I spent the cleaning up the front yard and garden. If we can go a couple of days without rain, I think I'll mow the lawn on Sunday. Now I gotta go take some chicken out of the freezer to bbq.

I'll bite.

I just turned the A/C back on. Its almost 80 here today.

Wore Shorts and Tshirt to work today.

Bock (Florida)

Oh yea? It's 59 here and a few days ago I was grilling in the rain (in 40 degree weather).

I miss Cali. It's 10 degrees here today.

Almost 80 here today as well.

I painted the spare parts barn in my back yard this afternoon.

We keep going between 70 and 20-30 here in Tulsa. Had a whole week in the 70s, then a week of bitter cold and snow, and now it's into the 70s again. Supposed to be cooling into the 40s next week.

What if I told you I actually like cold winters?

Uh....we'd think you need professional help.

Between today's weather in the 60's here, and 80's, I'll take 80's.

This time of year, it could be mid teens or low 70s here on any given day, but the bitterly cold days are becoming much more unusual than they used to be.

Of course, though we'll only have ice a few days, we'll have salt far more often. Go figure....

What's "cold"?

After highs in the single digits with negative wind chills last week, 55 and sunny felt almost tropical today.

Now I'm off to pull the trans out of the track car in my uncle's backyard on wet ground with falling temperatures. Yeah, racers are crazy

well.....now you "warm" guys don't have the option of driving 30-40 minutes to the beach/ocean, 2 hours to a world class National Park, or 2 hours to go to the mountains and go skiing do ya???????

I'm passing on a instructor day tomorrow at T-Hill, a bit too much Santa Claus stuff to do! Should be a nice track day though!

I'm NOT passing on it, Julie. I'll be there instructing ... hoping not to many show up so the instructors can go out and play during the day ...

Cool John! See you at T-hill soon! I've been needing a track fix!!!

Oops. That wasn't what I meant at all. I'd take 60's over 80's any day.

This is fun.

You shoulda added "nanny nanny boo boo" to your post...... but I think you win with the 2 hours to skiing.

30 minutes from here only gets you world class diving in the springs.

But 1 hour east is Atlantic Ocean, 40 minutes west is Gulf of Mexico, you don't need a wetsuit on either coast.

40 minutes south is National Forest.

From here, you gotta go 8 hours by car north before you can ski but its way too warm at the moment.

You can go to Orlando, or Daytona 90 minutes from here, if you like that sort of thing.

I do wish we had more racetracks.

Bock

Yea Bock, but the weather decides to try to blow you guys away a few times a year.

1 hour 10minutes to Thunderhill
40 minutes to Sears
3 hours to Laguna Seca
5 hours to Buttonwillow
8 hours to Willow Springs
9 hours to California Speedway
4 hours to Reno-Fernley

Yep, Northern California is a good spot for a track junkie!

True, if all of it just wasn't in California.....

True, but NONE this year!

And no earthquakes to speak of....

At least we get a few days warning.

2 hours from here (and all points in between) basically just gets you to world class horse racing and strip clubs. There's all kinds of semi-public and private (practice only) race tracks, but the only motoized vehicles allowed on them have green paint, vertical exhaust pipes, and huge rear tires.

On the plus side for CA, besides racetracks, there is (or was) Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto (it's probably good that I don't live in driving range any more), and a little airport south of Santa Cruz with old biplanes for hire. Again, it's probably best that I can't just drive down anytime and plunk down some money to fly in the (aerobatic) Stearman again.

I'm with Kevin on this one. As nice as California is, I would have to give up half my firearms and right to carry to live there. I know the whole state isn't San Francisco, but it's not a good sign for me either.

Besides. I just got back from playing with this today:

http://www.audiemurphy.net/IMG_1762.jpg

Maybe someday Northern California will get to secede from the southern half

15 minutes from Motorsports Ranch - Cresson
60 minutes from Texas Motor Speedway
90 minutes from Eagles Canyon
3 hours from Texas World Speedway
5 hours from Hallett motor Racing Circuit
6 hours from Motorsport Ranch - Houston
8 hours from Heartland Park
8 hours from No Problem Raceway

1800sq/ft home, 1200 sq/ft shop, 1 acre lot, 5 minutes from shopping, > $100K

hmmm ... it ain't Kalifonia, but I guess it'll do

Now you're just rubbing it in.....

No, it ain't California..........

If my research is correct, it appears where you live in Hood County Texas has a taxable rate of 38.5 %???? An that is applied to a 15% off exemption of a 100,000 home thus making your property tax 38.5% of $85,000 a year? or about 32,000 per year in taxes? Please tell me I am wrong, I can not find any legible tax rate from Texas. We here in So Cal are mostly at a fixed rate of aprox 1.1 % with a maximun yearly increase of 2% of total paid from year prior. in other words I live in a home I paid $143,000 for and is now valued at $750,000 an my current 2006 property tax total was $1,866, Next year I pay a maximun increase total of $1,903 if that max were to be implemented. In 10 years of ownership, I have paid less than $17,000 in property taxes. I live in a 1900 sf home. I should also add that I do reside in expensive Orange County where the median home price is currently $650,000.

Thats Kalifornia


*Last weekend (Friday night to sunday afternoon)up in the high Desert (ElMirage) camping out and riding toys all weekend (1 hr 15mins away)
http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/show...52_113_full.jpg

*This weekend Friday night partiing at the Newport Beach Boat Parade 06 (20 mins away)
http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/show...52_114_full.jpg
Next weekend we have plans to stay a night in a freinds cabin up in Fawnskin (Bigbear) for some snow fun-All in Calif in December.

I think it is off a tick ... mine is 1.8% ... total property tax for the year was ~$1,900.

Oh, and Texas has no state income tax ...

Holy crap you guys have it easy. We have property tax's and school taxes. 175,000 grand assesed value is $4500 and then you have $2500 in school taxes on top of that.

Later John

I was hoping for your sake I was wrong- good deal. I have a relative that lives in Virginia that gets bends over each time property tax is due- I know some states are out of control thats why you can buy houses in some places for dirt cheap.

ps- Calif has no income tax either if you are self employeed and have a good tax accountant. In doing so, I also still have a credit score of 820 and am, also eligible for Social Security if that is ever around when I am old enough to collect some day in the distant future. Its not what ya know, its who ya know.

I can do that if you like....

...oh and world class race tracks......surrounded by them here....all within 2 hour drives......




....too bad Laguna ALONE is better than all of the above....

"I was hoping for your sake I was wrong- good deal. I have a relative that lives in Virginia that gets bends over each time property tax is due- I know some states are out of control thats why you can buy houses in some places for dirt cheap."

I'm Chesterfield County Virginia, and rate my is 1.04%. It all depends on the county you live in. Some of the more rural counties have substantially higher rates, but a lower purchase price. Of course we do have personal property taxes on cars, boats, motorcycles, etc. And with Tim "carpet-bagger" Kaine in office, I expect things to get worse. On the plus side for my section of the "Old Dominion", I'm 30 minutes from Virginia Motorsports Park, 30 minutes from Richmond Raceway Complex, 3 hours from Summit Point WVA, about 3 hours from VIR, 3 hours from surf fishing the Outer Banks of NC, 2 hours from DC, minutes from many battlefields from the "War of Nothern Aggression", an hour from Colonial Williamsburg, and about 2 hours from the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was born here and may never leave, but Texas has always been a state I think I could retire to.