Fed Ex Gets Stuck In Snow

Above, Hornady .30-30 Winchester cartridges. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last part of my recent ammunition order arrived today (.30-30 Winchester). The first part (12 gauge shotgun shells) arrived last week before the snows started.

It was delivered by Federal Express. That part went smoothly. But, the Federal Express truck got stuck in one foot of snow on my driveway. It took the driver about 20-30 minutes to free the truck and drive it out.

After he was gone, I got the Jeep out, put it in 4WD and headed to get my mail at the Flying J. It was cold outside with wind, so I put on my old ski mask (I've had the thing since 1973). A few drivers got a good chuckle seeing me driving the Jeep wearing it with my Stetson on my head.

Heading back home, I saw the county's snow plow out plowing the roads in our subdivision. Later, my next door neighbor plowed my driveway. Good thing, too. I am expecting UPS to deliver a package tomorrow. We wouldn't want that truck getting stuck in the driveway, do we?

Teamsters Upset Over Ronchetti UPS Visit

One has to give the Mark Ronchetti credit for entering into "enemy territory" when he paid a visit to a UPS warehouse in Rio Rancho yesterday. 

Their union has endorsed Gov. "Malevolent Michelle" Lujan Grisham in this year's gubernatorial campaign. This is not surprising or unusual, for the union bosses are nothing more than Democrat operatives. The rank-in-file workers welcomed Ronchetti.

Now they're pissed off over Ronchetti's morning visit to the workers.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican:

A Teamsters union that represents UPS drivers delivered a sharp rebuke to Mark Ronchetti on Tuesday after the Republican gubernatorial candidate promoted a visit to a UPS warehouse in Rio Rancho.

Just before 9:30 a.m., Ronchetti took to Twitter to thank UPS for opening its warehouse doors to send off their drivers before their shifts.

“Working New Mexicans are ready for a government that listens and cares about its constituents,” he tweeted along with photos of him speaking to what appeared to be dozens of UPS drivers and shaking hands with one of them. “On November 8, we will give them that!”

Tuesday afternoon, Teamsters Local 492 took to Facebook to decry the visit, writing it was “management” who invited Ronchetti to speak to a room of union members.

“Ronchetti does not represent our Teamster values and we despise his use of UPS teamsters as a prop this morning, to advance his anti-worker agenda,” the union wrote.

The union cited the governor’s “strong record delivering for New Mexico workers and their families.”

People need to be reminded that Lujan Grisham's "strong record" for delivering for New Mexico workers includes using the State Police as her personal Gestapo to harass, terrorize and shut down businesses during the past two years.  About 40% of New Mexico businesses have been permanently shuttered due to Lujan Grisham's edicts, killing off thousands of jobs in the process.

Her record stinks, to put it mildly.

To read more, go here.

...and It Decides To Rain!

Above, the partially assembled chaise lounge just before I was driven indoors. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The chaise lounge I ordered from Wayfair arrived today.

UPS was the delivery company and, like they did with the gas tank for the Jeep, delivered it next door. It seems that their driver isn't too bright as the neighbor's address is plainly visible at his gate.

I had to go over and get it. But before I did, I took off in the Jeep and found the truck up the hill. Needless to say, I have the driver a good chewing out.

Since I had nothing else to do today, I decided to put the lounge together.

When I ordered it, Wayfair had listed the product as requiring "partial assembly". But, when I got it out of the box, the whole thing had to be assembled. Why can't people order stuff that doesn't require assembly with easy to read instructions? Why can't Wayfair give accurate information on products? The instructions are terrible, just diagrams and very little directions to read.

I got most of it assembled when a thunderstorm decided to arrive in the area. I put most everything away and headed into the house as it began to rain big drops. Before the storm arrived, I was harrassed by gnats. Looks like we're in gnat season for about 2 weeks. Good thing I keep a can of insect repellent in a cigar box on the patio table.

The last major part of the assembly is the crossbar at the foot of the lounge. It will require two people to stretch the fabric to allow for attaching the crossbar.

When all is said and done, I intend to give this item a poor review. I was expecting better.

New Jeep Gas Tank

Above, the new Jeep gas tank. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The new gasoline tank for the Jeep arrived today (a day later than what UPS originally scheduled). The tank that's in the Jeep leaks.

The tank was delivered next door to me. I was sitting on the deck when I saw the UPS truck show up at my neighbor's and then left and didn't stop at my place. I initially thought maybe a second UPS truck will show up later with it (two UPS trucks have been known to make deliveries in the community in one day).

But, I received an email from UPS saying that the package was delivered. Well, I decided to go next door to see if the package that arrived there was the tank. Sure enough it was. My neighbor's grandkids were struggling to bring it up their stairs. I asked if they could read the shipping label and, lo and behold, it was addressed to me.

So I lugged it to my place. It was a big, bulky and heavy package.

I opened it up to inspect it and it was the correct tank (for M38A1 Jeeps of the vintage of the one I have). I then called my mechanic and set an appointment to bring the Jeep to the shop on Tuesday.

I bought it through Classic Military Vehicles. Their website is: www.jeep1942.com.

Home Depot Came Though (And Then Some) On The Umbrella

Above, the replacement umbrella in place. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After a freak "dust devil" knocked over my patio table and umbrella (it actually sent them 3-4 feet away), I contacted Home Depot to see if it were covered or if they had parts to repair it.

The umbrella had one rib section broken. They said that they would send me the parts to repair it. My main concern about that was the fasteners used (rivets?) to secure the rib pieces together and on the umbrella.

I was expecting the parts any day.

Well, United Parcel Service (UPS) showed up a little while ago with a long box. I was wondering, why such a big box for umbrella rib parts? It was also heavy.

Well, I opened the box and inside was another umbrella of the type I bought. I guess the parts were not available or they decided that it was too much of a hassle to get them, so they sent me a replacement umbrella.

The old one and the red "back-up" umbrellas are now residing in the garage.

I have to give a big hearty thank-you to Home Depot's customer service department! (Maybe it's because I a spend a lot money with them. I was at the Gallup store earlier today buying a power weed wacker/edger and a hoe.)

Home and Clampout Documents

Above, the homestead today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today started out slightly early (or me, that is) when I took a drive into Gallup to print off some documents at the UPS store on historic Route 66. Interestingly, one of the UPS Store employees is a big Godzilla fan, along with his 19-year-old son. I suggested that they should go to G-FEST in July. We first struck a conversation the last time I was there when he noticed my Toho Studios cap.

The documents are for the upcoming clampout with Lost Dutchman Chapter No. 5917 of E Clampus Vitus early next month. The chapter covers the states of Arizona and New Mexico.

I have never been to any of their clampouts (they are a relatively new chapter, as chapters go), so this will be an interesting trek.

Following that, I stayed home and relaxed on the deck. I am enjoying the new outdoor dining set. Between reading and enjoying the views with my binoculars, it was a relaxing day.

Patio Drop-Offs

Above, The Beast at the home base. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My patio seems to be the drop-off point or dumping ground (take your pick) for United Parcel Service (UPS).

I was expecting a package from a Mustang parts vendor today via UPS, but I saw no package or no notice at my front door. I remembered that I was emailed a UPS tracking number last week so I looked it up.

Presto! UPS said that the package was delivered around 3:30 PM today. Scrolling down a little, it indicated that it was left in my patio.

So, I looked in my patio and there were two packages, one big and one small. The small one was from the Mustang vendor and the large one was the replacement rear wheelcover simulator for The Beast from Winnebago.

This time, I immediately opened the Winnebago package and it was the correct item.

It's a good thing that the Mustang UPS notice said the package was left in the patio, otherwise, who knows how long the Winnebago package would've sat there since I received no tracking number or notice.

Now to get both vehicles taken care of.

UPS and Delta Hit With Massive ObamaCare Costs

The bad news keeps on coming in regards to ObamaCare.

The Marietta Daily Journal reported:

The iceberg of the massive costs of Obamacare is starting to emerge, and two major Atlanta-based companies offer the latest evidence of the looming impact of the misnamed Affordable Care Act. 

Delta Airlines is looking at an Obamacare-triggered increase of nearly $100 million next year in the cost of providing health care to approximately 160,000 active and retired employees and family members enrolled in the company program. United Parcel Service has decided to exclude from the company’s plan 15,000 working spouses of employees, since the spouses are eligible for coverage with their own employers. UPS expects to save about $60 million a year as a result. 

These developments came to light recently with disclosure of a letter from Delta to the Obama administration and a UPS memo to its employees. The information dramatically shows the consequences — intended and unintended — from implementation of the health care law opposed by a majority of Americans in poll after poll. Not only is Obamacare starting to wreak havoc with employer costs but it also is negatively affecting job growth as already evidenced.

This is the great healthcare bill that the Democrats, when they controlled both houses of congress, rammed down everyone's throats without a single Republican vote. They also said that nobody could see what the bill contained until it was passed. Now we know why.

That's why stupid people shouldn't be allowed to vote.

Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal - Obamacare iceberg hitting Delta UPS with huge cost increases