iluvtofly

YOu cannot edit a post once it's been up for 6 or 8 hours (don't remember which it is). People probably won't go back and read an edited post. Just an FYI...no shame in just replying to the last post with a small update.

Somethign about hearing someone walk by on New Years Eve repeating "I need a condom and a ruffie! Who has a condom and a ruffie for me?" is so wrong and so right in sooooo many ways.

As I remember it you were running around asking not only for condoms but for ruffies as well that night. It was highly entertaining.

Not completely shafted. There is a trailer being played with the new Harry Potter. If you look on youtube you can find a couple copies of it where people recorded it in the theater (crappy quality obviously). Also, in regards to Robin Williams being in the movie, I have looked and there are no diffinitive answers. Even on the IMDB website some of the actors/characters are listed as "rumored". And if they started filming in April you would think everything would be confirmed. Which leads me to think it hasn't been updated in a while. So I guess we'll have to wait and see. The only confirmed villans are Cat Woman (Anne Hathaway) and Bane (Tom Hardy).

I really need to stop reading this thread. Every post makes me more sad that I can't make it. Everyone have an extra drink for me! With any luck I'll make it back out next year.

Does he like to wear women's clothing? Yup...and he's OKAY! Does he sleep all night and work all day?

Here is the latest and greatest flyer!!!

Thanks! And thanks for the helpful tips. It's been a while since I bought a car. And last time I had the money to go to a dealership. This time I'm pretty limited to Craigslist. Fortunately I have a friend who has been a mechanic at a dealership for 20 years helping me. He's been around the game enough to know what to look for. He does a lot of buying and selling of cars himself that he fixes up too. So not only is he helping me avoid scams, but he's also checking out any car I'm interested in to make sure it won't die on me or give me some real immediate problems (yes, I know there is always the possiblity of something going wrong soon after, but he can at least check for the major stuff and will probably catch a few "small" problems that I wouldn't see that could potentially turn into big problems pretty quick).

So while looking through Craigslist for a car I came accross something very odd. What is the purpose of writing the number to call like this? 6seven8/6two2/5five8four

Both are AN-2's. When will you ever learn?

I've seen two attempts. Neither worked well. I have been on an attempted birdeo that didn't go quite as planned. Lots of spinning out of the plane. Personally, I would have been beyond terrified if that happened to me when I first started jumping. Forunately, I had complete confidence in the guy I was trying to ride. I also had confidence in myself to know when to give up trying to make it work and just let go. A newer jumper may not let go and just hold on for dear life out of fear and things could get much much worse. I agree that it's not just a matter of jump numbers but also talking to the person and seeing that their head is on straight. You have to beware of that "100 jump wonder" mentality and those who "don't know what they don't know." Especially when they're not willing to listen to others. I feel that is far more important than just flat jump number requirements. I would love to try one again. Only maybe this time I'll do it in a regular jumpsuit and not a corset.

What broke on your car? The timing gear on the crank shaft (sounds like) If it's just the timing what kind of estimates did you get for a repair? If the rest of car is sound she should be able to get that fixed for a lot less than a replacement vehicle. The entire timing kit is less than $300 and I used to see it listed as an entire bolt on piece, complete and ready to go. Just line up the shafts and slap it on. I believe the Altima is a non-interference engine (not finding it on any known interference engine lists) so it shouldn't require a complete tear down. A dealer is going to charge through the nose but a decent repair shop should be able to do it for far less than a grand. Told I need a new engine by a friend who is a mechanic at a Nissan dealership (going on 20 years now so he knows his stuff, plus he does work for several other friends who also have Nissans so I know his work is good) who does my work just for the cost of parts (no labor). He said a decent used one is $1500. BUT...with all the other problems my car has (and it has lots) it would proably just die again in a month or 2. And I don't have the money to keep doing repairs. My only choice really is for a car loan to get a new one.

Thanks. I've been looking on autotrader a little bit. I wan tot look at used car dealerships as well, but like I said, difficult when you can't get there. Craigslist hasn't been the only place I've been looking, just where I've been looking the most.

Does anyone have a car I can borrow for a short while (hopefully no more than a week or two)? My car went to the big dealership in the sky on Friday. I'm approved for a small car loan but it is very difficult to go car shopping when you don't really have a way to go LOOK at the cars. I've been scowering Craigslist all weekend, but I really don't like the idea that I can't go see these cars in person. OR...is anyone selling or know someone who's selling a car that runs well (not too concerned about looks at this point, just need something that is reliable and runs well) for no more than $3000?

I have only ever heard of someone getting the "dick" label if they "owe" beer and don't bring it. I have never heard of someone being expected to bring beer everytime they come out. Hell, we have a jumper who works at Budweiser and he doesn't bring beer out every single time (yes, he brings a ton 98% of the time though). But when he doesn't bring some out we don't get mad at him. We just get really happy everytime he does bring some out.

I'm so sorry to hear this Chris. I know how hard it is. I lost my best friend of 14 years back in December. Shakey was loved by EVERYONE who comes to your boogies. It was always a joy to see her sitting there right next to Julie when I came in to register. She will be greatly missed by all.

For those reading, it sounds like he has diagnosed it as the timing gear from the crank shaft has snapped a few teeth, and we all know, those aren't much fun to replace. (Though, I do seem to recall it being possible on my older Chevy, so it COULD be possible on this 4 banger) Didn't you break down next to a krispy kreme? (and yes people, the hot sign was on) Yes I did break down next to a Krispy Kream. Tried to eat one, had 2 bites and felt like I was going to throw up. THAT stressed out right now.

It's been a LOOOOOOOONG day since my last post about it dying. When I posted that I was on my way to the dealership to have my friend check it out. He came and got it started again and my car limped to the dealership. When he looked at it he determined that it needs a new engine (don't feel like going into details as to why right now). A used engine is $1500 and even then with all the other problems it has it may still die in a month or 2. He said it may or may not get me home (about 60 miles). I got about half way home before it finally kicked the bucket. Managed to get it off the road. Had to wait 5 hours for my Dad to get off work and get there to call AAA for me. While sitting there I made MANY phone calls to find out my options. My bank approved me for a $3000 car loan. Basically in order to not have 2 car payments at the same time I need to find a car for roughly $1200 then I can use the other $1800 to pay off the loan on my other, get the title and try to sell it for whatever I can get. Still looking at other options. I'm just VERY stressed out right now and can hardly think straight. I'm actually stressed enough that I can't eat. So right now my car is sitting outside, completely empty and looking sad. And I'm stranded. A couple people have offered to get me out to the Farm. But I need to get all this crap figured out. Plus, I would feel horrible if someone drove all the way from the Farm to get me (a little over an hour each way). With any luck I'll get things figured out tomorrow and will get a new (to me) car.

Well I made it 5 miles from the office and it died. :( My friend is on his way to rescue me.

Do you notice the car has problems running in the morning, that it might not have in the afternoon/evening? Not usually. Except in the winter when it's crazy cold outside. It's not happy till it's warmed up. But cold definitely is not an issue at the present time.

Honestly I'm hoping it's something as simple as one of the spark plugs or whatever he put in yesterday is bad. It ran fine all night last night. It wasn't till I came to work this morning that I had trouble. I'm heading over there now to have him look at it. Fingers crossed!

Hi Don't know anything about the cost of the fans, but if you got charged $110 just for spark plugs. IMO your mech "friend" is chargeing you for more than parts. 2 engine fans that died at the same time? Hopefully a real mechanic will respond. Ever notice that when a head light burns out it only happens one at a time. If both headlights stop working at the same time it's usualy usually a electical problem thats powers both lights ...... Something like a .......Fuse. I suggest you start a need thread and ask for car maintence advice from a mechanic. Putting new parts (dual fans for $400) is what it is. The first pair lasted 190K miles and now you paid maybe dealer ship price for another pair that will be going stong way after the rest of the car is dead. IMO based on the miles on your car. your or your mech friend should be shopping (phone or line line)for parts at a auto parts recycling center.AKA junk yard. Do not buy used spark plugs Let me rephrase the fan problem. The one was completely dead. And the bearings were bad on the other and it was about to die from having to do the work of two for about 8 months. I said spark plugs but it was spark plugs and gaskets. (Fairly certain on that, I'm not a car genius. I can check/fill fluids and change a tire. That's about it.) I trust him fully to work on my car. He's been a mechanic for about 15 years. Everyone else I know who has a Nissan goes to him and he does excellent work. Part of the problem is I don't have the money to do regular basic maintenance on it. So it makes sense that it's having problems. I'm just stuck between a rock and hard place right now.

Well I'm going over there in about an hour when I get off work for him to look at my car again. Hopefully he's not busy and will have time to talk a bit about it. If not I'll try to get together with him at a time when he's not working so we can discuss it. I'm pretty stressed out right now so I may just not be reading what you're saying correctly. I'll print it out and let him read it and see what he says.

Please note paragraph 6 in my reply Part of my problem is that there is a repo on my credit report right now. Referring back to the OP when I mentioned NEVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE co sign on a car for a friend. So I figure it's pretty much guaranteed I won't be getting any sort of car loan (or any kind of loan for that matter) in the forseeable future.

My parents know full well of my situation. Unfortunatley they are not in a position to help me at all. They have their own financial problems (mostly medical expenses). I do have a tight budget. Don't really have a choice. Typically when I get a paycheck, after I pay my bills I have roughly $250 (if it was a good paycheck) to last me about 2 1/2 weeks for gas and food. I spend roughly $90 a week on gas. Doesn't leave much for anything else. ETA: As far as another job goes. I've been looking with no luck. I do work manifest at the Farm 2 or 3 days a month. That money typically goes towards gas with the occasional jump thrown in there. I don't really have anything I could sell. Sold my rig in January to pay for some things. Sold most everything that would get me money a couple years ago when I was in a tight spot.