Something I've Never Seen Before

The riding mower broke yesterday, so I had to survey the damage, and figure out what happened. This is what happened.

The top of the pulley sheared away from the body, and the belt was slung. I've never seen this before, but assume it can happen more than I would think. The thin metal, after years of wear from the belt, was worn to a point it was torn away. The bearing was good, and the pulley spun like a top.

The repair was a $50 idler pulley, more sweat than I like, and about an hour of pulling wrenches. It should have been a lesser amount of time, but the learning curve demanded more time. I live and I learn. I'll change the pulley in about two years just to make sure this doesn't happen again. Hopefully it doesn't.
 

It's Firing Time

In the private sector, when you take over a new position, you look for problems, cut costs were they can be cut, analyze resources, and fire any personnel that serve no use.

It's that time for the United States, and my benchmark for the success of a President. Past experience dictates severe skepticism, but there's always hope. Time will tell.

So, The Visit is Over

I went to the dermatologist today. He had a look, used his freezing apparatus freely and froze over 15 precancerous spots on my face and ears. The first one wasn't bad, but around the first 5, I really didn't want any more; and the doctor continued counting for his nurse, as he placed liquid nitrogen on the areas he was treating. The nurse said my face should return to normal in a day or two....What? Will I need to hunch over like Quasimodo, scare the people in the elevator, and make the ghost of Charles Laughton proud?

The reason for my visit, which was a lesion on my face, that came and went, concerned him enough to perform a biopsy. When he started, it didn't hurt, although the nurse was expecting it to. With worried apprehension, she warned of a little pain and then asked if it was hurting. I didn't say anything, because a certain sphincter was ready to slam shut. (The last time I was warned of pain was when a dentist finally reached the underlying nerve during a root canal. That was a lifetime of pain that lasted a few moments.) The doctor placed a stitch and put away his cookie cutter. No pain, but it aches a little this evening.

So; now the results will be known in ten days. I don't look like Quasimodo, but it does look like I might have tangled with a few wasps....and they won. My only problem now will be finding someone to remove the stitch. I think it will require drawing straws, because I've already had two volunteers.

My face and ears have taken the brunt of punishment from the sun. Everything else looks fine, except for barnacles. I looked up the term. You can too. I can't even spell what they are and I has them.