Pappy
Living the Dream
Rusty’s a handsome guy. I see he’s not too excited around people.
Never thought retirement would be like this
- Thread starter NancyNGA
- Start date
Pappy, wouldn't it be nice to have a long tongue like a goat or a cow. You would never need to carry handkerchief (video). :yuk:
Phone:
Plugged in the base phone, got online and it was activated instantly. Doesn't appear to work for old fashioned rotary dial phones.
There are more things you can activate:
Call Forwarding (busy, exclusive, or no answer)
Call Blocking (block up to 20 numbers), and Anonymous call blocking (those with hidden caller ID). Not sure if that includes "caller unknown"
Call Screening (accept up to 20 numbers)
Voicemail
Don't know if these things will play nice with the device I already have that blocks calls, or with the answering machine on the base. I'm taking a break before experimenting further. Need to experience a simple success for at least a few hours in order to build up some confidence before proceeding. LOL!
Still haven't completely given up on activating the old house wiring. Don't know why really.[SUP]*[/SUP] I guess just to see if it can be done.:shrug: Trying to translate this rather old answer, from an AT&T forum, into English.
POTS - Plain Old Telephone Service
[SUP]*[/SUP]A reason---so there can be one nice looking phone downstairs, and a wall phone upstairs.
Update 7:30 pm:
My blocking device works just fine on the new phone, and has more options than the phone service, like wild card numbers (blocks 80*, 88*, etc). So the only AT&T option I might be interested in is Call Forwarding (exclusive). You might be able to use this to receive calls from businesses and avoid giving them your cellphone number to sell. I think that happened with Tractor Supply this summer.
All the house phones are still working, even the rotary dial one, but I expect that will change. After reading over that AT&T forum answer, I think I understand it, except exactly how to wire the double jack wall plate. I may have done that already on the upstairs hall phone, but skipping the wall plate.
Plugged in the base phone, got online and it was activated instantly. Doesn't appear to work for old fashioned rotary dial phones.
There are more things you can activate:
Call Forwarding (busy, exclusive, or no answer)
Call Blocking (block up to 20 numbers), and Anonymous call blocking (those with hidden caller ID). Not sure if that includes "caller unknown"
Call Screening (accept up to 20 numbers)
Voicemail
Don't know if these things will play nice with the device I already have that blocks calls, or with the answering machine on the base. I'm taking a break before experimenting further. Need to experience a simple success for at least a few hours in order to build up some confidence before proceeding. LOL!
Still haven't completely given up on activating the old house wiring. Don't know why really.[SUP]*[/SUP] I guess just to see if it can be done.:shrug: Trying to translate this rather old answer, from an AT&T forum, into English.
POTS - Plain Old Telephone Service
[SUP]*[/SUP]A reason---so there can be one nice looking phone downstairs, and a wall phone upstairs.
Update 7:30 pm:
My blocking device works just fine on the new phone, and has more options than the phone service, like wild card numbers (blocks 80*, 88*, etc). So the only AT&T option I might be interested in is Call Forwarding (exclusive). You might be able to use this to receive calls from businesses and avoid giving them your cellphone number to sell. I think that happened with Tractor Supply this summer.
All the house phones are still working, even the rotary dial one, but I expect that will change.
After reading over that AT&T forum answer, I think I understand it, except exactly how to wire the double jack wall plate. I may have done that already on the upstairs hall phone, but skipping the wall plate.
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Nancy, we got about 8" of snow. We have lots of pine limbs down here in our yard. But none fell on power lines. I am getting rid of those suckers! But lots of pine and hard woods down in our subdivision. Saw several cars with trees across them in their driveways. The worst thing was no heat! We have natural gas heat but when the power goes out...no blower because it is electric! I turned on the gas fireplace logs and it kept the den pretty warm (which is where we slept on Saturday night) until early Sunday morning and the thermostat would not get above 58 degrees because it was 22 degrees outside! We had bought some battery operated lanterns from Home Depot last year and they put out some nice light. I don't like to burn candles any more. Anyway, we survived and I don't want anymore snow this winter!
What sort of phone blocking device do you have? I have been looking into NOMOROBO but have not made a commitment. Comcast offers it for free. Don't know if it is free for other providers.
Rusty is a cutie...I think he just wanted to be acknowledged!
What sort of phone blocking device do you have? I have been looking into NOMOROBO but have not made a commitment. Comcast offers it for free. Don't know if it is free for other providers.
Rusty is a cutie...I think he just wanted to be acknowledged!
OMG, 8 inches!!! That would shut the entire town down here. I think we've only had that much a couple of times since I've lived here. I know how miserable it is to be without power in the winter.
Once we were without electricity for about 5 days. I lived in an all electric apartment then. Had to sleep bundled up in my coat a few nights, and put stuff from the freezer out on the balcony. I used to have a gas water heater, so at least you could have 130 degree instant coffee. LOL! I have one gas space heater in one room upstairs that works well.
Freezing rain is worse because it takes down trees and power lines EVERYWHERE, even where there aren't trees.
Glad you got through it with no damage. It sure makes you appreciate the little things in life when power finally comes back on, doesn't it.
Once we were without electricity for about 5 days. I lived in an all electric apartment then. Had to sleep bundled up in my coat a few nights, and put stuff from the freezer out on the balcony. I used to have a gas water heater, so at least you could have 130 degree instant coffee. LOL! I have one gas space heater in one room upstairs that works well.
Freezing rain is worse because it takes down trees and power lines EVERYWHERE, even where there aren't trees.
Glad you got through it with no damage. It sure makes you appreciate the little things in life when power finally comes back on, doesn't it.
I forgot about your other question. It's called a Digitone ProSeries Blocker. It's rather expensive. It was one of those toys I wanted to get, just for the heck of it.
Turned out to be better than I expected. It will block up to 1000 area codes, so I've blocked all the 1-8XX numbers. That alone takes care of a lot of the nuisance calls. You have to be more creative blocking the others. They've learned how to fake numbers from your area code and exchange now. In fact they've even taken my phone number and just scrambled the last 4 digits to fake a caller ID. If it continues I might just make my phone into a call out only phone. I use it a lot to find my cell phone when I misplace it. LOL!
I wouldn't exactly say I've been putting out fires lately; more like stomping out little embers that fly around. Too many and too minor to discuss, but lots of them together provide a great excuse to procrastinate on important things. I'm getting behind again.
Got the new latex pillow. Error on confirmed delivery by Amazon made me think for 24 hours that porch pirates got it. I've never had porch pirates before. Great pillow, btw! Will order a second one after Christmas is over.
The heater in the truck has been working, for the most part. If I can make it through February, I can put off fixing that until next November. Meanwhile maybe something major will conk out and I'll just get a new truck.layful:
Old house phone line got deactivated yesterday. According to an old (2013) AT&T brochure, all you have to do to activate all the house phone jacks is open the old DSL box on the house outside, pull out one wire, then plug the router into any phone jack in the house. I'm skeptical, but in case it works, I've been trying to think of a way to run another phone line from the basement, or somewhere, in the wall, nearer to the router.
Headed out there right now to try it. Nothing to lose, right???nthego:
Got the new latex pillow. Error on confirmed delivery by Amazon made me think for 24 hours that porch pirates got it. I've never had porch pirates before. Great pillow, btw! Will order a second one after Christmas is over.
The heater in the truck has been working, for the most part. If I can make it through February, I can put off fixing that until next November. Meanwhile maybe something major will conk out and I'll just get a new truck.
layful:Old house phone line got deactivated yesterday. According to an old (2013) AT&T brochure, all you have to do to activate all the house phone jacks is open the old DSL box on the house outside, pull out one wire, then plug the router into any phone jack in the house. I'm skeptical, but in case it works, I've been trying to think of a way to run another phone line from the basement, or somewhere, in the wall, nearer to the router.
Headed out there right now to try it. Nothing to lose, right???
nthego:
There were *two* wires to pull out, not one.
Even the wall phone works! You can even *receive* calls on my old rotary dial phone, just can't dial out, but who wants to dial out on that.
The only thing odd is you get a half dozen short dial tone beeps when you first pick up the phones to call out. Could that be voicemail, activated automatically? I don't want voicemail! On to try and stomp out voicemail.
There is a sticker on the bottom of that old phone that says Refurbished/1983. It is rotary only. I only keep it because it is occupying an otherwise empty space.
My wall phone has a switch like that, from tone to rotary.We have two of those old black phones, brought from Ohio, via Florida. I installed the other one for my mother at the farm, because she could never figure out where to put her ear on the newfangled phones, and so she always claimed voices were clearer on it.
That was it---voicemail was activated! There was one message on the AT&T website. It only took me an hour to kill voicemail.
Not sure if I'm out of the woods yet, 'cause I don't understand how that message got there. When I called the house from the cell phone it went to my answering machine. It may just tell some callers there is no voice mail and hang up on them? I guess I'll try calling from the farm today. [Oh wait, the phone is not working out there! This is embarrassing. ]
Another thought: Maybe that message came during the couple of hours I had the answering machine disconnected at the house. YEAH!!!! Fingers crossed.
Not sure if I'm out of the woods yet, 'cause I don't understand how that message got there. When I called the house from the cell phone it went to my answering machine.
It may just tell some callers there is no voice mail and hang up on them? I guess I'll try calling from the farm today. [Oh wait, the phone is not working out there! This is embarrassing. ]Another thought: Maybe that message came during the couple of hours I had the answering machine disconnected at the house. YEAH!!!! Fingers crossed.
Troubleshooting auto heater this evening. Got so excited, had to go out after dark with flashlight and check. layful: The coolant reservoir tank was empty. Put in almost a gallon to bring it up to the MIN cold fill mark. Folks on F-150 forums say their reservoir level goes down mysteriously, but gradually, all the time and nothing else seems to be wrong. I haven't checked it for a long time, because I didn't really understand what it was for, and the level never, ever, changed on the Ranger. Hope I didn't ruin anything.
I have a gut feeling this was all that was wrong. Jinx?
layful: The coolant reservoir tank was empty. Put in almost a gallon to bring it up to the MIN cold fill mark. Folks on F-150 forums say their reservoir level goes down mysteriously, but gradually, all the time and nothing else seems to be wrong. I haven't checked it for a long time, because I didn't really understand what it was for, and the level never, ever, changed on the Ranger. Hope I didn't ruin anything.I have a gut feeling this was all that was wrong. Jinx?
Took truck on test run around town today. Heater was fine, except sitting at stop lights it would cool down, but not cold like before. After truck cooled down, took off the cap, and fluid looked like a weak coffee latte---thin foam on top.
Now troubleshooting foam. Could mean anything from
1. Radiator needs burping
, to2. Radiator needs flushed, to
3. Cracked head gasket (Whatever the heck that is. I do know it's really expensive.)
Have a sinking feeling truck is heading for it's last round-up. {sniff} .. <--- Trying a non-jinxing statement for good luck
Took truck on test run around town today. Heater was fine, except sitting at stop lights it would cool down, but not cold like before. After truck cooled down, took off the cap, and fluid looked like a weak coffee latte---thin foam on top.
Now troubleshooting foam. Could mean anything from
1. Radiator needs burping
2. Radiator needs flushed, to
3. Cracked head gasket (Whatever the heck that is. I do know it's really expensive.)
Have a sinking feeling truck is heading for it's last round-up. {sniff} .. <--- Trying a non-jinxing statement for good luck
Try the simple (cheap) things first
thermostat
hose
or even hose clamp
My experience; Do NOT!! flush it. If it's rather aged, all kindsa things can happen, or break loose
make/model/miles?
'fluid looked like a weak coffee latte'
not good
Gary, it's a 1997 Ford F-150, with about 140K miles. The radiator is fairly new, maybe 5-6 years old, not metal. Heater core is probably original.
Maybe coffee latte was exaggerating. The liquid is *very* weak coffee color. Foam is like a thin layer of scum on top.
Oil looks normal, but then what do I know.
Thanks for your comments. Everything helps.
Videos of heater core replacement look labor intensive also. Guess I'll take it somewhere this week and see what "they" say.
May try checking hoses today---wherever they are. LOL! I'm pretty clueless about automobiles.
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'Oil looks normal, but then what do I know'
If it looks milky you got more than heater core issues
and
I have yet to experience an easy heater core change out
Very worth it to take it in to a trusted mechanic
Looked for obvious evidence of hose leaks, and didn't see any, but I don't have the tools or expertise to do a perfect check. Nearly impossible to get to some of the connections without tearing things out.
Today I got to drive 50 miles highway speed. The heater is working great, even at idle. Engine temp running lower than usual according to needle on gauge, if that is any indicator. Same amount of scum after cool down. Here's my plan...
Get the shop vac and vacuum out that foamy stuff and see if it comes back. If it never does I'm going to assume it was a one time thing because I let the coolant get too low. It's possible I just didn't tighten the cap down tight enough last time (months ago)---I don't remember ever hearing a click before, didn't understand what that reservoir was for. If foam comes back, I'll take it somewhere and see how much it would cost. Too much --> new truck.
Promise not to talk about this subject any more unless something major happens, or someone has another suggestion. Learned a lot. Now know what a head gasket is. layful: Ready to move on to something else.nthego:
Edit: Ooops, Gary, it looks like you and I were posting at the same time. Oil definitely not milky. Thanks for your help and advice.
Edit2: Originally used two types of antifreeze that I had around the house to fill that reservoir. A couple of cups were a brand (Dex Cool) that some claim can react with other types to form a gel. Others claim that's not true.
Edit3 (Monday): Removed foam, added compatible antifreeze, drove 20 miles, no new foam so far.
.
.
Today I got to drive 50 miles highway speed. The heater is working great, even at idle. Engine temp running lower than usual according to needle on gauge, if that is any indicator. Same amount of scum after cool down. Here's my plan...
Get the shop vac and vacuum out that foamy stuff and see if it comes back. If it never does I'm going to assume it was a one time thing because I let the coolant get too low. It's possible I just didn't tighten the cap down tight enough last time (months ago)---I don't remember ever hearing a click before, didn't understand what that reservoir was for.
If foam comes back, I'll take it somewhere and see how much it would cost. Too much --> new truck.Promise not to talk about this subject any more unless something major happens, or someone has another suggestion. Learned a lot. Now know what a head gasket is.
layful: Ready to move on to something else.nthego:Edit: Ooops, Gary, it looks like you and I were posting at the same time. Oil definitely not milky. Thanks for your help and advice.
Edit2: Originally used two types of antifreeze that I had around the house to fill that reservoir. A couple of cups were a brand (Dex Cool) that some claim can react with other types to form a gel. Others claim that's not true.
Edit3 (Monday): Removed foam, added compatible antifreeze, drove 20 miles, no new foam so far.
.
.
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Oh what a sweet picture! I had an Instamatic camera too! Been fighting a terrible cold all week and Mike has strep throat! Kinda be glad when the holidays are over and I can get back to a routine. You know the kind of routine where you make lots of lists of things you want to get done but never get around to them! LOL Merry Christmas!
Hi maggiemae! Glad you stopped by. I was wondering what you were up to. Sorry you both got sick. What an awful time for that to happen.
Did you prepare a Christmas dinner for your family? Or will that be tomorrow? I'm all mixed up with Christmas coming on Monday. I thought yesterday was Sunday all day, and today it seems like Saturday.
I've been in a mood where I don't want to do anything. I think it's the change in routine. (Wait! I don't have a routine! Ha!) I've had so many great excuses to do nothing since I last talked to you.
Merry Christmas!
Did you prepare a Christmas dinner for your family? Or will that be tomorrow? I'm all mixed up with Christmas coming on Monday. I thought yesterday was Sunday all day, and today it seems like Saturday.
I've been in a mood where I don't want to do anything. I think it's the change in routine. (Wait! I don't have a routine! Ha!) I've had so many great excuses to do nothing since I last talked to you.
Merry Christmas!
Nancy, we do the Christmas Eve thing here and grilled steaks and the grand kids opened our gifts to them. Tomorrow we will go to our daughter's house (a street over) for brunch and we will see what Santa brought. Then back here for a baked ham and trimmings. I am tired! I want to take down all these decorations tomorrow night and get over it. I am thinking "Spring". Okay, I know it is too early but I do have Jonquils poking their heads out of the ground already!? And they are talking about a wintry mix for late this week! I am so over winter!
The steak sounds great to me! Never thought of that. I may run out and get one tomorrow if anything is open.
Only two months, at most, and it will be as good as spring.
But then there will be lawn mowing soon to follow. 
Pappy
Living the Dream
This might work.......
