Brain Drain

Just got back from a three-day section hike on the NH Appalachian Trail with my K-9 hiking bud, Ouzo. Found out that EZBoard, the host for the Samurai School of Appliantology, has been dead in the water for the past couple of days. They’re back up now.

The backpacking trip I just returned from was a trial run for my four-day backpacking trip next week in the Adirondacks with a couple of friends from PA. Since I want to take the K-9 on that trip, I needed to see how he’d do in backpacking life…and how I would do carrying the extra food needed to keep him alive. Both of us did just fine. In fact, Ouzo didn’t even want to come home. He’s slinking around the house wishing he was back on the trail.

For your reading pleasure, here are some pearls from the trail gleaned from this last trip:

• Of all things to be caught without, toilet paper should not be one of them. It’s light enough that you won’t be overly burdened by carrying a little more than you think you need.
• Wet wipes kick ass! Especially the red ass.
• Carrying a backup pair of skivvies is wise. Carrying a backup to the backup pair is inspired.
• Carry a backup source of light to your LED headlamp–the mountains get dark very early and the nights are long. Good choices for backups are a candle or cyalume sticks.
• The first night out is always the most difficult for sleeping. Carry a sleeping aid. Vodka works well.
• A robust coffee substitute: Add two bags of Celestial Seasonings Island Maté Spice tea and one bag of Twinings English Breakfast tea to a half quart kettle of water just brought to a boil. Steep for seven minutes. Keep toilet pack handy.

More on the planned Adirondack expedition in an upcoming Hillstomping Update. Don’t touch that dial!

Appliance Tip Update

In case you’re new to this website, here’s a table of all the Appliance Tip of the Day posts to date. If you’d like to receive this and other fun facts to know and tell in your email, you can join the Appliantology group. Keep in mind that since new tips are continually being added and this entry was posted in September, 2002, this table is already out of date. You can see the current table of tips here. Happy fixing!

Appliantology Newsgroup

Now you can get Samurai Appliance Repair Man’s pearls of wisdom delivered directly to your email. Yah, when you join the Appliantology newsgroup, updates to this website will be emailed to you as soon as they’re posted. Don’t worry, the mail list is run by MSN Groups so you can easily unsubscribe anytime or choose to just receive daily digests. When you join the Appliantology newsgroup, you get access to all kinds of special goodies like the Appliantology chat room and a special files and photos area. So, go ahead and subscribe–all your other friends are doing it.

Cool Stuff Update

Just got new bidness cards made up. Here, take some and pass ’em around. Delight your friends, taunt your enemies. Share the love, yo!

Hillstomping Update

Got a break in the weather today so Ouzo and I are going hike two sections of the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway: the section from Wadleigh State Park to Kearsarge Valley Road and then continuing on the Lincoln Trail, going up to the summit of Mt. Kearsarge and then down to Winslow State Park. Just over a 10 mile hike. The Spousal Unit will drop us off at Wadleigh State Park this morning and then pick us up at Winslow State park this afternoon. From there, we’ll go right to our annual neighborhood party, Otterfest, to finish off the hike with burgers, brews, and neighbors. Later days, brah.

Live Help Update

It’s a chilly day with a much-needed steady rain here in New Hampster. Since I’m a wuss and won’t be out stomping the hills in these unsavory conditions, I’ll have my warm dry tushy planted right here in front of the ‘pooter most of the day. You got questions, we got answers…maybe not the one’s you wanna hear, but we got ’em.

Live Help Update

Mrs. Samurai is having a bunch of her homeschooling Mom friends over tonight for a yak session. Since my computer is out in the family room where a bunch of women will be milling about and clucking, guess where I won’t be? Yeah, so while they’re here, I’ll be down in my workshop getting my backpacking gear together for my next trip somewhere, sometime. If I’m still sober enough to type, I should be online for live help by mid to late evening. Later, brah.

Live Help Update

I’m here this evening, chained to the computer, writing new content, answering forum posts, adding new bells and whistles and, of course, chatting with grasshoppers on live help. Ring me up, Scotty!

Live Help Update

Well, the MPU and her SU bid their sad farewells today, heading back home to Hotlanta. So I once again assume the meditative pose, preparing for the inevitable onslaught of penetrating and insightful questions on live help. Ahh, here’s a “Special Grasshopper” ringing me up for live help now. C’mon, have a listen:

Special Grasshopper: My washer doesn’t wash anymore. Any ideas?
Me: What brand is the washer?
Special Grasshopper: I don’t know.
Me: Have you read the online washer manual here at this website?

Special Grasshopper: No. Why do you even have live help if I have to read stuff?
Me: Ok, does the washer agitate?
Special Grasshopper: What does ‘agitate’ mean? Stop using technical jargon, please!
Me: Ok, here’s whatcha do: unplug the washer and coil the cord nice and neat.
Special Grasshopper: [after a delay] Alright, I did that. Now what?
Me: Very good! Now turn off the water valves and disconnect the water hoses to the washer.
Special Grasshopper: [after a longer delay] One of the water hoses is stuck and I can’t get it loose!
Me: No problem, just cut the hose.
Special Grasshopper: [after a very long delay] Ok, finally got it cut. That rubber is tough! Now what?
Me: Ok, you’re doing great! Now load the washer up in your pick up truck and drop it off at a local appliance dealer.
Special Grasshopper: Alright, what should I tell them?
Me: Tell them you’re giving it away because you’re too stupid to own a washer.
Special Grasshopper: Ok, so they’ll fix it for me for free then?
Me: Oh, yeah, they’ll fix you right up. Have a nice day.

Mooshi-Mooshi!

The Fixit Boyz White Mountain Journey

Once upon a time, there were four guys who went on a backpacking trip in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Their names were Fishnutz, Tomscat, Huh, and Moostafa.

They hiked up the Old Bridal Path to Mt. Lafayette. Being flatlanders, Fishnutz and Tomscat held a prayer session asking the Mountain Spirit for the strength to finish their journey.

Despite enormous pain, they continued their three-day journey around the Franconia Ridge, enjoying many wonderful views. And they all finished their journey.

Amen.

Live Help Update

Been having annoying internet connection problems this week. Like I say in the gray sidebar on the right hand side of this page: my ISP, Aldephia, sucks. I mean REALLY sucks out loud. All week, cable modem access has been sporadic, working fine for a few minutes, then choking. And I’m paying $50/month for this crap. Oh, I know what you’re saying, you’re saying, “Hey, quit your whining about your ISP. What have you done for me lately and when are you gonna be back online for live help?” Well, y’see, Slick, if I can’t get on the internet reliably then live help don’t work. Patience, Grasshopper: I’m working on changing ISPs even as I write this. Hopefully by this time next week, I’ll be connecting via DSL and saying buh-bye to glitchy cable modem.

Live Help Update

The Maternal Parental Unit (MPU) and her Spousal Unit (SU) are visiting us through next Saturday so live help will be sporatic during their visit. I’ll answer questions in the forum as much as I can. I appreciate all the help in the forum from the other gurus, especially Guido from CT, Appliance Aid, and Moostafa. Domo, dudes!

Word of the Day

And the Word of the Day is “mawkish.”

Return of the Samurai

He’s back, he’s black, he’s madder than Hell…he’s Samurai with a mohawk!

Ok, I didn’t really get a mohawk. I’m not overtly angry, either, just the usual inward-directed anger that makes me mildly bipolar and prone to substance abuse. And I’m only a little black. But I really am back. I gotta say, that was the best hike ever in the White Mountains. Trail stories by request. Film at eleven.

I couldn’t convince my flat-lander hiking buddies to bag the Bonds this trip. So, I’m doing ’em this week, Thursday-Friday, hiking up via the Lincoln Woods trail, camping at Guyot campsite Thursday night, and then returning the same way on Friday. Weather forecasts are spectaculous.

I’ll be around today and tomorrow, on and off of live help, but then I’m gone Thursday and Friday, back online late Friday night or Saturday morning. Talk to you later, M’bassoo.

Signing Off ’till Next Week…maybe

Well, this is it, compadre. My last entry for the week and possibly my last entry ever. The Fixit Boyz will all be mustering up here at Brown Compound in about an hour from now for the Third Annual Fixit Boyz Hillstomp. We’ll go through gear, make a last minute supply run, and then adjourn to the Flying Goose Brew Pub for a pre-hike briefing and 16 oz. wrist curls. I may be back online next week or I may just die on the mountain. If you don’t hear from me again, in lieu of flowers please contribute to the United Samurai Beer Fund® so Mrs. Samurai can continue this most Noble Work. Domo.