Turner's Outdoorsman

Above, Turner's Outdoorsman Reseda, California store. 

During my last few years of being a resident of Tarzana, California, my go-to gun store was Turner's Outdoorsman in next-door Reseda.

Specifically, Turner's address is 19329 Vanowen Street, Reseda, CA 91335. 

My dad and I had purchased a number of guns there over the years. The last being my Ruger P95 9mm pistol. 

Besides guns and ammo, Turner's also carries sporting goods such as archery, fishing, hunting, clothing  and training courses.

I had always received good service from them and those in the L.A. area would do well in visiting this store and others. Besides California, Turner's also has stores in Arizona.

To visit the Turner's Outdoorsman website, go here.

Northridge Earthquake 30th Anniversary

Incredible as it seem, today marks the 30th anniversary of the Northquake Earthquake.

I was living in North Hills at the time and when the quake struck at 4:31 in the morning, it seemed like my bed was jumping around like Linda Blair's in The Exorcist. 

The 6.7-magnitude Northridge Earthquake occurred at 4:31am on Monday, January 17, 1994. Its epicenter was around Wilbur Avenue and Arminta Street in Reseda.

I had some damage to personal property and had it all boxed and separated for the representative from FEMA to inspect. He didn't bother to inspect it, but wrote out a check. I used the money to buy a camper shell for my 1985 Nissan Pick-up.

This was one of those life events a person who experienced it never forgets.

Northridge Earthquake, 25 Years Ago

It is hard to imagine that the 1994 Northridge Earthquake occurred a quarter century ago tomorrow. My memories of it are still vivid.

I was living in North Hills at the time and I remember my bed was jumping around as in the movie, The Exorcist.

The epicenter was centered roughly in the area near Wilbur Ave. and Saticoy Street in Reseda.

Associated Press posted:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Twenty-five years ago this week, a violent, pre-dawn earthquake shook Los Angeles from its sleep, and sunrise revealed widespread devastation, with dozens killed and $25 billion in damage. 

A look back at the damage, deaths and developments in seismic safety since the disaster:
___ 

THE QUAKE 

At 4:31 a.m. on Jan. 17, 1994, a hidden fault lurking under the city’s San Fernando Valley neighborhoods unleashed a magnitude 6.7 earthquake that shattered buildings, broke water mains and ignited fires. 

The so-called blind thrust fault — one with no surface features to reveal its presence — caused a block of earth to move upward. Most of the energy was released toward mountains that line the northern side of the valley, but there was more than enough energy sent in other directions to cause devastation. 

The ground shook horizontally and vertically for up to 10 seconds, most strongly in an area 30 miles (48 kilometers) in diameter around LA’s Northridge neighborhood, according to the public-private partnership Earthquake Country Alliance . It was felt as far away as Las Vegas.

To read more, go here. 

Drat! (Sort Of)

Above, The Beast at Reseda Automotive last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the past two years, I have taken The Beast to Reseda Automotive for its oil changes and pre-trip checks. I've liked their service since they did work on RVs.

I called them up this morning to set an appointment to bring it in for an oil change (I use synthetic oil for it) and a pre-trip check before I hit the road for Idaho to see the eclipse. Lo and behold, they are under a new name and management. In other words, a who new regime has replaced Reseda Automotive.

Well, I do have a regulat mechanic for the Mustang. I stopped by his shop and he says he can do the oil change and trip-check on the motorhome. So I'll bring it there.

It seems that almost every time I find a vendor I like, they go out of business (just like El Paso Barbecue Restaurant). Yeesh!

Lunch and Plaque

Above, the Adventures of Superman plaque today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Had a pleasant lunch today with Platrix XNGH Glenn Thornhill today at Fab Hot Dogs in Reseda.

I had guacamole/bacon cheeseburger, which was very good. We talked about next month's Platrix Clamp-out and other stuff.

Glenn asked me to show him where the Adventures of Superman plaque is located. So, following lunch we went to visit the plaque.

While there, Chris, the homeowner, came out and we chatted for a bit. I should note that he was wearing a Godzilla vs. Gigan t-shirt.

It was an enjoyable afternoon. 

24 Hours Later...

Above, the Explorer delivered in the rain. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What a difference 24 hours makes.

Yesterday, it was warm-to-hot in the San Fernando Valley. We even had a tree go up in smoke in Tarzana (I reported on this yesterday).

Denise's Ford Explorer decided to overheat from either a hose or a radiator pipe going out last evening. (I am guessing a pipe, as a hose would be obvious and easy to replace.) Her dad was supposed to see what the problem is and get it fixed.

Well, I just got home about a half hour ago while awaiting the Auto Club tow truck to deliver the Explorer to the mechanic's shop in Reseda. Yes, it still hasn't been fixed. (The old saying goes, "If you want something done right, do it yourself!")

And, to cap things off, it is raining and cold here! It is not a big downpour, but it has been a steady rain since at least about 2:00 this afternoon (I was taking a nap and it was raining at 2:00 when I woke up). I was becoming concerned since we need the rain and February is usually our rainy month and it has been warm here for the past two weeks.

I went out into the rain to pick Denise up from work, take her home and then meet the tow truck in Reseda.

I neglected to bring a jacket and came home tonight with a drenched shirt. Oh, well.

At least the Explorer will be definitely fixed tomorrow. After we pick it up, we'll be going out to dinner at the Odyssey Restaurant. I haven't been there since the early 1990s.

Reseda Mufflers & Brakes

Above, my Mustang being worked on while I had breakfast.

Like other things, parts on cars give out after a while.  I had to get a new muffler for my Mustang this morning.

Before going to a muffler shop, I checked around on the Internet for a recommended muffler shop.  I found several and Reseda Mufflers & Brakes was one of the recommended shops.

I got there around ten o'clock this morning and they had me out of there in 45 minutes.  While they did their work, I went across the driveway to a little Mexican restaurant and had an excellent Mexican breakfast of huevos and chorizo (for $5.00).

When the muffler work was done, the bill was under $200, which included the muffler, tail pipe and connector pipe (from the catalytic converter to the muffler), connectors and labor for installation.  I thought they were quite reasonable.  The old tailpipe and connector pipe were "like paper."

If you happen to live in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County and need muffler/exhaust work, I recommend Reseda Mufflers & Brakes.  They are located at 7444 Reseda Blvd., Unit C, Reseda, California 91335.  Phone (818) 344-4904.

Rep. Brad Sherman Takes Heat Over Porkulous

Congressman Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, caught a lot of heat last Sunday when he appeared at a Reseda townhall meeting, according to the Contra Costa Times.

He caught flak over his vote for the $800 billion stimulous/porkulous bill. He claimed that he voted against the Wall Street bailout.

That doesn't negate the fact that he voted to mortgage our future generations and saddle them with debt.

He also voted last Friday for the cap and trade (i.e., cap and tax) energy bill, which the Wall Street Journal calls the "biggest tax hike in history" if it passes the Senate. Note that nobody in the House bothered to read the bill (it wasn't available for reading, except for a 300-page amendment) before voting on it.

It is funny that it took a Northern California newspaper to report on Sherman's townhall meeting. Kudos to the Contra Costa Times!

To read the full article, go here.