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Good Morning!!!!

Morning!

Good Morning All!! Good Afternoon DJ.!

Good morning everyone. We got a little more snow overnight...not much..but enough to keep the ground covered.
It looks like Cindylee and Trollperson, tied for the first post for the day. ;)
Wonder how Sharon's trip south, (we won't call that home, becuase home for Sharon is in Copper Harbor...so 'south' seems like a good word), went this weekend with the snow and the howling cat in the back of her vehicle. I think I heard the cat howling all the way down here ;) It may be time for some tranquilizers...not for you Sharon..but for the cat. :)

I don't know, but, after a 10-11 hr. trip with a howling cat, Sharon may need tranquilizers too! When I had cats on the travel, they would always seek for under the car seat, inner-twinded in the springs. I had better luck with them in a cat carrier with a blanket over it.

I'm for tranquilizers with or without the cat. Mornin'

Very good morning from jAPEi!

Nice picturelink today also from SUOMI.;

http://taivasalla.net/2005/02/050224_1719_photos_eng.html

Beautiful pictures of Finland again.

Happy Birthday, Sue. Mom and Dad

My cousin (servant to many cats during her life) recommended stashing the cat in a pillow case, tied, the pillow case, of course, in the back seat of the auto. The case would provide restraint and relax the cat because they are unable to see anything.
My cat at the time, declawed, tore through the case in about ten minutes out. Spent the rest of the trip under the back seat, cursing me.

Happy Birthday to my sister Brenda Hendrickson (Rowe)!!!!!!

Gorgeous picture, jAPEi, thanks.

apologies ahead to anyone I may offend, but I personally believe that a person does not need drugs (even Dr. prescibed!) to handle the normal day-to-day challenges of life. Nor do I believe that animals should be drugged just because they are unhappy with a journey. There are children reading this site!

Here in Little Betsy, the wind has blown all day, the snow comes down, and the waves are 3 to 5 ft. It is cold. The wind whips the waves and sprays and that sure makes it look cold. The roads are open and in good shape. Haven't heard any snow-mobilers yet. Winter is here.

It is my guess that you don't know anyone with Bipolar, autism or any other type of neurological disorder. Until you have been in their shoes then you have no right to state that a person "does not need drugs."

Pennie,I believe Maija said she didn't believe drugs were necessary to handle normal day to day challenges of life. Bipolar and autism are not exactly normal challenges.

Does anyone know a place I can take my kids to see some reindeer in the Houghton area? Hope someone can help me out. Thanks in advance!!!!

Trigal, ok, but ... depends on the car you drive - old beater, just maybe you're right. Newer car - might even save fuel to turn it of at the lights.
Assuming the whole thing is in decent working condition, and does not require a lot of turning over until it starts.

Tania, Sorry, but I did a search last night, and couldn't find a reindeer farm in the Houghton area. The closest one I could find was in Dickinson County...the Juneau's Christmas Tree Farm in Foster City. Since not all tree farms/ reindeer farms are listed, have you thought of contacting your local tree farms to see if they have reindeers...or know of a farm that does?

About idling cars: no, they do not waste huge amounts of fuel...and as Danbury said, you will waste more fuel restarting your car, then allowing it to idle for short periods of time.

I depend on my companion dog, whenever I am out and about...and I always leave my truck idling for her.

Pennie: don't believe you'll see this since it is already the day after I posted my msg. However, I have a handicapped son who relies on medication. I thought my post was clear on meaning people without medical problems. Sorry if I offended you.

Maija, No need to apologize...I and many posters who know you, knew exactly where you were coming from. You offended no one ;)

I used to have a courrier driving job, we were asked to leave the cars to idle, not a waste of gas and was a lot easier on the starters too.

Majia, I thought you made your point very well and,certainly,no apology is necessary.It might help if a person reads a message carefully before responding.

Tania Mihelich (Moonspell):
"Does anyone know a place I can take my kids to see some reindeer in the Houghton area?"

I think your best (& only?) chance to see reindeer in the Houghton/Hancock area would be at this year's Heikkinpäivä festival in mid-January, 2006. Here's a link to their Schedule of Events (Note the reindeer!)

Sorry, Sur5er, but there's some kind of misunderstanding, I'm afraid.
Let me put it this way: When I made my license, we were told that about a minute is the limit. If one's idling longer, re-starting will waste less fuel. When we bought a new car in '93, dealer said that it was about half that long, as long as the car started properly.
With a new car that starts with a flick of the wrist, might be even shorter. So, idling's a waste of fuel in this instance. The more fuel a car needs for starting, the more sense it would make to let it idle, but I'm inclined to think less than many people think (though I have absolutely no idea as to how things change in colder climate).
No matter idling vs. restart, there's way less fuel wasted or saved in that than is to be saved by conscious, sensible driving.
One final note: guess the starters of that company's vehicles weren't all that great if they had to be saved like that. Starters can be repaired, even re-produced. Try that with fuel.

I did read the post carefully. I have a daughter with autism and have heard it all. Medication is always a "hot" topic on autism/epilepsy groups that I belong to. I am sorry if I took it the wrong way. I guess I am just used to people being judgemental of others situations. I know people that do not have any type of neurological disorder but have SO much stress in their life that they need medication to just make it though. Majia, I am sure that since you have a handicapped son that you realize what I mean. I am sure that you have had everyone under the sun tell you what you should be doing with your son even though they are not in your shoes. Once again I apoligize for taking it the wrong way. It sounds like perhaps we are in the same boat with our children, I hope you understand why I reacted the way I did.

Danbury & Sur5er
I agree idling wastes gas. Note that on a hybrid the gas engine turns off for a red light.

Isn't it harmful to your engine to drive off while the parts are still cold? My father taught me to let it run a few minutes to get the warm oil to lubricate the moving parts before putting it in gear. I don't really care if the heat is working yet or not. I warm-up my car to prevent damage.

Danbury, you will laugh at this.. that courier job I had where we were told to leave the cars running for the sake of the starter, was an auto parts store! That was the assist. managers opinion. He was also very fond of beer! Notice I said I used to work for it.

And the number one reason that those of us who have diesel engines allow them to idle: they are harder than all get up to start in the cold.

JamieT: I noticed, didn't mean to offend you, though. The beer thing - ok, maybe it's just a queer thing with this guy?

Kelly: yes, it is. And the longer you let the car run on low load (like, idling), the longer it will take for the oil to heat up, and the longer the motor will be lubricated by comparatively cool oil. Well, that's what I was taught.

Then again, I've heard the same thing by a mechanic in NH, who told me it depends, like the idling/re-starting issue, on the car's vintage.
Safest bet, according to him: install an additional heating system that pre-heats the engine before starting. Wether it plugs into the next wall plug, or runs off the vehicles fuel tank, either way uses less fuel, or energy, than letting it idle.

Danbury,
I could never figure out, why they make the electronic engine warmers for diesel engines, but not for gas engines. Hats off to the designers of the rest areas on the Ohio turnpike...they are installing outlets in the semi truck parking areas, so truck drivers can plug in their engine heating system, when they leave their trucks unattended for long periods of time, in the cold weather.

About the engine oil...never drive when the engine is cold, because you need to warm up the oil, so that it flows better, throughout the engine. This is one of the reasons why diesel engines are so difficult to start in the colder weather...so imagine what is happening to a gas engine, if you are drive while the engine/ oil is still cold and the oil is not circulating properly.

Tania,

I just emailed you with a place to feed, pet and take pictures with reindeer in the area. You've got mail!