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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 24, 2022 16:36:01 GMT -5
Stepped out the back door this morning and met a Prairie Rattlesnake, coiled, buzzing and pissed. First time I have seen one near the house in 25 years. Also the first time I had one coil and buzz at me. Probably the dog. She ran out behind me. So, I shot it. Good target practice with a Colt Commando and lead round nose. Close to a gas line, so aim was carefully applied. I do not enjoy killing these guys but too close to the house, dog, cats, me, Cassandra. Since it was already agitated, relocating was not something I felt confident about. Need a pair of snake tongs  You don't need coffee to wake up this morning, do you? |
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Post by Plainsman on Jul 24, 2022 17:13:56 GMT -5
I thought there were no wolves left in Texas. Maybe when that pic was taken. They do look like pretty big ‘otes. More like eastern coyotes than western.
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Post by Plainsman on Jul 24, 2022 17:16:19 GMT -5
I have read in various reptile guidebooks that prairie rattlers are “usually placid and non-aggressive.’ I have never found them to be such. They always seem to be PO’d and ready for a fight. I try to make sure they bring fangs to a gunfight.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 24, 2022 17:23:12 GMT -5
I thought there were no wolves left in Texas. Maybe when that pic was taken. They do look like pretty big ‘otes. More like eastern coyotes than western. The wild wolves have been killed off in Texas by the early 70s. We had red wolves which can be smaller than a coyote. This was all dairy and chicken farms back then. As mentioned in the article, some people have suggested that they were red wolf/coyote hybrids. |
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Post by Plainsman on Jul 24, 2022 17:39:05 GMT -5
I have read in various reptile guidebooks that prairie rattlers are “usually placid and non-aggressive.’ I have never found them to be such. They always seem to be PO’d and ready for a fight. I try to make sure they bring fangs to a gunfight.
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Post by toshtego on Jul 24, 2022 18:20:14 GMT -5
I have read in various reptile guidebooks that prairie rattlers are “usually placid and non-aggressive.’ I have never found them to be such. They always seem to be PO’d and ready for a fight. I try to make sure they bring fangs to a gunfight. Mostly, that is the way they are, placid and almost dormant. This one was angry the moment I saw it. I fear one of my cat may have riled it and got bit since he has not been around since breakfast. Because it was so agitated I elected to shoot it rather than try to capture and relocate. Range was eight feet. One shot in midsection and one on the side of the head which is why it is spun around. First time I fired the Colt Commando. So it was practice for me. I should have used the FMJs I have in quantity rather than the lead round nose. Just in case it bounced off. Cannot tell with these guys, LOL! |
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Post by Plainsman on Jul 24, 2022 18:44:58 GMT -5
Maybe they dislike soddy folk more than than hacendado land barons.
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Post by toshtego on Jul 25, 2022 9:43:45 GMT -5
Maybe they dislike soddy folk more than than hacendado land barons. We only have a few of those Hacendados here. The rest of us are strictly Peons. Our cooler temps in the morning might make them a bit lazy, the snakes I mean. In the midday heat they are undercover. |
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Post by Plainsman on Jul 25, 2022 10:31:01 GMT -5
So far my slithery reduction program seems to be working. Been two years since we’ve seen one. Maybe they got the idea.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 25, 2022 11:51:46 GMT -5
Going into 4th month of no rain. Redbud and Hackberry trees are losing their leaves and the grass is crisp. The entire region is cutting the hay before it burns, we're seeing semis loaded with the big rolls. The moisture content is 16% for people who know about hay.
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Post by trailboss on Jul 25, 2022 21:04:54 GMT -5
The rain today in Las Vegas could only be described as torrential, a lot of cars took chances crossing roads they should not have, saw a gas station covered in a foot of mud and rocks from the empty land next door that was a tad higher in elevation.
I got soaked to the bone.
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Post by Silver on Jul 25, 2022 21:34:30 GMT -5
The rain today in Las Vegas could only be described as torrential, a lot of cars took chances crossing roads they should not have, saw a gas station covered in a foot of mud and rocks from the empty land next door that was a tad higher in elevation. I got soaked to the bone. Holy cow! |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 25, 2022 23:28:48 GMT -5
The rain today in Las Vegas could only be described as torrential, a lot of cars took chances crossing roads they should not have, saw a gas station covered in a foot of mud and rocks from the empty land next door that was a tad higher in elevation. I got soaked to the bone. My nephew and his wife from New Orleans were in Vegas this week. They were surprised by the rain. Officially Las Vegas got .03" of rain in the last 24 hours. That would not even be counted as rain here. 4" of rain per year?? In a normal year we get 54" |
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Post by Legend Lover on Jul 26, 2022 2:53:47 GMT -5
Hello all. I'm still in Lanzarote. WiFi is abysmal here so I've not be online much.
Just able to get on here to say hello. I'll see you when I get back.
I did manage to get a couple of pipes in during my stay though... Always a bonus.
Stay well my friends.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 26, 2022 10:00:05 GMT -5
Hello all. I'm still in Lanzarote. WiFi is abysmal here so I've not be online much. Just able to get on here to say hello. I'll see you when I get back. I did manage to get a couple of pipes in during my stay though... Always a bonus. Stay well my friends. Stay as long as you want. My wife likes the new guy. 😉🤠 |
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Post by Silver on Jul 26, 2022 10:11:29 GMT -5
Hello all. I'm still in Lanzarote. WiFi is abysmal here so I've not be online much. Just able to get on here to say hello. I'll see you when I get back. I did manage to get a couple of pipes in during my stay though... Always a bonus. Stay well my friends. Hope you're having a great holiday! |
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Post by toshtego on Jul 26, 2022 11:58:43 GMT -5
Hello all. I'm still in Lanzarote. WiFi is abysmal here so I've not be online much. Just able to get on here to say hello. I'll see you when I get back. I did manage to get a couple of pipes in during my stay though... Always a bonus. Stay well my friends. Hope you're having a great holiday! I also hope you re enjoying yourself and will return refreshed. |
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Post by oldcajun123 on Jul 26, 2022 12:33:57 GMT -5
 My 07 Tundra with the 5.7 litre engine oil pan is seeping oil, with new oil it’s a 750$ fix, first real money I’ve spent on that truck, needs new tires, ones on there are 6 yrs old, gonna spend money on my honey, much cheaper than a new one!
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Post by Plainsman on Jul 26, 2022 12:37:54 GMT -5
See if you can get some American-made Coopers. There is a code on the sidewall that will tell where they made. I really like my Coopers.
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Post by oldcajun123 on Jul 26, 2022 13:44:59 GMT -5
Thanks Bob been useing Coopers on my trucks since in the 90s, they are as you say good tires.
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Post by sperrytops on Jul 26, 2022 15:07:06 GMT -5
The rain today in Las Vegas could only be described as torrential, a lot of cars took chances crossing roads they should not have, saw a gas station covered in a foot of mud and rocks from the empty land next door that was a tad higher in elevation. I got soaked to the bone. My nephew and his wife from New Orleans were in Vegas this week. They were surprised by the rain. Officially Las Vegas got .03" of rain in the last 24 hours. That would not even be counted as rain here. 4" of rain per year?? In a normal year we get 54" In a normal year... |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 26, 2022 15:33:22 GMT -5
My nephew and his wife from New Orleans were in Vegas this week. They were surprised by the rain. Officially Las Vegas got .03" of rain in the last 24 hours. That would not even be counted as rain here. 4" of rain per year?? In a normal year we get 54" In a normal year... Yea, this year is anything but normal. Over a hundred days of heat advisories. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 26, 2022 15:35:15 GMT -5
My 07 Tundra with the 5.7 litre engine oil pan is seeping oil, with new oil it’s a 750$ fix, first real money I’ve spent on that truck, needs new tires, ones on there are 6 yrs old, gonna spend money on my honey, much cheaper than a new one! Walmart has good prices on Coopers, made in Texarkana. |
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Post by toshtego on Jul 26, 2022 21:33:05 GMT -5
I ran Cooper's on my trucks for many years. "Wilderness AT" 10 ply. Then they became so costly I had to find a replacement. I have great luck with Falken Tires. Made in Thailand and about 60 per cent of what Cooper's cost.
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Post by urbino on Jul 27, 2022 1:03:48 GMT -5
The hits just keep on comin'. The guy managing one of our highest-profile projects, due at the end of August, gave his 2-week notice today. He wasn't doing just the greatest job in the world, but at least he was doing something, y'know? Don't yet know how this is going to affect me, but can't see any way I don't inherit responsibility for at least part of that project.
It's funny, back in 2020-21, when it seems like every company was losing employees hand-over-fist, we only lost 1 person. Guess we're behind schedule.
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Post by Silver on Jul 27, 2022 9:14:20 GMT -5
That stinks, urb.
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Post by toshtego on Jul 27, 2022 11:12:00 GMT -5
The hits just keep on comin'. The guy managing one of our highest-profile projects, due at the end of August, gave his 2-week notice today. He wasn't doing just the greatest job in the world, but at least he was doing something, y'know? Don't yet know how this is going to affect me, but can't see any way I don't inherit responsibility for at least part of that project. It's funny, back in 2020-21, when it seems like every company was losing employees hand-over-fist, we only lost 1 person. Guess we're behind schedule. Does not surprise me. I recall my corporate days. |
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Post by Plainsman on Jul 27, 2022 18:56:15 GMT -5
Finally managed to get my truck into the mechanic-wizard. Just as I suspected, water pump failure. The part isn’t too expensive but getting to it and getting the new in is a nasty processs. About $1600 when the bill comes due. Oh well, at least I know what the problem is and a fix is on the way.
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Post by username on Jul 27, 2022 19:06:48 GMT -5
Had a flat today do to a bad tire valve. At least it was a easy fix but still sucked.
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Post by toshtego on Jul 27, 2022 19:17:26 GMT -5
Finally managed to get my truck into the mechanic-wizard. Just as I suspected, water pump failure. The part isn’t too expensive but getting to it and getting the new in is a nasty processs. About $1600 when the bill comes due. Oh well, at least I know what the problem is and a fix is on the way. The way the engine is packed into the bay with all the peripheral devices attached, any job is difficult. Looking, the other day, at my neighbor's 1972 Chevrolet truck with a 250 cubic inch straight 6, there is so much room under the hood there could be a tool locker in there. |
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My 07 Tundra with the 5.7 litre engine oil pan is seeping oil, with new oil it’s a 750$ fix, first real money I’ve spent on that truck, needs new tires, ones on there are 6 yrs old, gonna spend money on my honey, much cheaper than a new one!
