subdivision.

Birthday.

Fortunately our house hunting trip fell on the weekend of my B-Day. In Houston for my B-Day and Car Bombs with Victor FTW!

Pinche Burger!

It says it right on the sign.

Sand Dunes FTW

Belinda and myself took my mom to the Mescalero Sand dunes just outside of Roswell yesterday for Mother's Day. It was the first time I really got to tear into my Jeep. I had to change out the starter (old and wore out) on the Jeep before we left. It performed flawlessly with without any electrical, mechanical, or leaking problems the entire day. The only trouble I ran into was slight overheating because of a heavy foot and some slight fuel injection tuning. Driving around the dunes I was surprised because the majority of the I was in two wheel drive unless I was trying to climb a REALLY big sand dune.

Jeep Vin #

I was doing some research and found what originally came in my Jeep. It came with a 2 BBL 4.2L 258 c.i. Straight six, , Dana 30 front axle, AMC 20 rear axle, Dana 20 transfer case, Borg Warner T-18 4 speed manual (6.32:1 First Gear) and a gross weight of 3750lbs.

However, I was finally able to verify the stock engine block displacement by a 360 (no confusion there) casting under the engine mount brackets. AMC engines installed in Jeeps generally have the engine block serial numbers stamped on a plate riveted on the back of the valve covers. I don't have the stock valve covers, which is probably why it leaks, so it doesn't do me any good.

Coincidence?

I THINK NOT! And people wonder how I named Guinness.

Watering mah yard.

Out in West Texas this is what you call an underground sprinkler system.


P.S. Actually is has rained REALLY hard in the past two days and managed to cover it in loose soil

I can tow my Jeep again.

My truck was running like it was firing on 6 or 7 cylinders. No power, lots of puttering, and exhaust was very rich. Luckily the internals such as the timing chain have appeared to still be in working order after I had replaced a the ignition module. The ignition module opens and closes the circuit to the ignition coil to fire the spark plugs. It certain applications it can advance or retard the timing (probably my problem). ~$60 later the problem was corrected. I plan on going to the sand dunes this weekend to take the Jeep and fourwheeler.

However this does add to my vehicle situation. Belinda and I have four vehicles and 3 of the 4 will pass inspection. I guess I will just keep them because the GM and Nissan truck are paid off and sell one or the other or both until I find something better. Having the extra money around instead of paying for full coverage and car payments is pretty awesome.

P.S. The ignition module on my truck is located under the distributor cap.
P.P.S. I didn't buy the Accel module.

Be very very quiet, I'm hunting houses.

Belinda and I are planning a house hunting trip to Houston at the end of next week. For now its the hurry up and wait game to get our current house sold.

State VS. (Withheld until proven guilty)

I posted a few months ago about some credit card identity theft. Belinda had been contacted by an Secret Service Agent after we had made the report. Anyway, we were informed of the charges. Here is a shortened list: Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Four or More Incomplete Credit Cards, Possession of Credit Card Machinery, Dealing in Credit Cards of Another, 8 Charges of Forgery to a Credit Card, 26 Counts of Forgery (Making or Altering), 11 Counts of Identity Theft, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card ($500-2500), Speeding (11-15 mph Over Limit), Concealing Identity, Driving on Suspended or Revoked License, Evidence of Regis/Signed and Exhibited on on Demand, and No Insurance.

Belated Earth Day Post

SAVE OUR PLANET! Its the only one with beer.

IRS Refund

As you may have heard we are getting an additional refund on our tax returns this year to help 'stimulate the economy.'

Well here's the breakdown on where we can spend it:
Wal-Mart: China
Gas/Diesel: Arabs
Computer: India
Fruits & Vegetables: Central America
'Good' Automobile: Germany or Japan
Toys: Taiwan

So you ask, well how do I keep the money within the US Economy?


YARD SALES.

I know what I am growing, dammit.

Actually I didn't know what I was watering and fertilizing until the neighbor had asked me not to cut it down. It wasn't that I was going to cut it down, I had been cleaning up the yard, trimming the trees, etc. and I was informed that Belinda and I have a pomegranate tree in our backyard.

Holy Resale Batman!

Our old realtor that we used to buy our house is now our new realtor to sell our house. We have lived in this house for about 8 months. It has undergone many changes. The bathroom has been remodeled with fresh paint, new tile, and new hook-ups for a washer and dryer. The carpet in the hallway, kitchen, and dining room was removed and the wooden floors that lay beneath were sanded and refinished. Lastly the hallway, kitchen, living room, and dining room were retextured and painted. You may ask if I am sad to see it go, no. It will be remembered as the first house that I ever bought with Belinda, but that just means that we can U-P-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D when we get to Houston.

P.S. We already have people driving by to look at the house and we don't even have a for sale sign in the yard yet.