I recently got 2 batteries off Amazon for $30 for my olde blue and mango era Ryobi. I was very close to just buying new drill but glad I didn't.

I would not do a 16-hour drive to the Ironman in Chattanooga.

I could ride my bike there in less time than that.

the mac and cheese and chili mac is amazing!!!!

I also doubt you’d want to do the race, or probably even spectate.

Chattanooga is a great town though, and the most enthusiastic host city I’ve been to. A single-transition venue and minimal lapping is just icing on the cake.

They operate some of the Delta flights I have used to get there. $60 for a checked bag?!?! And it's January. Prices go up for June flights.

Oh this is the Ryobi I have in case anyone knows tools. The battery won’t take a charge.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...af8c221fc.jpeg

Today’s ride was cold enough that I only had one bottle of water for the whole ride, about 50 miles. I hope Velo Vol approves.

Looks like I can get a new battery on ScamBay for about $20. Not sure the unit is even worth it.

I recently invested in a Makita brushless motor drill plus impact driver set for an automotive project. Totally worth it.

I always have the earbuds in for the flight as well listening to music to drown out the ambient noise. Definitely nice to close your eyes and shut things out from time to time.

I wear noise canceling headphones the entire time, whether I’m listening to anything or not.

I've thought about those. I'm just so obsessed with traveling light that earbuds always seem like the best solution. Planes get pretty loud, though.

I actually need to get a tube put in one ear. It doesn't drain well and as a result is very sensitive to sharp/loud sounds. I went to a doctor and everything months ago and they basically said that would be the first thing to try. They had me do a hearing test and then after that work ramped up so hard I could barely find time to get groceries, much less schedule a procedure.

Yes. Also handy for clarifying to all and sundry that I am not your new best friend.

Meh, don't worry about it, you have plenty of company.

No other talks to me. I am what creepy moves to a middle seat in the non-reclining row in front of the head to avoid sitting next to.

Of course it is. Where can you find a drill for $20?

Funny you should mention it. I see the same drill as mine in ScamBay for about that.

Or I could buy a new drill and new battery combo for about $60.

Still, probably makes most sense to buy the battery to go with the drill I have.

Unless you get an impact driver. Much more funner.

I’m Turkish born.

I guess I may not be the current meaning of “immigrant” in the strictest sense as it is being used. I came to the US for graduate studies and then stayed and gained status thru H1 visa.

I suspect that counts.

Mrs datlas is an immigrant, from South Korea. All 4 of my grandparents were immigrants. Pretty much everyone in USA is descendant of immigrants, except of course native Americans.

We all need to be reminded of that these days.

Even the natives walked here from Asia.

My father left Germany in 1936 and came here via Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, England, and Mexico. They had to be sponsored and were very lucky. Most of my mother’s family came in the aftermath of the German revolution in 1848. This country, which was so incredibly good to my family and me now looks hard and chancy to my daughter and if she has kids, which looks unlikely, they’re going to grow up somewhere else. Sad!

Where would she be?

Every time we visit Spain my wife and I consider moving there, but more realistic idea is to spend a couple of our cooler months there and stay ‘Mercan. It’s far from perfect but still has much going for it.

She’s getting a PhD in marine science in Ireland. Her boyfriend is from Iceland and will qualify for citizenship in a couple of years. They like it there, but aren’t committed. He writes software and is totally portable, but really doesn’t like it here. She just needs to be in a place where fishing is economically important and the government or NGOs can pay for research.

I like what I’ve seen of Spain.

Well?