The LOW QUALITY, inexpensive replacement parts being sold these days is starting to irritate me; it is becoming a pet peeve. I have not notice this as much when purchasing OEM replacement part from the tractor dealerships or even for cars when it comes to big branded automotive part stores. Long gone are the days of cast parts and brass bushing … and even the plastic being used seems cheaper nowadays?
The latest replacement part issue has been the electric fuel pumps purchased for our Kubota ZD326s Zero-turn lawnmower. I’ve accepted that it is a part that might need to be replaced after years of service, but this is now the 4th pump in 15 years. The original lasted a long time (13 years), the Chinese-made replacement only about 3 years, then again last August with another. BUT … that last one only lasted only 4 months and the reseller would not replace it … instead told me to contact Amazon.
Of course the “4 months” was past the normal return date, but Amazon’s customer service politely indicated that they would refund my purchase price minus the shipping charge for the returning part. So I ordered on Amazon again, but from a different supplier hoping the quality is better (suspect they are all the same) and will be shipping the old one back in the Amazon box. It did give me an excuse to change the fuel filters again too.
While grilling “bacon wrapped” steaks (bacon was the problem) over Christmas this year on our Weber Grill … I “over-cooked” (or perhaps “fried”) the meat probe for the Weber iGrill temperature monitor. I knew when the plastic caught fire that it wasn’t good, but thought perhaps the braided wiring and probe itself might still be fine. It was not… and needed to be replaced. My son-in-law who coaxes me into using these tech gadgets by gifting them to me (not that I need much prodding) … volunteered to replace it. Too kind, but “my bad” … I appreciated none the less.
With the slower than usual week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, I opted to work on a few home repair projects … really notice the toilet problems when the family was here over Christmas. I ordered a valve repair kit for the media/game room toilet in the basement and a new flapper set-up for the Jack and Jill bathroom between the granddaughters’ bedrooms. All went smoothly … although really need to replace the shut-off valve in the basement with a higher quality quarter turn shutoff ???
We also put to use one of the Christmas gifts from Katelyn and Drew as well .. and Ikea Lazy Susan for the refrigerator. Nice!
And finally, the contractor came on the weekend to repair our pool house roof, soffits and soffits on the house that was damage by a freak windstorm in the late summer or early autumn. It was something I might normally do, but working on ladders or the steep part of the house roof is something I’m really not comfortable doing anymore (gallery photos below the break).
Jeff Evans, from Casualty Mitigation and Restoration, LLC, included a few “repaired photos” as IF this would have been an insurance repair. He also suggested that a power washing of the gutters and soffits might add some “bright” back to the aluminum and vinyl. Perhaps I’ll have him quote in the spring and paint the cupola on the pool house too???
After commenting back in 2022 on a favorite Babylon Bee parody video (added from YouTube below the break), this 2023 year year end New Year’s Eve favorite is another California oriented music video. Both parody clips highlight memorable songs as well as destructive policies from progressive Democrats governing a once idyllic state. It does seems that those same policies are infecting every large DEM run city in the country? Time to wake before it is too late America!
All fathers who semi-attempt to pass down a few “handyman” skills are proud of their sons (and daughters – mine is amazing!) when they tackle projects by themselves.
Taylor continues to amaze me at his fortitude when taking on homeownership projects, although he’s never been hesitant to jump into things with both feet. 😊
It may not seem all that difficult to some, but property measuring and cutting holes in walls to run wiring so that they don’t show is not as simple as it appears. After cutting the holes, he decided to Facetime me to find out how to get the wires from the hole above to the one below when the wall was stuffed with insulation. Thankfully he was able to use a fishrod to get the wires through. After putting the specialty electrical boxes in place and mounting a “flat to the wall” mounting system, it looks great! I don’t say it enough, but I am proud of him. Way to go Taylor!
The IRS has set the new tax brackets to adjust for inflation beginning in January 2024. The update is to shift higher by 5.4%, but for 2023 taxes that most of us will be filing before April 15 and saw even more “bracket creep” due to the previously year’s inflation.
Here are the changes unveiled by the IRS. The inflation-adjusted elements will apply to the 2024 tax year, meaning returns filed in 2025.
Standard deduction
The standard deduction, which reduces the amount of income you must pay taxes on, is claimed by a majority of taxpayers.
It will rise to $29,200, up from $27,700 in 2023, for married couples filing jointly, amounting to a 5.4% bump. For individuals, the new maximum will be $14,600 for 2024, up from $13,850, the IRS said.
Heads of households will see their standard deduction jump to $21,900 in 2024, up from $20,800.
After taking Brenda’s 2010 Acura RDX to a local service garage in September, it ran fine for a few months. Beginning in December though, it started to stumble and eventually triggered lights on the dash that included emissions and an AWD code. So we have taken it back this week to see if there is something else acting up — I’m hoping for another rubber hose issue, but whenever the words “emission system” comes up, the $$$ signs go off in my subconscious. 😊
BUT … to make this a ThrowBack Thursday #TBT post, how about a photo from 2016 with the previous owner, Drew! Back then it was pre-children and in Wayzata, Minnesota. Good times and good memories for them.
The LOW QUALITY, inexpensive replacement parts being sold these days is starting to irritate me; it is becoming a pet peeve. I have not notice this as much when purchasing OEM replacement part from the tractor dealerships or even for cars when it comes to big branded automotive part stores. Long gone are the days of cast parts and brass bushing … and even the plastic being used seems cheaper nowadays?
I ordered a valve repair kit for the media/game room toilet in the basement and a new flapper set-up for the Jack and Jill bathroom between the granddaughters’ bedrooms. All went smoothly … although really need to replace the shut-off valve in the basement with a higher quality quarter turn shutoff ??? 
