Tundras live: Agree to disagree (a lesson in civility)

My parents said a vehicle was a luxury. I rode the bus to my first summer job until I could afford to buy one and pay for the insurance, fuel, repairs and whatnot.

 

You're really not an ass for handling it that way... I was in a similar boat in terms of finances growing up, although my parents were always together... When I turned 16 I had to pay for gas and the difference on my dad's insurance policy; when I turned 18 and bought my own car, he made me acquire my own policy (pricey as hell for an 18 year old) but I learned a lot from that, primarily that it's expensive to be an adult and to work hard and smarter to earn money for my 'toys'.

I was envious of my friends that had money and were taken care of by their parents (they got new cars, fees, gas, etc.) all paid for and did not work for it. In the end and l understood and could appreciate my dad's position on it, and I think it would have been the same had our family been well off.

 

@LarryDangerfield_ when are you going to change your name back so I stop reading your shit in @LarryDangerfield ’s voice? Or do I need to pick up @t-rex266 as an alt account?

 

Those would work awesome on my boat trailer instead of using normal straps! I didn’t know such a thing existed.

 

Last night shift on this hitch. Dragging by, but being off the diet is allowing me to have a couple energy drinks to get through it.

Depending on how dead I am after work, there are two plans:

1. If I'm dead I'm going to play Diablo to keep the brain numb until I can pass out from exhaustion.
2. If I'm not dead I will go grocery shopping when the store opens a couple hours after work. Then play Diablo for numbness until passing out.

Thursday will be getting laundry going, getting tires and crap from the storage unit to haul to my brother who is going to sell it off for me, and making sure I have stuff organized for the drive.

Friday will be the trip out of town. Taking the storage crap and Stella's dog food to my brother. One of his dogs will eat it and it's a brand new bag. She had maybe 3 cups of food out of it. I'll squeeze a visit in with friends in Utah as well. They loved Stella tons, and she always visited with me. In the last 10 years there was only a handful of times I visited them without her right at my side. It's going to be rough.

Saturday I hope to be back home. I don't think I want to stay out of town. I have a niece who is going to come visit and do some cleaning for us. (We pay her.)

Saturday through Tuesday I want to get out on the motorcycle if the weather will allow for it. If I have any motivation I'll shoot for the mods that I tried to install during my last days off. Doubt the weather will cooperate with either of these.

 

Sweet! I need shorty ones for the boat trailer. 3’ max.

 

Okay @tripleconpanna...here are the pics

Here's how the rats run at night. They dart out of the fence (think they bed down in my neighbor's yards) and run along my wall where the arrows are. All. Fucking. Night. Long


I've set all kinds of traps out over the past year. In this pic, you can see the black trap on the wall. The dark shape to the bottom right is a rat that passed up the bait. The beady eyes above the trap is Sir Stupid coming in at top speed. 1/2 second after this screen shot, it hits the trap and...yeah, it's in my garbage now.


I'm out of traps, so decided to try the 5 gallon bucket trap that @GODZILLA recommended. My co-worker recommended too, so why not...The trap is smeared with peanut butter and ready to splash the bastards.

 

Looking forward to the morning rat report.


If you are concerned that they are too large and may be able to tip the bucket, you could up it on the little wall with a bungee or strap to hold it to the slats. I'd hate for them to fall for it, but get loose and never go in a bucket again.

 

The big bastards haven’t been around for a few weeks. The 80-120 thirty second videos I get each night are the smaller skinny ones. Hope to get one each night…

 

A few dabs of bait going up the ramp and a bigger bait stash over the trap door should get you all the rats you can eat!

 

Long day after getting off work this morning, the pour went smooth! I'll strip the forms and bring in some fresh rock in the morning.

 

I think these are what I'll try. I much prefer to support USA made items if I can. Though, california isn't much better...

$46 PowerTye 2in x 10ft Retractable Heavy-Duty Ratchet Tie-Downs, S-Hooks with Included Storage Bag - 800 lb Working Load Limit / 2400 lb Breaking Strength - Black (Pair)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W7DCQFM

 

Looks good! Did you guys do any hand prints or anything?

 

So, if I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing on the 2nd photo... you have the trap positioned on top of the concrete at the edge of slab, correct??

If so, this is why you are struggling to capture some of your mice. Any snap trap needs to be placed w/the trigger pad (opening) butted up against a wall as depicted below. The traps also need to be at least 2 or 3' from a corner (as mice and most other animals cut them so they don't feel trapped). In your case w/that concrete pad, you can place the trigger pad up against the concrete as long as they can't eat bait from above (that would defeat the purpose) of the wall. If not, you'll have to find another wall to place the trigger pad up against to increase your success.

Also, do NOT over bait... I pea sized amount of bait is perfect.

Let me know if this makes sense

 

Glad I paid professionals to finish it.
We did, thanks for the suggestion!

 

And on reading reviews, maybe not. They are made in The States, but apparently the springs for retracting are prone to failure. The Rhino ones are a US company, made overseas, but they have an unlimited lifetime warranty. Might be the better way to go.

 

That looks incredible (the concrete and the peaceful evening view). I know you're tired so this is probably unintended, but nice double

 

Hope the deer stay out of it, though, NGL I would find the humor in a bunch of hoof prints in the morning.

 

Just in case anyone needs a giggle.

https://youtu.be/a_3PyqH5_Lw

 

My relief is here. Just making sure he's set up and then I'll be out at 6. Mixed feelings on that.

 

Yep, makes sense. Only issue is that’s not how my rats roll. They don’t hug the fence line. They will run anywhere on the rock wall and normally right around any of my traps. Many months ago I even tried to create a narrow gap to funnel them down. No worky. They have no problem running down on the rocks and under my trailer (which freaks me out).

Having said that, I will try a trap up against my house foundation in case they wander over there.

 

Enjoy the good memories and knowing she’s in a better place. Be proud of yourself for not prolonging her suffering and also taking those first big steps forward into the future. The process of “moving on” is very difficult yet very important.

Enjoy the drive!

 

So, I've been having a small mouse problem recently. Set out some traps and have been catching them, but last week was a new one.

I set a few in the garage and a few on my back porch (they love bird seed). Caught a few on the back porch. I go check one morning in the garage and one of the traps is gone (I thought). Look around and see it in a corner a few feet away. I think okay, i'll get my glove and grab it thinking it's dead. Go to pick it up and it moves. Not wanting to deal with it, I leave it and decide to check it later.

Idk, 6ish hours go by and it's moved across the garage leaving a trail of blood. Get closer and realize it's not all blood, a trail of 5 little rat babies lined the trail. They are not dead and making noises. Adding to that, the mom rat is still not dead.

It was just a bloodbath. Been over a week and no signs of anything.

 

that would be awesome. It was set up pretty well last night, gotta keep it watered though.

 

I still have mine