Author Topic: Life in America - I made the move. (Read 1302764 times)

Mr Zog · « **Reply #7540 on:** July 18, 2019, 02:40:14 am »

Quote from: tok-tokkie on July 16, 2019, 10:11:18 am

Quote from: Mrs. Zog on July 15, 2019, 05:34:11 pm
Quote
Baobabs are aloes

Well, not precisely. They are not true aloes, but they are succulents - stem succulents, meaning they store water in the trunk. As far as taxonomy goes, they fall in the Mallow family (Malvaceae), so are closely related to hibiscus.

Also, we have many, many native succulents here in Florida, including aloes. I think it'll do just fine!

End of botanical nitpicking.

Most of the oldest ones have recently died. Linked to climate change crises but difficult to prove.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/11/giant-african-baobab-trees-die-suddenly-after-thousands-of-years

So spreading them elsewhere is great. But I expect the hurricanes will rip them apart.

I suppose that eventually a hurricane will shred it, but who knows, they can survive maulings by elephants...

Mr Zog · « **Reply #7541 on:** July 18, 2019, 02:45:19 am »

Wet.

Either sweat, or rain.

I prefer the rain. It's cooler, and it doesn't make me smell so bad

I bought a new pair of tekkies (sneakers) about 4 weeks ago for work wear at Walmart. Cheapies, just under $20, because I know they will get destroyed pretty fast. But fuck me, the soles have already worn smooth, and are now super slip non grip

I'll have to buy another pair this weekend, by then they will have worn right through. Turftoon me wearing them out from the inside

It's just too hot to wear boots right now.

Ganjora · « **Reply #7542 on:** July 18, 2019, 03:23:21 am »

Go past the local mosque on friday afternoon, and get shoes for free.
Do they still have mosques in the US, or do those yanks do islam from home these days?

Fudmucker · « **Reply #7543 on:** July 18, 2019, 03:45:42 am »

Buy running shoes instead - most are made in China anyway, I see.
(I went to Tekkietown recently and bought three pairs.)
The Chinese sneakers are specified for tiny feet carrying under 45kg.
Us big Western okes and gals are twice the design mass - and more...

Net te swaar, swaer.

Tom van Brits · « **Reply #7544 on:** July 18, 2019, 02:23:45 pm »

Quote from: Mr Zog on July 18, 2019, 02:45:19 am

Wet.

Either sweat, or rain.

I prefer the rain. It's cooler, and it doesn't make me smell so bad

I bought a new pair of tekkies (sneakers) about 4 weeks ago for work wear at Walmart. Cheapies, just under $20, because I know they will get destroyed pretty fast. But fuck me, the soles have already worn smooth, and are now super slip non grip

I'll have to buy another pair this weekend, by then they will have worn right through. Turftoon me wearing them out from the inside

It's just too hot to wear boots right now.

Lesson learned. My sister tried to convince me for a long time to buy more expensive tekkies since they outlast and outperform the cheapies by far. Finally I followed her advice, and was inspecting my 'New balance' tekkies this morning after the run thinking; wow, they still look new and I have finished a couple of half marathons and a lot of training and social wear. Got them from the factory store in Menlyn for R1.1k which was a lot of money at the time for me but I will buy another pair in a heartbeat. I can recall when I was in Iraq; we got duty free items in the American PX store and we paid 22usd for proper Nikes. Unfortunately many moons ago

wobbler · « **Reply #7545 on:** July 18, 2019, 03:41:10 pm »

Just do not ever be duped into buying Salamon Speedcross shoes.
Super comfortable but I wore them out in 6 months! No running, just wearing them day to day and not every day.
Those soles are soft as butter....

Draadwerk · « **Reply #7546 on:** July 19, 2019, 06:01:08 am »

Quote from: wobbler on July 18, 2019, 03:41:10 pm

Just do not ever be duped into buying Salamon Speedcross shoes.
Super comfortable but I wore them out in 6 months! No running, just wearing them day to day and not every day.
Those soles are soft as butter....

And slippery as hell - very comfortable yes

BFG · « **Reply #7547 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:41:03 am »

One of the things I liked the most about USA was the variety of shoes I could get, and for relatively cheap.
See my problem is that I wear a size 15UK and there really isn't much choice in SA.
I generally walk into a store, ask if they have my size and if they do I take out the vaseline and just buy whatever it is.

TrailBlazer · « **Reply #7548 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:47:32 am »

Quote from: BFG on July 19, 2019, 09:41:03 am

One of the things I liked the most about USA was the variety of shoes I could get, and for relatively cheap.
See my problem is that I wear a size 15UK and there really isn't much choice in SA.
I generally walk into a store, ask if they have my size and if they do I take out the vaseline and just buy whatever it is.

It'd be easier (and cheaper) to just ask the store to give you the boxes that the shoes are packed in...

I wear a 13, and sometimes have difficulty in getting shoes, but fortunately not as much of a problem as you do.

Ri · « **Reply #7549 on:** July 19, 2019, 04:04:07 pm »

Quote from: BFG on July 19, 2019, 09:41:03 am

One of the things I liked the most about USA was the variety of shoes I could get, and for relatively cheap.
See my problem is that I wear a size 15UK and there really isn't much choice in SA.
I generally walk into a store, ask if they have my size and if they do I take out the vaseline and just buy whatever it is.

Have you tried online shopping?

frankmac · « **Reply #7550 on:** July 19, 2019, 07:52:05 pm »

Quote from: Ri on July 19, 2019, 04:04:07 pm

Have you tried online shopping?

Had two recent experiences with footware which convinced me online shopping is a no no.

Latest was Sidi Crossfires which are a size smaller than the Alpinestars.

That said, the guys with those size feet should be shopping in the boating section.

Hijack off.

Mr Zog · « **Reply #7551 on:** July 20, 2019, 03:33:32 am »

Friday just got better...

Like, as in, REALLY better

'twas a hectic day, sweat and blood (really, I cut my finger

), and PVC glue is an awesome "cut-finder"

Finally finished off my last job just after 5:30 and headed home. Knowing that I can't even enjoy a drink (alcoholic) when I get home because I am on standby this weekend.

When I walked in the door I saw a package waiting for me on the dinner table...

And suddenly I remembered

Our good buddy, @dieseldawie , had come over to the USA to visit his brother, and had offered to play courier for me. I had asked him if he could take a small package back to SA for me, just a PS4 game for the laaitie who had a birthday last month. He also offered to bring me a bag of biltong...

So this evening I tasted biltong again

I even gave Mrs Zog a piece. Just a small piece mind you, such greatness cannot be devoured in a single sitting

I had two slivers, just to appreciate the taste and flavour and texture of the greatest culinary invention ever. Yes, EVER

Thanks for the billies Dave, I truly appreciate it

Mr Zog · « **Reply #7552 on:** July 21, 2019, 02:06:10 am »

Just as I opened up my workshop this morning and started getting my tools out the phone rang

I got called out to a job that ended up keeping me away for 4 hours. Eish. But hey, I get paid overtime, so all good...

Back home I hung a shelf in the spare room for Mrs Zog to store some books on.

Then I made the brackets that fitted to the new side gate to try and make sure it will stay closed during a hurricane. And I also dug in the piece of offcut 4x4 under the bottom of the gate to prevent dogs digging under the gate to go walkabout...

The 4x4 isn't level, I know. I had to bury it following the slope of the ground so that it doesn't make a step that could catch on my mower or cause someone to trip and fall.

After finishing off the gate I cut the ripped 2x4 studs that I cut last weekend into the correct lengths I need to make the frames for the shelves in my closet.

By the time I was done with that we were losing light, so I called it a day. Except for giving Maggie a No2 brushcut and a bath. After that I had a shower and took a load off... supper was good, shrimp salad and fresh breadrolls

Mr Zog · « **Reply #7553 on:** July 21, 2019, 02:08:37 am »

Tomorrow evening we are having lamb stew for supper

Mrs Zog took out another pack of the lamb from the freezer she bought a few weeks ago on special. At this price it is cheaper than chicken and pork!

Can't go wrong

Mr Zog · « **Reply #7554 on:** July 21, 2019, 02:15:29 am »

Something arrived in the mail today.

Something that we don't see in South Africa.

It appears that a registered sex offender has moved into our neighborhood. When you get convicted of a sex-related crime in the USA you are registered as a sex offender, and that label NEVER goes away. (I guess unless something happens and they figure that you were wrongly convicted and you get a new trial and they find you not guilty)

We got a large "postcard" in the mail today, telling us the name, address, age, and crime the person committed. It even has a recent picture of the person on it.

Since this is open public record I will post pics of the "postcard" below.

I wonder if something like this would ever happen in SA?

Fudmucker · « **Reply #7555 on:** July 21, 2019, 11:43:51 am »

Now the community NIMBY movement will kick into action...!

https://www.homefacts.com/offender-detail/FL10807/Lori-J-Parks.html

big oil · « **Reply #7556 on:** July 21, 2019, 03:08:34 pm »

First off, congrats Mr and Mrs Zog on the home purchase, beautiful home. Makes me misty eyed you've not been here long and are already homeowners.

Send me a PM with your new addy so I can UPS a housewarming gift.

Quote from: Mr Zog on October 14, 2018, 02:37:02 am

Quote from: immigrant on October 13, 2018, 04:30:38 am
The guys here get paid $18p/h for an emergency medical responder (80hour course), plus union benefits. But not as lucrative as a plumber
(My comment was directed mainly to TvB)

One day, when I get my plumbers license, I may earn up to $20 / hour. It seems that salaries in Canada are a lot higher than in the US

Key word - "Seems". Just because our beloved neighbors to the north get paid more per hour for a comparable job, does NOT mean they're better off, especially when cost of living is factored in. Example: Gasoline is $2.50 usd per us gal or .67 cents a liter near me. Nova Scotia gasoline costs $1.30 CAD per liter or $4.93 CAD per us gallon.

That's just gasoline my friend, wait until you see what groceries cost in Canada vs USA. That's why anytime I'm near a border town in my state, Detroit, Port Huron, or Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on the weekends and weekdays, thousands upon thousands of Canucks cross the border daily to smuggle groceries and goods back into Canada.

Then factor in exchange rates where the Canadian dollar is quite weak against the USD - 1 USD = 1.31 CAD.

Once you have enough hours to attain Journeyman status, you'll be struggling much less, once you attain Master certification, shit bro, I have 3 Master Plumber friends, one went to work for a large construction company, the other two pricks own their own business, each work on their own, driving around a van with their respective business name. Both charge around $100 per hour and they're ALWAYS BUSY.

However, business owners with numerous employees do have an advantage in Canada wrt socialized medicine.

Stay where you are ZOG

With how things are going up there right now, scary scary times for a country I love nearly as much as my own.

Remember what that amazingly beautiful and intelligent British woman, Margaret Thatcher stated, "The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money".

Quote from: Mr Zog on November 05, 2018, 03:23:05 am

So the end result was that I came home with a BRAND NEW (never run before, but they did start it up in the workshop in the back for me) 2017 model Mercury 9.9 HP 4 Stroke! And I got it for a shade over $800 less than the 2018 / 2019 models. Apparently there are no differences

Excellent find that will provide decades of reliable service. Quiet and so efficient, they must run on vapor. I told my dad about your $800 off 9.9 find, he called you a "lucky fuck"

, he claimed a 9.9 Merc is identical to a 9.9 Nissan/Tohatsu, IF you were to need a spare part, don't quote me on this

dad (he's as old as dirt) claims the Mercury branded part will most likely be more expensive than the identical Nissan/Tohatsu branded part. This is likely due to Americans perception of Nissan cars built in the USA, they used to be excellent cars, now they're junk, nothing like the ultra reliable Nissan Patrols you Africans are accustomed to.

I love those big box stores for that reason. The same thing happened to me on a John Deere lawn tractor. I bought a $2,500 JD for, I shit you not, $1,300

Why? It had one, no I'm serious, ONE carriage bolt missing from the mower deck

It was at Home Depot

I couldn't get my CC out fast enough

Okay, now back to page 318

big oil · « **Reply #7557 on:** July 21, 2019, 04:05:47 pm »

Quote from: Fudmucker on December 10, 2018, 07:01:10 am

Goodonya Zog ! Sweat bartered for a shed? Great deal.

The buildings in US are different to in ZA because of the cost of skilled labour.

Personally I think the US timber Building Codes are over-designed.
They standardise on 2x4" timber for studs and railings at 2' centres.

Disagree, people build what they can afford or desire here, I would think it's the same in ZA.

People build wood, steel, or brick and mortar storage buildings here.

I've ONLY seen 2' centers in the cheapest manufactured housing (Pre-built modular trailers and modular homes).

Almost all 'stick-built' homes here (Michigan) are constructed with 2x4" or 2x6" using wood or steel studs at 16" centers.

My custom built ranch house had steel studs and steel structural beams.

Fudmucker · « **Reply #7558 on:** July 21, 2019, 04:58:06 pm »

BigOil, if that is the case, in ZA a timber house built of 2x6@16 would substantially out-price brick and mortar home with 9"brick walls.

big oil · « **Reply #7559 on:** July 21, 2019, 11:22:04 pm »

Quote from: Mr Zog on June 25, 2019, 04:38:54 am

We have a shop called "Publix", and they sometimes have specials called "BOGO". That means Buy One, Get One (free). They had tubs of strawberries on BOGO the other day, and because it is strawberry season now, they are relatively cheap. So Mrs Zog picked up a couple of tubs

The cake she baked was frikken lovely, hence it not lasting very long. And now the second one is heading the same way

I had a girlfriend named Betsy, she lived in Orlando. Friends with benefits if ya know what I mean

Always enjoyed shopping at Publix, a little pricey but I remember the produce was top shelf.

Just read an article recently that Publix is near the top of list for best employers in the USA.

Apparently, employees are paid and cared for well, including more than fair medical, retirement, and profit sharing benefits.

Costco is another that was high on the list, not sure if you're a member or not?