Scrap Iron vs Recycle

The King and our grandson have
been on a hunt for a truck bed for the
grandson's truck. The one he has ...has
so much rust, there is no repair to it.

So like every American guy or guys, they
called around to Spokane junkyards. And
was told of one at You Pull it... but when
they got there the next day... it turn out
it was in the "do not touch area" (where
police still have an interest in it and haven't
release it) So they checked every junkyard
from Spokane, Cda, Hayden, Garwood and
here in town. Nothing.

The King headed out yesterday and at each
place he found the truck box, he was a day
or two late. They had been smashed for scrap
iron. Time after time. Place after place. Why?
Because scrap iron is selling so high, the
yards can get more for the scrap iron prices,
than parting them out. The King came home
deflated. Couldn't believe the cars that were
marked for scrap..as new as 2003.

The good news was, that just a mere 4 blocks
from here at Auto Alley, way in the back.. there
was the magic box and at a reasonable price.

The King had heard that scarp iron was selling for
$400 a ton. I could not believe this, as I use to be
in the scrap iron business ( we smashed and hauled
cars for 8 years) in 1970's. My deceased husband and I.
In fact we got out of it because the price had dropped
to $8 a ton. Standing on top of the cab of the hauler,
while my husband brought over a car to the truck, and
I lining it up with the others, motioning to him to drop
it...with only headlights of my pickup for light...was just
not worth it any more. So we sold out. 2 years later it
was selling for $38 a ton. We were amazed.

If Marvin was still alive, he would be blown over by
now. As I went on line today to just see what I could
see. And here is the list...
GRADES .

Whole Prepared Car Bodies
62.25
103.75
ton
USD
Flattened Car Bodies
74.70
124.50
ton
USD
Green Car Bodies
149.40
249.00
ton
USD
Unclean Motor Blocks
166.00
207.50
ton
USD
Clean Motor Blocks
332.00
415.00
ton
USD
Automotive Cast Iron Scrap
332.00
415.00
ton
USD
Scrap Steel Wheel Rims
249.00
332.00
ton
USD
Scrap Aluminum Wheels
0.70
0.90
lbs
USD
Unclean Auto Radiators
0.55
1.09
lbs
USD
Clean Auto Radiators
0.77
1.28
lbs
USD
Heater Core Scrap
0.46
0.91
lbs
USD
Aluminum Auto Rads
0.25
0.41
lbs
USD
Whole Scrap Auto Transmissions
0.14
0.28
lbs
USD
Irony Aluminum Scrap
0.16
0.32
lbs
USD
Irony Zinc Diecast Scrap
0.18
0.37
lbs
USD
Irony Magnesium Scrap
0.68
1.36
lbs
USD
Scrap Lead Wheel Weights
0.27
0.45
lbs
USD
Scrap Lead/Acid Batteries
0.11
0.18
lbs
USD
Scrap Catalytic Converters (assorted sizes)
37.33
62.12
each
USD
LTL= prices refers to the over the scale value of misc.
quantities of materials.. Less than Truck Load quantity
refers to weights of less than 40,000 lbs
TL = prices refer to sorted and prepared materials
packaged and ready for shipment
And those of you how took off your Catalytic Convertor
after you came to Idaho (required in some states) well
those prices go from $26 to $130 each...

So when you crumble up that fender or bumper? Don't
necessarily think you can just go to the junkyard and
replace it... because it might have been already smashed.

And if you have a couple of junkers or more in the back
yard or field, and your wife has been bugging you to get
rid of them? Well, now is the time to get rid of them...
There is a unit in Spokane that will come to your house
and smash it right there and haul it away...

Happy 40th birthday, Mr. B and Wounded Moose...

Ted Kennedy

Coming from New England I have, maybe, not
as much of distaste of Ted Kennedy.

The Kennedy's were as close as Royalty as
American could get and especially New England.
Love them or hate them, you still were amazed by
them.

In Massachusetts, especially Boston area, the
family was really well known before the nation
was really aware of them. Those who knew of
the Irish mafia of Boston knew of Rose's family
especially, going back 100 years or more.

Those who are on top of their game of politics
would have known Joseph Kennedy was the
Ambassador in the 1930's. Before they knew
of John Kennedy. And of course, of his affairs,
with Gloria Swanson and etc.

Which is why I gave Teddy Kennedy some slack.
Not much, but some. When the young lady was
killed in his car, it was life as usually just hours
before. The Kennedy's played hard and partied
hard too. They attracted women in droves. This
is not to say it was the young ladies fault. But
she was with the partiers... and as in the case with
a lot of parties, that go on with the rich and famous,
accidents happen. And most of them are covered
up.

Ted was young, and still very much controlled by
his father. It was the American rich way. You take
care of family business. If you can, you cover it up.
With the name like Kennedy, that isn't so easy.

Ted, I am sure was scared, sorry, and remorseful.
Just it wasn't in the public eye for all the see. Rich
families do not like to have their people show emotions.
But Ted has paid for this mistake in his life. He has paid
dearly. He will never measure up in anyone's eyes. He
will be until his death the man who killed the girl in the car.
You can bet those of the news media, who are getting
their obituaries ready for him (they have him half dead) in
their files, have that very thing in there.

Ted, also followed his family footsteps of womanizing,
drinking, party hardy, and living life to the fullest. And in
age, he has mellowed. But he also has done well for
the country. He has been involved in many bills that
have passed, for the betterment of the country.
But he will always be remembered as the guy who
killed the girl. And never President as the family
had wished for......Sad...

I wonder how many of us, who have made bad choices
over life, drank too much, partied too many times, took
the wrong Y in life, could we have stood up to so much
criticisms? At least the majority of the people in the
state of Massachusetts had enough faith in him for over
40 years.

So I hope for his sake there is a turn around with this
tumor. Just so he can keep on being Ted Kennedy, the Lion
Senator from Massachusetts or just Ted Kennedy, the man
who sails off of Cape Cod, and enjoys what he has left of
life.

posts...

I may not have some post up here in the next day
or two...
My server...not blogspot.. is having some problems.
So if you don't see anything here... it is because
I have lost it all together. Right now only my
hotmail is working.. some connects... obivious..
other wise you wouldn't be reading this.
so hang in there.. I will post when I can...
So Mo...if you don't see anything.. know I am
ok.. lol

The Tale of Grandpa and the Kid

One beautiful day, it was decided that
a pick up truck would be towed from out
of the North side to Kootenai.

The tower would be the King's grandson.
The towee would be the King.

No matter how you look at this, you know
there is going to be trouble. If you have EVER
been towed or done the towing.. you know no
one comes away happy. I have been both. And
they did not come out with happy people and usually
a lot of cussing.

You see the King went out the day before and
changed the wheels as there were two wheel
wheels on a 4 wheel truck. And it just doesn't
work. Then he put the truck on a trailer...which
is not made for cars. It was too heavy, so it was
decided that it should be towed the next day.

All went well in the beginning. Everything was lined
up. It appeared that the King had check the lug nuts.
And off they went... Grandson towing his grandfather.

Grandson's buddy went with me. And we decided
because it was close to time for him to go to work,
that I would take him. He called the Grandson to
tell him, so he wouldn't worry. The Buddy said to
the phone..." NO WAY, YOU ARE JOKING? HOW
BAD IS IT.. Oh, ok... well, grandma is taking me to
work, so don't worry about me." I looked at the
buddy, and said, do I really want to know what
happen? He said no...

But then he proceed to tell me.
It seems they left the road of which my daughter
lives on... and turn down two others, and then at a
straight stretch, a wheel and tire passed the King.
Passed the grandson... and went into the ditch.
And the red truck came down on the spindle.
I looked at the Buddy and said "you know who
put those wheels on don't you.".. the buddy said
"yes.. Grandpa"... and we both said in unison...
"Thankfully it wasn't the grandson."..

They had to come to the house to get a floor jack
so they could lift the truck up, and get the wheel
back on.

When they arrived in the alley out back, I asked our
Grandson, if he had told his grandfather that he was
stupid, (he shook his head no) I asked him, did he
tell him he was too old and wasn't thinking? And did
he ask him, what were you think when you did the lug
nuts? All of which he said,no... I told him. Well, his
grandfather got off pretty easy. Because you know,
Grandson, had it been you who put the lug nuts on,
he would have said that and more to you... Grandson
grinned and said, yes, I know... He looked at his grandfather
and grinned some more.

It will be a long time before the King lives this one down.

One of those days...

Today is one of those days...
In blog land there are days where
nothing is worth writing about.

I have spent a good share of it
outside, so my brain is on sunshine
and not words.

Besides the few times I did check in
on the computer... my server was acting
funny. Not the ha ha kind...

So I took that to be.. let it go... and
enjoy the day...so I did. Hope yours was
good too...

Laugh for the holidays

Every time I read this... I get tears in my eyes from laughing.
This is not for children to read.
So keep this in mind, if someone suggests a Chili cook off for
Memorial Day bar-b-que...


If you pay attention to the first two judges, the reaction of the
third judge is even better. For those of you who have lived in Texas,
you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-Off
about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major
portion of a parking lot at the San Antonio CityPark.
Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili Taster named Frank,
who was visitingfrom Springfield , IL.

Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a
chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment
and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking
for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in.
I was assured by the other two judges (NativeTexans) that the
chili wouldn't be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could
have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted." Here are the
score card notes from the event:
*****************************************************
CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI...
Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2 - Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy shit, what the hell is this stuff? You could
remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to
put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are crazy.
*****************************************************
CHILI # 2 - AUSTIN'S AFTER BURNER CHILI...
Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge #2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure
what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people
who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in
more beer when they saw the look on my face.
*****************************************************
CHILI # 3 - FRED'S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI...
Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick.
Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose
feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine
by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me
on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest.
I'm getting shit-faced from all of the beer.
*****************************************************
CHILI # 4 - BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC...
Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for
fish or other mild foods not much of a chili.
Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was
unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the
beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-LB
woman is starting to lookHOT. just like this nuclear waste
I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?
*****************************************************
CHILI # 5 LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER...
Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding
considerable kick. Very impressive.
Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato.
Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.
Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead
and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me
needed paramedics.The contestant seemed offended when I told
her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my
tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher.
I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really pisses me
off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw those rednecks.
*****************************************************
CHILI # 6 - VERA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY...
Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices
and peppers.
Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers,
onions, and garlic. Superb.
Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight
pipe filled with gaseous,sulfuric flames. I crap on myself when I farted
and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to
stand behind me except that Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need
to wipe my butt with a snow cone.
*****************************************************
CHILI # 7 - SUSAN'S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI...
Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned
peppers.
Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can
of chili peppers at the last moment. I should take note that I am
worried about Judge #3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as
he is cursing uncontrollably.
Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth,
pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and
the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered
with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of
lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know
what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing it's too painful. Screw it;
I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in
through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.
*****************************************************
CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI...
Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but
spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot.
Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed
out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure
if he's goingto make it. poor feller, wonder how he'd have reacted to
really hot chili?

Judge # 3 - No Report

Garden of Friends

On Boston Legal last night, one of the character said:
"Friendships are like a back yard gardens.
We always mean to tend to them, but sometimes
we get side tracked."

How true that is...
Some friends need to be handled like delicate flowers.
Others are rough and tough, And like weeds...They are
always there...

But there are friendships, that we forget in our daily
lives. And when that person passes away, we have
guilt pangs, justly so. But it works both ways. That
person didn't get ahold of you either. It isn't you two
didn't care...just life gets in the way.

I do have one that I have had since 6th grade, and we
keep in touch by emails.. Hi, Alice..... she started to
read my blog.
And then there is one I have had since my first real
job. So that is 57 years and 50 years of friendship.
Hi Maureen, friend of 34 years...
Which no matter how long we haven't talked.. we
seem to start where we left off last time.

But there are a couple that I haven't touch base with
lately...So I am going to work a little harder on my back
yard garden of friends.

Bits and Pieces

I was reading the paper the other day...
do you know, that they are using Pork hearts and
Mice hearts for testing a theory? They are taking
hearts out of these animals and washing them out really well.
They washed these mice hearts in and out, put the blood and
cells from a dying mouse and he recovers.

Now they are trying it out with a pigs heart. After all none of
us have hearts the size of mice. But we do have the size of
a pig. If this does work, then in 5 years they could replace a
human's. The body would not reject it because it would be the
body's own blood and cells that was injected to the
cleaned out pig heart. Amazing...

So I guess if some one calls you a pig, you can say, yep, and
proud of it... I am alive.

You ever be walking down a street or thru a mall and a
smell hits you and sends you back years to your childhood?
Home cooking of old, not pizza and etc.. remind me of a woman
named Mable, who my mother would leave me at her house,
while she shopped. Mable's house always smelled of great
food.
Applesauce, sends visions of my great Aunt Emma.
Aunt Emma was a sweetheart. Some times she would come
over to help Mom do her canning. Aunt Emma would wake me
up, and braid my hair. She is also the one I got the remedy of
getting rid of hiccups with water and sugar. Which I still do, to
this day. That was over 60 years ago.

Aunt Emma, was tiny, and sweetly innocent. But she was slightly
addled. When she was in her 20's she was wine and dine by a
Prince of a country I don't recall. That was the way of life in Newport,
Rhode Island and even New York. Princes of unknown countries
would come to America with thoughts of money. So they would
court young women of families who had money. Aunt Emma's
family was not rich, but well off. So he courted her, married her,
and then he found out her family didn't have the money he thought.
So he slipped away one early morning. Told, Emma he would return
soon. He never did. Emma was so heartbroken she would sit on
the curb waiting for him. None of the family could persuade her to
come in the house. I don't know how long it went on. The family was
embarrassed. I think the men of the family picked her up and carried
her inside after a couple days. And then she stayed home all the time.
Seeing no one. Crying her heart out. She never did remarry. I don't even
know if she got a divorce, as they couldn't find the Prince.

She was a delight to us as a family. But she never was right after that.
I loved Aunt Emma, she gave great hugs, braided my hair, and apple
sauce was her favorite thing to make. So the smell of applesauce reminds
me of her.

I read in the paper a month ago... in the Kootenai County permits
column... a permit of puzzlement... the permit was for ...
residential site disturbance. and it was valued at $50,000. Hummm...
what is a residential site disturbance? I presume it is digging of
the dirty and etc. at a site that some building or something is
going in. But, what an odd, wording. And it cost of $50,000.
Hummm.... I wonder if someone would pay me $50,000 to
disturb their resident site? I can disturb the land pretty good.

How much Big Brother do we want?

We want to protect our families.
And as a parent, we all are/were
worried about our teens.

Teens are a handful. And what
doesn't help, is that we were once
teens ourselves. So we remember
all the things teen can, may, will
do. And the things we did, that
we hope they won't do.

One of the heaviest worries about
your teen is a car accident. More
teens die from car accidents than
drugs. Which is the other worry.

Now the system and insurance
companies have come up with a
new deal and it also lowers you
insurance if you have a teen in your
household. It is a tracking devise, for
$15 a month.

Tells how fast your teen drives and
also where he/she has gone. And if
he/she has gone where you have decide
to be on the list of no no's... or over the
speed limit, blows a stop sign/light....
the devise calls the parents and leaves
a message about it.

Talk about BIG BROTHER...
I know there are parents who will embrace
this system. But I have to wonder, how much
do we want others in our lives and children.
Yes, it is a safety fact, but still. And who else
gets this information? Your insurance company?

And I sure am glad there wasn't any around
while I was driving, as a teen.

Went Fishing....

Was going to put up this morning... a
GONE FISHING sign on the old blog.

But we did our long walk,came back
and got everything together and off we went..
So didn't take the time to post.

We got to the lake, put the boat in, and off
we went fishing. As we trolled across the
lake I got one fish. We were rounding the
end of the lake and I told the King, it is
suppose to rain, so I suppose it will start
as we get back to the dock. So we should
have enough time to troll back.

I got one more hit and almost got it in
the boat, when I lost it. Then the wind
came up, got colder and a few sprinkles.
I was in shorts,and a sleeveless shirt.
As the King said, it is warmer at the
lake. Well, yes, as he and his brother
fished on those days of 80 degrees.
By the time we got about 30 yards from
the dock it started to rain.

The King had many hits but nothing to
bring to the boat or home. I only got the
one... but at least I didn't get skunked.
Usually the King gets 10 to my one..so
it was great to finally beat him. Oh, that
singing at the dock, that was me doing
the victory dance.

I was going to release the fish. As it was
still breathing, and one is hardly enough to
bring home. So I went to the dock and
swished it in the water. Two flips of the
tail, I let go, and the fish sank. The King
asked if it swam off. I told him it started
to but got tired, sunk to the bottom and
was sleeping. lol.... I thought he was going
to choke with laughter. I got the net and
brought it back up, dang thing was still
breathing, don't know why it didn't swim
off. But I gave it a fair chance. So I
brought him home, pan fried him and ate
him for lunch...

All and all, a good day. Any day fishing
is a good day, and fishing with your
sweetheart is better yet.