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    1. Home
    2. trivet
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    trivet

    @trivet

    Lover of orphaned car brands, craft beer, and vintage video games. Not always in that order.

    15822
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    Location Bay City, MI USA

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    Best posts made by trivet

    • Terrible weekend

      Had to say goodbye to Riley last Friday - it was time.

      I put it off too long, hoping he was just having a "few bad days" but he has been going downhill for months.

      He was just over 14, but the last 6 months have been hard. I almost made the decision 2 weeks ago, but I couldn't do it...but I knew it was time. He was hurting and even getting up was difficult for him. I t was extremely hard, because he declined slowly, there wasn't one thing in particular that told us it was time - but looking at the whole picture, quality of life was not there.

      Here he is last year, when he was still doing good and loved being outside.

      Riley.jpg

      He was a good boy, and I miss him 😞

      Just trying to keep my shit together at work today.

      Please post happy/goofy pics of your pets. Need to remember the good days.

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • The time I totaled a UPS delivery van

      None of the pictures are from the actual incident - this was long before cellphones were a thing. I just added some for illustration purposes.

      Many years ago, in my youth, I was a UPS Delivery Driver.

      Well, when you are low on the seniority list, you would get all the “leftover” jobs the higher seniority drivers didn’t want. This was one of them.

      Typical Michigan winter day, snow, ice, generally crappy road conditions. Well, all of the Ground packages were loaded up – but the Air (Overnight/Priority) packages were stuck in Flint, and our center was based in Saginaw. So, I’m the lucky guy who gets to make the trip.

      Not a big deal, actually an easy run – just going to pick up 50 or so packages and bring them back. Sure, the roads are ice covered, but even at a young age I had a lot of experience driving in poor conditions.

      The best part about this run, is while you are usually stuck with the crappiest vehicle in the fleet (the ones that the mechanics had held together with duct tape and hope) I got to drive the BRAND NEW Ford Econoline delivery van. One of only 2 of our entire fleet with an automatic transmission, and it had heat!
      Damn, I was riding in luxury.
      2017-ford-transit-350-cargo-van-ecoboost-test-review-car-and-driver-photo-675803-s-original.jpg

      So, I’m halfway between Saginaw and Flint on Southbound I-75 in absolute shitty conditions.

      Snowy, windy, and It had been sleeting for the last 20 minutes, so everything was coated in ice.
      highway-stpaul-gty-ps-220223_1645625539894_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg
      (Fun fact about driving a rear-wheel-drive, empty delivery van with a fiberglass extended roof in icy conditions and high winds. It is, in fact, not fun. )

      I was in the center lane (best condition), cruising along at approximately 40 mph, being passed on both sides by pretty much everyone on the road. I decided I should probably get over to the right lane as I was going much slower than everyone else. Well, the right lane was terrible. Snow covered and worse than the center lane. So I decided to ease back. As I was trying to get back to the slightly better center lane, I went under an overpass and came out to a huge gust of wind from the West, which caught the extended roof, lightweight empty van like a freshly unfurled sail in the Americas Cup yacht race. All of a sudden I was travelling West (still facing South). Luckily I was down to 30-35mph at this time, and there was no other vehicles near me, so I was not panicked. As I was literally being pushed towards the median, my though was “Oh shit, I’m going to get stuck and need to be towed out”.

      I need not have worried; I did not get stuck in the median.

      As both driver’s side wheels hit the built-up snow/ice/slush on the edge of the road, the van did a complete 360 roll over into the median. Complete roll over. alt textRemember the roof made of fiberglass? Didn’t hold up so well.

      I ended up back on all 4 wheels, still facing South – but in the middle of Northbound I-75. Just like this car here: wrong way.JPG
      The van had stalled, but miraculously started up (for the very last time) and I was able to pull it back into the median. Cars were pulling off the side of the road and people were rushing to assist.

      I unbuckled, opened my door, and got out.

      The truck was a mess. bc622106-f9b3-46f3-a7cb-14c9dfd8f35f-image.png
      The roof was crushed, both side mirrors ripped clean off, both sides of the van were crumpled like used wrapping paper. It had less than 500 miles on the odometer.

      My only thought was “I am so fired”.

      From one of the cars emerged a young woman who came rushing up to me. “Are you ok?”

      I’m fine, not a scratch. I tell her.

      Then she askes me something that I still chuckle about to this day.

      “I’m a nurse, how is your heart rate?”

      (Well, I had just destroyed the newest vehicle in our fleet in spectacular fashion.)

      It’s a little elevated, I responded. (I mean….duh)alt text

      Then the police, ambulances and a few fire trucks show up. From my understanding, it was quite the spectacular crash. People assumed I was dead, or at least seriously injured. The police were surprised to find out I was the driver; as they were getting ready to search for the body that must have obviously been thrown from the van when the vehicular acrobatics occurred.

      But, because I was wearing my seatbelt, the van was empty (no packages to fly around and beat me to death) the only “injury” I suffered was a bruise around my shoulder from the seat belt.

      I did not get fired (worked another 9 years at UPS) since I was issued no citation. The police determined I was not at fault as they had responded to several other very similar incidents that day.

      The most memorable part of this was the mandatory physical exam (per company policy) I undertook the very next day.

      When I got to the doctor’s office, the receptionist was taking my medical history.

      Did you sustain any injury?
      "No"

      Do you have any Allergies?
      "None"

      Are you on any medications?
      "Nope"

      When was your last bowel movement?
      "When I flipped the van"

      She actually wrote that down.

      posted in Oppositelock crash ups
      trivet
      trivet
    • I broke the entire company's intranet

      When I logged on at work this morning, I received an error message :

      The intranet was down.
      81368a0d-89eb-4f02-90ec-e1f590d01660-image.png
      No big deal - everything else worked, including internet connectivity - so I started my day as any other.

      I see several messages from other teams that they are having the same issue.
      alt text
      The IT Dept puts out a companywide email saying they are aware of the issue and are working on it.
      alt text

      About an hour later I get a message telling me
      I am
      the reason the intranet is broken.
      alt text

      On our intranet home page, the company posts employees work anniversaries and birthdays and such coming up in the next week.

      Well, I don't have a birthday this year, and the system could not compute February 29th 2023 - since there is no such date - and it crashed.
      c2a3794b-0175-4455-a8b6-ee04aa45e5bc-image.png

      The IT Dept got a good laugh about it and thanked me for giving them a unique challenge this morning.

      59e97ccf-0330-4745-91df-6e9b5855d347-image.png

      This is the first time I've run into any "major" issue caused by my unusual birthday 😁

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • Speaking of Calvin and Hobbes

      I've had this on my work desk for 9 years now......my daughter made this for me, as we are both fans of Watterson's comic.

      There is no official/licensed C&H merchandise - but this is better anyway. 😁

      Hand drawn/painted. She is exceptionally talented. It is one of my favorite things.

      1.jpg
      2.jpg
      3.jpg
      4.jpg
      5.jpg

      It's a little dusty and dirty on the inside, I use it as my pen holder.

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • Finally back on the road!

      After having problems for the last 2 years - I finally have the Fiero back on the road!!! I driven her only about 2 times in the last 2 years due to electrical issues, minor at first, then the fusible links blew (twice), so she got parked in the garage.

      I gave up and had her towed to a local shop that I know and trust. They had her over a week (not a high priority since it's not a daily driver). Turned out to be the ground wires. Not a shock as she is 34 years old.

      However, it was nice to drive her again. After picking her up from the shop, I took her out on the highway, some back roads, and a quick trip to Menards to get a new battery for the stereo remote (died sometime during the last 2 years - shockingly) 🙂

      She desperately needs a bath, that will come this weekend.fiero2.jpg
      fiero.jpg

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • Mancave upgrades

      Finally got around to making my bar a "wet" bar by adding a sink and running water lines.
      20220526_161506.jpg

      Also upgraded to a full size fridge instead of 2 mini fridges. Fully (well, mostly fully) stocked.
      20220526_161733.jpg

      Arcade is complete - until I decide if I want to add a racing game or not... 🤔
      20220526_161650.jpg
      Don't know where I would put it - but since I have Galaga on 2 other machines, I might have to replace that one.

      Poker/game night is tonight - going to get some use out of the bar for sure. 😁

      posted in Oppositelock mancave arcade
      trivet
      trivet
    • How it started vs how it's going

      I was looking through some pics on my computer when I came across a picture of my Fiero on the day I brought her home.

      2009 - all stock, around 69,000 miles
      My Fiero.jpg

      Now - After multiple upgrades (costing WAY more than I spent on the actual car) and about 87,000 miles
      20180429_122257.jpg

      I'll need to get some interior shots to show the upgrades there as well.

      Let's see your project pictures!

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • Damn hotrodders!!

      I was driving to Home Depot the other day when I came up behind a very slow moving white pickup, going at least 15-20 mph below the speed limit on a straight and empty rural road.

      I passed them legally, not even exceeding the speed limit and continued on my way to the store, maybe 2 miles from this point.

      When I get to Home Depot, I wait for a good parking spot when the white pickup drives by me and the elderly driver yells "Damn hotrodder!" at me.

      I'm 53. I passed him legally, never exceeding the speed limit on my way to Home Depot. 🤣

      313ed3cf-3caa-47d6-ad85-c942ab6442ec-image.png

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • Surgery for Gracie :(

      Gracie developed a limp that has worsened over the last few months that ending up being a partially torn ACL.

      After diagnosis and a several consultations, I opted for surgical repair, as she is young and very active.
      Keeping her restrained for the next 2 months will be the real challenge.

      Surgery went great, though it was a long, tough day for me waiting for her.

      Got her home last night and she was pretty out of it.
      20230503_192341.jpg

      I left the 'cone of shame' off while she slept yesterday evening (with an eye on her the entire time) but she needs it at night or if she isn't being watched directly to keep her from licking/chewing the incision. I did get an inflatable post-surgery neck collar that is a little better than the huge plastic one the vet supplied.

      I hate to see her like this - but the prognosis is a full recovery and back to chasing frisbees by late summer.
      20230503_193557.jpg

      posted in Oppositelock doggo
      trivet
      trivet
    • New geometric shape discovered

      shapes.jpg

      posted in Oppositelock math geometry
      trivet
      trivet

    Latest posts made by trivet

    • RE: Tomorrow Evening, in a Concert Hall About 15 Miles Away...

      This is awesome - I'm going to make this my ringtone!

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • RE: speed has never killed anyone. suddenly becoming stationary...that's what gets you.

      @RallyWrench said in speed has never killed anyone. suddenly becoming stationary...that's what gets you.:

      @Just-Jeepin Guess he couldn't outrun a citation after all.

      alt text

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • RE: Lower your IQ by 50 points with this one easy trick!

      @HammerheadFistpunch said in Lower your IQ by 50 points with this one easy trick!:

      @CarsOfFortLangley was going to read it, saw it was BB, did not click.

      Saw that is was Jalopnik - did not click

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • RE: Remmber when a Mustang GT was 30 grand?

      This one you can get for $30K - with change left over
      4ace7a05-4347-4f8d-8493-6ae8cc3788f1-image.png

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • RE: Overdue (and Excellent) Fargo Update!

      alt text

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • RE: Flathead County Police Blotter

      @Highlander said in Flathead County Police Blotter:

      8:40 p.m. A husky was left behind at the dog park.

      alt text

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • RE: Heart Shaped Lights?

      @FourMalibus said in Heart Shaped Lights?:

      @trivet no no no. That statement is definitely for the items below not above!

      5115da15-dabf-4007-b5d5-bca03ff518a8-image.png

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • RE: Heart Shaped Lights?

      @FourMalibus
      a541d20b-3c73-438c-a507-901840acc399-image.png
      5d6c8629-4a44-4677-99c2-888b8acc96e2-image.png

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • RE: A Thing Was Done: Bucket List Item

      f0ebf254-7601-4895-ad30-326b0b02bb51-image.png

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet
    • RE: Keep your friends close: a reminder

      Wow - terrible. So sorry for your loss.

      We're here if you need to talk/vent/laugh/cry.

      posted in Oppositelock
      trivet
      trivet