Robert Hall

The microwave and hot tub were installed today...looking forward to using this. Got some landscaping to do around it..

From personal experience, the '00 DTS and '06 STS had some of the most comfortable seats I've dealt with for daily driving and road trips..  I miss cars that focus on comfort and silence...not everything has to be optimized for setting Nurburgring times. 

I drove my sister's DTS from Phoenix to LA or San Diego several times when I lived in Phoenix, very comfortable and quiet.   6 hr drives weren't bad at all.  6 hrs  (or 50 like I did in 2017) in my Jeep  and my back is in a world of pain. 

12 minutes ago, David said:

 

Looking forward to updated pictures when you get a chance. Exciting to think that you will be moved in next weekend.

We pushed out the furniture move by two weeks to the 22nd.    We are behind because it's mostly me moving everything else.  Two people with a lot of stuff...

Saw a few interesting red cars on I-90 today...a red Ferrari 308 coming up behind me this afternoon..it passed me, and I realized it was a Fauxrari...looked like a 3rd gen Camaro or Firebird with a 308 style body kit...faded red paint, '1MAGNUM' license plate...different, haven't seen something like that in decades.     Also saw a '61 Corvette convertible w/ patina--red w/ white cove inserts, 6 round taillights, side pipes, roll bar, old slotted mags.  Spotted a very clean stock-looking red '65-66 Mustang coupe.    

Went to a retirement happy hour for a coworker the other evening, in the parking lot was my company founder's silver Ferrari 812 Superfast which he bought after selling the company last year, and the VP of Product Management's new red Corvette Z06 convertible (in that incredible red that looks like a Hot Wheels spectraflame color).  

1 hour ago, trinacriabob said:

Very much so.  I believe it is, or is almost, the same.  So, the Equinox also has a nice dash.

Besides the fact that the Equiox is a CUV/SU and the Malibu is a sedan, I believe they have the same engine, but the Equinox keeps a 6-speed automatic transmission ... a plus.

My opinion may not be popular, but, of the last 10 years of Malibu, I liked the one with the Camaro-esque rear lamps and taller trunk ... possibly a 2015 or thereabouts. I see so many on the road.  It has a 2.5 L Ecotec 4, which was base power for very the last Impala. 

I liked those Malibus..rented several back then.    I liked the Impala a lot. 

As far as the Equinox, I drove a rental one a year ago to Syracuse and back on a Saturday/Sunday--6+ hrs each way on I-90.   Even in LT trim with cloth seats, I found the seats more comfortable than my Grand Cherokee.

My sister won't ride in the GC for more than a half hour or so anymore--she loathes the concrete leather seats in it and I get her point--it must be the M-B origins of the WK2, but the seats are very firm..    She loves her new Equinox and drove it to SC and back comfortably when she snow-birded this past winter. 

I like the Malibu...have driven a few of this and the previous two generations as rentals.  The steering wheel and dash on this one looks almost identical in design to my sister's '23 Equinox.

This past week, got the 11x11 slab poured for the spa, the electrical for it in place...it will be delivered and installed this week along w/ the 2nd attempt at a new microwave install (with the first, I discovered the importance of buying a microwave with a  'zero-clearance' door).     Met w/ the landscapers today about some tree work and continued yard and garden work.   Made two trips this weekend w/ a rental Transit high roof, going to make another trip in the morning then drop it off after work. 

On 5/26/2023 at 10:52 PM, David said:

I have posted so many times in so many threads here that the ExoSkeleton Cyber Truck would have been a game changer. 

Instead, the public will get a Honda Ridgeline competing Unibody pickup that will have a fraction of what Musk has promised.

All flash and no real steal!

And all the moronic Tesla fanboys and Elon bootlickers are going to ecstatic about it, claiming it's the greatest truck ever built and will outsell all Detroit trucks...

Saw a neat burgundy '32 Ford roadster w/ a tan top and interior in a driveway this afternoon... had flames painted down the sides.

Saw a really clean dark red '92-97 Cadillac STS in a restaurant parking lot...always liked these cars. 

Saw a dark gray Cadillac Lyriq on the freeway, 2nd I've seen (saw and sat in one at the auto show in Feb)...car looks great on the road in motion.    

Saw a black Tesla Model S upside down in a ravine off the the side of I-480, flashers on, guy standing beside it on his phone..

On 5/27/2023 at 12:11 PM, David said:

Is this the actual move into your new house Robert? Wishing you all the best for the holiday move if it is.

Just another weekend of moving content between the houses.  The actual move w/ movers of the furniture is scheduled for June 9th...though that date may move.  Should be actually living in the house w/ the dogs that weekend.  I have a camping cot and slept in the house a couple nights this past week, was great...very quiet.   Loved watching the sunset from the patio and sitting out there after dark.  Need to get some of the outside lights sorted.

 Getting a bunch of misc work done--had the carpet cleaned, ducts cleaned, alarm system and doorbell cameras installed, furnaces serviced, got the yard service going, getting the concrete pad and electrical for the hot tub done this coming week...

My 2020 iPhone SE had gotten to point it would only last 2-3 hrs on a full charge with constant use.  So it was time for a new phone, got my first big phone this week--an iPhone 14 Pro (the Pro Max is even larger, I don't need one that large).   Nice hefty phone, still fits in my pocket but larger than the SE...like it so far...good battery life.

So after having a 2018 Ford Transit 250 high roof rental from Penske a couple weeks ago, I have a 2021 Ford Transit 250 high roof this holiday weekend.  The updated dash is nice.  This one only has 60k miles. 

Tina was someone I never saw live, would love to have seen her in the 80s-90s..what a voice and presence....

Maybe to counter Tesla’s Ludicris mode, they can have ‘Psychotiq’.  

While out walking the dogs, I saw one of the new Amazon Rivian electric vans for the first time.  Pretty cool. 

I've got a lot of ideas for trees and flower beds, etc.   all in due time. 

7 minutes ago, David said:

Thank you for the updated info. Sounds awesome, totally agree with you on the arthritis, knees and hips for comfort. Should be a welcome addition to life for you and your sister. Going to put a cover over the Jacuzzi or let the snow pile up and clear it before getting in?

 

I was looking at those automated covers..they are pretty slick in operation.  Going with a manual cover that works like a convertible top and folds back.  Want it open to the sky for starry nights...

On 5/15/2023 at 7:08 PM, David said:

Robert, is this one of those tubs that uses salt to chlorinate itself or is it a traditional chlorine system that you can use a shock treatment on to keep it PH balanced? I see in the picture it uses fresh water?

Does it have a warm towel drawer?

Are you going to put a cover up over it to keep it out of the snow?

Very excited for you and your sister as it will really help to relax the body and replenish it. I feel these are a must have for everyone as you hit 50 and older.

It uses salt... 10x10, room for 7, so should be comfortable for two.  Will have a folding cover.   USB stereo system.  43 adjustable jets.  Back massage.  We thought about getting a swim spa, but realized a traditional hot tub will be way more useful for aches and pains.  My sister w/ her arthritis and my hips and knees will benefit from this more than a pool right now...though we have plenty of room for a pool later. 

Getting a 12 x 12 slab put in the yard to install it on, connected to the back patio, have some landscaping ideas for improving the yard over time.   Will be a really nice place to spend time..

Bought a hot tub today for the backyard at the new house, figure it will be very enjoyable year round to relax in...

We mostly use Duo at work for 2FA (have to click an accept button on a phone app when logging in), though some of the 3rd party sites tied into the company SSO require a code sent via SMS or email.     Some days I think I have to do the Duo accept 20 times...

My doctors also use MyChart, usually works pretty well..

Ruh-roh... saw an EQE this past weekend..very plain and anonymous aero styling...in gray w/ black wheels.. blah.

Thanks...been busy lately and didn't realize my sub had lapsed...renewed for 3 years. 

I noticed it on those recent posts in the Random Thoughts channel...my Musk Slack related posts.  Was able to edit one earlier, can't edit now..

Like the post above, I can't edit it.  But some of my posts I can edit.  I have two posts I made about 15 min apart one right after the other, can edit one but not the other..strange.

8 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

I can imagine you saying that with a certain disgust in your tone with the same facial expressions of this lovely young lady. 

Many of them are .NET people, so I already view them with pity, disgust and contempt anyway…