I have an electric chainsaw because I never could get a gas saw to work when I needed it. With an electric saw, if your extension cord is long enough, just plug it in, squeeze the trigger and you can whack away. Last week a big pine limb dislodged and actually stuck vertically in the ground. My wife Nancy dictated that the branch be sawed and removed, which is fine, except the chain came off … [Read more...]

When you don’t know a carburetor from a gas cap, you are at the mercy of whoever it is that works on your car. Many auto repair shops, especially those at the major dealerships, work on set fees and commissions, so it’s in their interest to find things wrong with your car, or things that might go wrong. There is only one shop I trust implicitly when my car needs attention, and that’s Finley’s … [Read more...]

  If you own a house, you’re going to need a plumber, eventually, unless you’re handy with one of those weird looking wrenches and can replace valves, faucets, tubes, shower heads, garbage disposals, water heaters, and can unplug nasty stuff when it gets clogged up. I happen not to be one of those handy-with-a-weird-looking-wrench fellows, so I frequently need a plumber. But plumbers … [Read more...]

Recently, we had the unfortunate duty of settling and liquidating an estate of a family member. It was a long and tedious process, but with the help of family and friends and some great local businesses, it went rather smoothely. One of the businesses involved, Jefferson Coin, was truly noteworthy. When ordinary people sell gold, silver or valuables, they really rely on the integrity of the … [Read more...]

Gas logs are an amazing addition to a home – when they are working, when you click the remote and the flame pops up. But when you have to get down on hands and knees, hold the pilot down and pray for ignition, they are not so much fun. About every two years, our gas logs throw a little temper tantrum (I suppose because dust, dirt and other stuff clogs the pilot and jets) and we make a call to … [Read more...]

The outside sign at Albemarle Square said, “Barber”, that’s it. I was intrigued, but never stopped by. But one day I was in a hurry and didn’t have time to make an appointment with the girl who had been styling my hair, so I gave the shop a try. All the barbers were Chinese and I wondered if I would get one of those “Moe” haircuts. I figured it would eventually grow out, so I took a chair. It … [Read more...]

I needed a car. Though the engine on my 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee was still going strong even after nearly 200,000 miles, the transmission fluid leaked – drip, drip, drip - on our driveway, which my wife Nancy noticed and remarked on frequently. It also started to rust on the roof above the dashboard, which actually helped me to be able to pick out my gray and orange vehicle among all the others … [Read more...]

  By Move Better Physical Therapy Attention students of all ages! Does Back-To-School mean Back-To-Pain because of heavy backpacks? To help avoid any back pain caused by wearing a backpack, there are a few simple things you can do: - Wear both straps so the weight is evenly distributed - Wear the backpack over the mid-back, which has the strongest muscles - Lighten the load … [Read more...]