Spring is a Time for Change

Hubcaps and Gravy is making some changes. During our time of transition we will be temporarily suspending our website. We hope to have our website back up and running in the not too distant future. In the meantime you can still find all of our great gift items on Ebay. Just use the Advanced search option, click on Find a member, and enter hubcapsandgravygiftshop in the User ID field. Check back here and on our Facebook page for updates. To contact us, you can email us at hubcapsandgravy@sbcglobal.net. We’ll keep you posted.

What's new?

Lots of new items are showing up at Hubcaps and Gravy. We are gearing up for holiday shopping season; so many new jewelry items are hitting our catalog on a daily basis. We expect to be adding many more items over the next month; so keep your eyes peeled.

Some of the new items are coming from our tried and true suppliers because we know our loyal customers expect the styles and quality they have come to love. In addition, we are proud to announce our very own line of jewelry, Juney Moon Designs. Our in-house designer is working hard to create fashionable jewelry that is not only beautiful; but also affordable for anyone. Look for these items to show up any day now.

Already here is our line of themed charm bracelets. We have everything from nautical designs to cowgirl themed bracelets. These bracelets are fun for just about any age; and make terrific gifts.

We have some stunning new diamond simulant earrings in many different styles. These earrings provide the look of diamonds without the huge cost. Perfect gifts for girlfriends, wives, mothers, or just about anyone. One of our favorites is our Champagne Diamond Simulant Rose Gold Filled Dangle Earrings.

We don’t want to leave the guys out; so we are trying hard to find and create new designs for men. Check out our Mens Skull Black Leather Bracelet for those who like edgy fashion.

Over the next few weeks we will be posting new items on our Facebook page as they arrive. So, if you haven’t already, be sure to like us on Facebook. Also, visit hubcapsandgravy.com often to see all that’s new.

           

Have We Lost Our Sense of Humor?

Seems like every week I read in the newspaper or see on Facebook that someone is bent out of shape about something someone else said; and is suing, protesting, or just generally lashing out. On the surface, this seems reasonable. However, many times the things that are said are done in humor. Have we become so overly sensitive that we can’t take a joke anymore?

I was taught as a child to be considerate of others feelings. That included not saying hurtful things. My parents were fun-loving people; and they both knew how to inject humor into just about any situation. I learned that “poking fun” in a non-hurtful way was harmless; but even this now seems to be off limits. If comedians stop poking fun at themselves, their families, or others; how will they write their material?

Many times when the average person attempts humor, the words that come out of our mouths go too far; and as soon as we’ve said them we wish we could take them back. We should be apologetic for these instances to the appropriate people. However, I don’t believe we should be condemned or ostracized for life because we simply made a blunder. After all, it is just a mistake; and we all make them.

I know that sometimes celebrities and others in the public eye cross the line. When this happens it seems they are blasted from every angle. They may lose their job or be boycotted. Should they be made to pay dearly for voicing their opinion? I think not. I believe we should just chalk these instances up to a bad joke or possibly plain old stupidity.

The point I’m trying to make here is that we all need to lighten up. Life is much too short to sweat the small stuff. Don’t we all have bigger things to worry about? So remember, “Sticks and stones…”; and laugh it up!

Plan a Party with Pizazz

Independence Day is only a few days away; and many of us are celebrating by throwing a party. Whether you are planning a barbecue with paper plates and a paper tablecloth or a formal dinner party with the finest linens and china, our tips will help your party be a success.

Parties are meant to be fun for everyone, even the host. Having a party can be stressful if you don’t have a plan. We have found it is best to write out your plan. Doesn’t have to be an elaborate spreadsheet with charts and graphs; just put your thoughts in writing. This will help you to remember things that you may otherwise forget.

Determine the number of guests before anything else. This number will affect everything from the location of the party to the amount of food you need to prepare. Next, where will you have this party? At a park? At your home? Another location? Remember some locations require reservations and may need to be booked well in advance.

Now that you have your guest list and location, what will you serve at the party? Perhaps your gathering is a child’s birthday party where you will only be serving cake and ice cream; or maybe, you are serving a five course dinner. Either way you need to make a menu. This will allow you to easily make your shopping list. Don’t leave anything out. If you are having hamburgers and hot dogs, will you be serving them on a bun with mustard and ketchup? You get the idea. Think about the time you will have to prepare food on the day of the party. Come up with ideas for dishes you can make ahead of time or perhaps buy ready-to-serve items. You don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen the whole time. You want to be able to spend time having fun with your guests.

As soon as you have planned your menu, start your shopping list. Don’t wait until the last minute. This is a surefire way of forgetting something. If you shop at the same store all the time, you can list items in the order they are in the store. This is a big time saver; and will also help you not to overlook an item on your list.

What will you do at this party? Maybe you, your family, and friends just enjoy spending time together laughing and talking. Perfect! No need to plan anything else. However, sometimes other activities can be fun such as playing a game. If this fits into your plan, make sure you have everything you need beforehand. You don’t want to find out during your party that you forgot a key item for the game.

Give your party a festive theme; and make it memorable. If you are having a Christmas party, chances are you have already decorated your home for the holiday. If you are throwing a fourth of July bash, then you may want to show your patriotic spirit by decorating with red, white, and blue. Check your local “dollar” stores for inexpensive items that will give your party that special something your guests will remember. For example, instead of flowers for an Independence Day celebration, group small flags in a vase for the table centerpiece. Place small blue paper cups filled with red candies and tied with a white ribbon at each guest’s place. You can write each guest’s name on the cup if you want to have a seating arrangement. Don’t go overboard. You don’t need to decorate every nook and cranny. Use your imagination; and have fun with your theme. Do your decorating a day or two ahead of time. You’ll be glad you didn’t put this off until the last minute.

Have a back up plan. You planned a picnic; and the weather forecaster says it will rain. Does the picnic area have a covered shelter? Can you move the party inside your home? Not having an alternative location in mind could spell disaster. Even if the weather cooperates, you still need a back up plan. Your guests have arrived and are enjoying hors d’oeuvres and cocktails while you finish cooking dinner. Uh oh! You burned the beans. What now? Having some frozen veggies that cook quickly or a ready-to-serve bagged salad on hand can be a lifesaver. When all else fails, order pizza. Your guests need not know about the beans; or maybe you all will have a good laugh over the crispy critters.

Above all, relax. If you go with the flow, your guests will feel relaxed, too. Bottom line, it really doesn’t matter if you sit around a gleaming dining table eating prime rib or you serve frozen pizza on paper plates and eat cross-legged on the floor. If you make your guests feel welcome and at ease, all of you will have a great time.

Much Ado About Nothing

Today’s blog is about nothing. Yes, I said nothing. I thought I had an idea; however, I was wrong. So in lieu of something insightful, thought provoking, or informative, I will attempt to write about nothing at all.

First, what is nothing?  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines nothing as follows:

nothing pronoun \ˈnə-thiŋ\

1. not any thing :  no thing nothing to the imagination>

2.  no part

3.  one of no interest, value, or consequence nothing to me>

Does providing the definition of nothing mean that I just wrote about something? I suppose some would say so. I say nothing means nothing; and I’m writing this, so there.  I do realize there are times when nothing does mean something like when a husband/boyfriend asks his wife/girlfriend what is wrong. If she replies”nothing”, guys it DEFINITELY means something. Watch out!

I have come to the conclusion that most of us do nothing most of the time. I’ll prove it to you. How many times do you call up a family member or friend and ask them what they are doing only to hear the reply “Nothing”. Happens to me all the time. Also, when I get the calls; and am asked, I reply “nothing” proving that I’m just as lazy as anybody. Admit it. You say you’re doing nothing, too.

There is another instance when many of us seem to embrace nothing. When asked “what would you like for your birthday?”, we reply “nothing”. Some of us really mean nothing while others mean something; but are just being nice. I admit that I’ve been guilty of saying nothing when I meant something. Okay, okay, I’m a material girl. I don’t believe that disqualifies me to write about nothing. Besides, seems like I’m pretty good at it.

To sum up all this nothingness, I would simply like to say that even when you don’t have an idea in your head, there is still nothing. Maybe next time, I’ll write about “something”.

Family Gatherings - Celebration or Chaos?

We know many of you have a big family gathering planned soon. You’ve most likely just spent days cleaning and cooking in preparation for the celebration. You are excited, exhausted, and a little worried. Will your mom hover over you while you prepare the meal, telling you everything you are doing wrong? Will Grandma hound your thirty-something sister incessantly about when she will marry and have a baby? Will your dad insist on carving the ham while waving around the carving knife in front of your new husband? Will Uncle Billy drink too much and tell Aunt Martha the reason she never married is because she looks like the rear end of a buffalo? What do you do outside of hiring a family therapist or a bouncer to be in attendance? We have a few hints and tips that just may help keep the peace.

Family members who try to help by telling you where you are going wrong usually mean well, especially moms and dads. If the torch has passed to you to host the holiday festivities mom and dad may be feeling a little left out or useless. This could be the underlying cause of their well meant yet unwanted “help”. Let them be helpful. Think about it beforehand; and put them in charge of a task that will keep them out of the kitchen. Ask dad to serve the drinks; and mom to set the table in the dining room.

One of our best helpful hints is that some topics should be avoided like the plague such as politics and religion. However, if someone does tread into these waters and a heated discussion arises; try not to take sides. If asked your opinion, sidestep. An answer like “I’m much too busy enjoying my meal to voice an opinion on that right now” can diffuse the situation by bringing the involved parties minds back to the meal.

 No matter how hard you try to keep some family members from going at it; there seems to always be those two cousins who just can’t seem to stand each other. The best thing to do is keep them apart. Seat them on opposite ends of the dinner table. Put them in separate rooms if possible. If they still seek each other out so that they can have their annual argument, then so be it. Just go with the flow. Unless they try to draw everyone into their drama or start to throw punches let them be.

Use the shock factor. If you’ve gently tried to direct a conversation gone wrong into another more uncontroversial area and nothing seems to work, blow them out of the water by asking if they had sex this morning. If that doesn’t work, lie. Yes, we said lie. Say “did you know Aunt Martha is having an affair with a man half her age?” Even though you know it’s a lie you will get everyone’s attention; and the conversation will move in a different direction.

Probably our best tip of all is to use humor. Laughter helps everyone relax and have a good time. That is what it’s all about, isn’t it? Whenever you sense that a discussion is headed in the wrong direction, try to inject some humor. Most families have funny stories that make everyone laugh. Remember the time Holly fell in the creek; or when we were chased by killer bees at the fair? Trust me, it was funny! There’s nothing wrong with planning ahead and having some stories or jokes in reserve.

If you’ve tried all our hints and tips and mayhem still breaks out, grab a glass of wine, pull up a comfy chair, sit back, and enjoy the show. There’s always next year, right?

To Stop or Not To Stop?

Stop means stop, right? The definition of “stop” is “to cease moving, progressing, acting, or operating; come to a halt”. Recently, we found ourselves in a situation that provided us the chance to observe a busy four-way stop intersection. We immediately noticed that the majority of cars that traveled through that intersection blatantly disregarded the stop signs. So, we decided to do our own informal study.

Over the span of about 20 minutes we counted 60 cars, give or take one or two. Of the sixty cars, only half dozen cars actually came to a complete stop. That means 90% of the cars did not stop. We noticed some slowed almost to the point of stopping, some slowed down slightly, and some just rolled on through.

We wondered a few things about what we had seen. Is this driving no-no as common at all stop signs? Did the intersection itself encourage disregard for the law and safety? Were there other factors that affected the behavior?

Following is an excerpt from the California Driver Handbook - Traffic Controls section:


An eight-sided red STOP sign indicates that you must make a full “STOP” whenever you see this sign. Stop at the white limit line (a wide white line painted on the street) or before entering the crosswalk. If a limit line or crosswalk is not painted on the street, stop before entering the intersection. Check traffic in all directions before proceeding.

This states clearly that a full stop is required.

Additionally, the California Driver Handbook – Laws and Rules of the Road section says:

An intersection is any place where one line of roadway meets another roadway. Intersections include cross streets, side streets, alleys, freeway entrances, and any other location where vehicles traveling on different highways or roads join each other. Driving through an intersection is one of the most complex traffic situations motorists encounter. Intersection collisions account for more than 45 percent of all reported crashes and 21 percent of fatalities according to the Federal Highway Administration. 

Pay special attention to that last statement “Intersection collisions account for more than 45 percent of all reported crashes and 21 percent of fatalities”. Forty-five percent? Almost half? 21% fatalities? More than one-fifth of people die from intersection crashes? We know not all intersection crashes are due to failure to stop at a stop sign. Even if only half of the accidents are due to drivers running stop signs, then these are some pretty staggering statistics. At PubMed.gov a study shows that of nearly 700,000 police-reported motor vehicle crashes occurring annually at stop signs, about one-third involve injuries. 33%? That’s a lot in our book!

So, why don’t drivers obey the law and stop when it could mean an injury or worse, death? One reason we discovered is that some stop signs are placed where they are considered to be unnecessary. This seems to cause an increase in drivers ignoring the sign. We also found that many drivers believe they do not have to stop unless a pedestrian, bicyclist, or another car is approaching. Additionally in our “hurry-up society”, many drivers with busy lives seem to rush at everything they do causing them to disregard speed limits and stop signs. Distracted driving also causes drivers to blow through stop signs without even realizing they have done so until it is too late.

Our research turned up other studies whose results indicated even more staggering numbers. They suggested zero cars come to a full

and complete stop at stop signs. So, what is the answer? The threat of a $100 ticket for first offense; and $500 and up for consecutive offenses doesn’t seem to be working. We speculated that a police officer standing on each corner would cause every driver to come to a complete stop; however, this certainly isn’t practical.

 

We don’t have the solution; but we do have a suggestion. Think about what it would mean to your family or someone else’s family if a loved one was lost. Most of us would say that would be devastating. So, why take such a big risk when it is so simple to avoid it? When you drive up to a stop sign in the future, STOP! Count three seconds before moving on. Doesn’t matter if you count Mississippis or something else. Personally, we prefer alligators…one alligator, two alligator, three alligator. Just give yourself the time to be sure it is safe to move on. It could mean your life!

Don’t Let Your Cell Phone Get You Killed

We’ve all seen it. Someone walking down the street while talking or texting on their cell phone totally oblivious to their surroundings. Or how about those you’ve seen talking on the phone while driving even though it is illegal in many places? Both of these situations are dangerous. Then there are those that talk or text in movie theaters, restaurants, or other public places with little regard for others. Have you ever invited a guest to your home with which you could not carry on a conversation because their attention was constantly drawn to their phone? We’ll put these situations in the annoying category. It seems it has even become commonplace for workers to be on their phone while they are doing their job. Lack of focus leads to a poor output at best. Cell phones are certainly a fixture in today’s world. Seems everyone has one; and wants to be connected to everyone and everything they know all the time. This can be a problem when it affects safety, is discourteous to others, or keeps an employee from doing their best.

USA Today reported in September 2013 that a recent study conducted by researchers connected to Ohio State University showed that pedestrian cell phone-related injuries more than doubled since 2005. The study found that in 2010, 1,500 pedestrians were treated in emergency rooms for cell-phone related incidents, as opposed to a mere 559 in 2004. The age group most at risk for cell-phone related injuries while walking is adults under 30 and chiefly those between the ages of 16 and 25, whose injuries ranged from falling off walkways or bridges to walking in front of moving traffic. Distracted walking can also lead to theft of your phone. Displaying your phone is like displaying cash to a thief. Using your phone while walking and not paying attention to your surroundings makes you vulnerable and your phone an easy pick. This type theft is a current trend; and thieves are on the lookout for anyone presenting an easy target.

It’s easy to get distracted while driving. Eating lunch, screaming kids in the back seat, an argument with your spouse, or a conversation with a friend is enough to disrupt your concentration. Some even attempt to put on their makeup while driving. None of these are good ideas while behind the wheel of a car; and should be avoided if at all possible. Talking or texting on a cell phone can ALWAYS be avoided. There is a reason that many states ban talking/texting while driving. If you are not 100% focused on your driving, your car potentially becomes a lethal weapon. Talking on the phone while driving causes your brain to focus on the conversation rather than letting you actually “see” the road. Texting draws your eyes away from the road more often and for longer periods of time. Both drastically increase the likelihood of a crash.

You worked hard all week; and just want to go out for a nice relaxing dinner. You get to your favorite restaurant, get seated at a lovely table, and order a delicious meal. Just when your food arrives a woman at the table next to you picks up her phone and makes a call. She talks loudly throughout your entire dinner. So much for relaxing. You shake it off; and head to the movie theater. You get your ticket, buy a box of Junior Mints, and locate a great seat. Just as the movie starts the cell phone of the guy behind you rings. He answers with a whisper; and you hope that since he was conscientious enough to whisper that the call will be short or better yet, that he will leave the theater. Neither happens; and he whispers on the call for way too long causing you to want to pull your hair out. Your guests arrive at your dinner party; and are seated at the stunning table you have set. You serve the delectable dishes that you meticulously prepared. All is well until a cell phone rings; and one of your guests answers a call. Seeing this, another guest pulls out their phone and sends a text message. Then another decides it must be a good time to check email. This type behavior has become very common. Unfortunately, it seems that all too often these days consideration for others goes out the window when a cell phone is involved.

We’ve noticed another disturbing trend with regard to cell phone usage. Our garbage man has passed us by when he was on the phone. Our mail carrier talks on her phone constantly. We get mail that does not belong to us; and our neighbors get our mail much too often. The clerk at the supermarket takes calls while checking us out. More and more we have encountered workers on their cell phones while on the job. It seems that since they have their phone at their fingertips all the time that they feel it is acceptable to let themselves spend work time on personal phone calls. Do employers feel the same? Doubtful! The fact is that focusing on the task at hand produces a better result. Most employers expect the best from their employees; and see those who make personal calls on company time as less than desirable.

Cell phones are certainly a convenience; and these days provide us with the ability to do much more than make a phone call. In emergency situations they are invaluable. In the situations discussed above, they can be annoying or potentially dangerous. If you are in a public place, be courteous of others. If you have to make/take a call, step outside until you are done. If you are a guest in someone’s home, keep your cell phone put away. If it’s the babysitter and you must take the call, excuse yourself and keep it brief. If you’re walking, keep your phone out of sight. If you must use it, it’s a good idea to stop. Always, be aware of your surroundings. If you are behind the wheel of a car, pull over to a safe place before talking or texting on your phone. If you are at work, get off the phone and do your job. Save the phone calls/texts for break time. Simply, use some good old fashioned common sense with regard to your phone. Be safe – be considerate– be smart!

Get Ready – Get Set – Get Organized!

The holidays are over, the New Year’s resolutions have been made, and winter is in full swing. Many of us like to spend the weeks leading up to spring getting organized so that the all important spring cleaning is easier. But, a lot of us just don’t know where to start. Here are a few tips to help get you on your way to having a place for everything and everything in its place.

You probably received some gifts during the holidays that you have no idea where to put. Every drawer, cabinet, and closet is full. So, it’s out with the old; and in with the new time. A great place to start getting organized is making space by eliminating everything that you don’t need or use. A good rule of thumb that many people use is to get rid of anything that you haven’t worn or used in the past six months. Personally, I like to apply the rule to anything I haven’t used in the past year. That way, I don’t throw out seasonal items I may want when that particular season rolls around again.

If you are someone like me who has trouble letting go of things, you may need to use a two step process. When going through your drawers and closets make three piles. The first pile is for things that you will definitely keep. The second pile is for things you will definitely discard. The last pile is for anything that you know needs to go because you haven’t used it; but just can’t quite let go yet. Put these items in a storage bin and store in your attic or garage. Keep them for six months. After that, if you haven’t used them they must go.

Once you have weeded out all the things that are just taking up space you will be able to organize what’s left. For instance, I like to hang my clothes in the closet with like items together; so it is easier and less time consuming for me to find things. One way is to hang all the dresses together, jeans together, etc. Another is to hang like colors together. You may not feel the need to go quite that far with your organization plan; but at the least you should hang, fold, or stack everything you are putting away neatly.

That takes care of the inside of your home; but what about those spaces like the attic and garage where we store seasonal decorations, tools, and items we don’t use often. Years ago, I just packed my Christmas decorations in various cardboard boxes and stored them in the garage. I never knew which box contained the lights and which contained the tree ornaments; and the boxes being different shapes and sizes never stacked well. So, I decided to start making my life easier by buying plastic storage bins for everything stored in my garage. I put seasonal decorations, extra linens, craft supplies, etc. in the bins and label each bin with a number. Every time I fill a bin I make a list of the items that I put inside. Anytime I need an item, I just refer to my list to find out which bin it is in. I use an Excel spreadsheet for my list which is easy to update anytime I discard an item or get something new. The initial set up took some time; but now it is easy peasy. I cannot begin to tell you how much easier this has made my life.

Once you have everything together that you don’t need anymore, call a local charity and donate all items that could be of use to someone else. Just because you don’t need it anymore doesn’t mean it isn’t just what someone else needs. This recycling will not only do some good for the environment; it will give you a sense of real accomplishment. Hopefully, these tips have inspired some great organizational ideas of your own. If so, let us know your ideas in the comments; and we will include your tips in our next organizational blog. So, what are you waiting for? Get up and get busy!

And Away We Go...

Just wanted to let everyone know our updated website is up and running. We are very happy with our new look; and hope you are, too. Please, let us know if you have any problems using the site. We would also really appreciate any suggestions you may have. We are always looking to improve.


Don't forget Mothers Day is just around the corner. We have lots of great gifts for moms, grandmothers, moms-to-be, step-moms, etc. We have lovely artisan crafted candle holders in stunning designs and vivid colors. If mom loves to cook we have cute two-in-one novelty aprons or quality kitchen tools by Cuisipro. All Cuisipro products have a 25 year warranty! If those items just aren't right for mom, we have a very large selection of lovely jewelry. We have brilliant sterling silver necklaces, gleaming gold earrings, vibrant gemstone jewelry, luminescent pearls, and much more! Remember all our jewelry items ship free!

Hope everyone has a great week! Happy Tax Day!

Hubcaps and Gravy is Getting a Facelift

We have been working very hard for the past few months on a new website design. We hope our new look will be not only aesthetically pleasing; but will also, enhance your shopping experience. It has been a tremendous amount of work to get to this point; however, with the launch just days away now we feel rewarded by our accomplishments.

Some things haven't changed. We still have the same quality products as before. You will simply find them in a different layout. Also, we will still be on the lookout for more great deals we can pass on to our customers. As always, we will strive to provide the best customer service; and do everything in our power to keep our customers happy.


We would appreciate any feedback that anyone would like to give regarding our new look. Leave your comments here or on our Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Lumber Selection

Once you have learned how to select and purchase lumber you also need to know how to pick out useable lumber. There are a few things you should know about before you select your material. Normally, you want to select kiln dried lumber. Wood not kiln dried is referred to as green lumber. In the construction trade kiln dried lumber is not common. In cabinet making and furniture making it is critical to use dried material. Wet wood will twist, shrink, and cup. Kiln dried can do the same; but the effects will most likely be very minimal depending on the water content.


Another thing that is important to know is that wood comes in the rough, S2S (surfaced two sides) and S4S (surfaced four sides). Wood in the rough has been run through saws; and is like it sounds, rough! Usually, wood in the rough can be found at a better price. However, it is not easy to tell what it will look like; and if it has imperfections. The amount of extra work trying to use wood in the rough is not worth the money you save when purchasing. S2S wood has been run through a planer on both sides; and is usually consistent in thickness throughout the unit of wood. With S2S you can see what your selection looks like; and have a good idea of the quality. S4S is the same as S2S but the edges are machined too. While S2S is good you will still need to machine the edges. S4S is usually ready to be used as soon as you buy it. Once you have decided whether to use material in the rough, S2S or S4S, there are a few more things to look for in your selections.

Unfortunately, even kiln dried lumber can have problems that you need to avoid whenever possible. You need to inspect every board for twists, cracks, cupping, bowing, and checking. Before you look at each piece of material, look at the stack of wood. Is the stack sitting flat or are there gaps in between each board? Are the top boards lying flat? Start by choosing a stack that is lying flat; and you will have a better chance of getting good material.

Select a board; and turn it on its edge, then, sight down the length. Is it fairly straight? If it has a dramatic bow, from end to end, select another one. Is the board flat? If the board is not flat or is cupped select another board. Splits on the ends of the board are fairly common due to the drying process but a long split is not good. Not only is it a waste of money but could keep splitting the longer it sits around.

Checking is another problem due to sloppy drying techniques. Checking looks like stretch marks or gouge marks on the face of the board. Worm holes should be avoided unless that is the look you want.

If you see powdery saw dust by the holes or on the face of the board then there is probably live worms eating away; and not a good idea to bring them back to your home or shop. Large holes in reclaimed wood can have live wasps and Carpenter Bees hibernating inside. If you bring reclaimed wood into the warmth they will come out to visit. Also, as you go through a stack don’t mess it up for the next guy. Go through the stack and restack the pile like you found it.

Repairman unravels telephone mystery

When is the last time you read something that made you laugh? Really laugh? The following is from Dennis Rockstroh's Action Line column in the Mercury News. Both Bruce and I practically rolled on the floor with laughter when we read this. We thought a Monday morning would be a great time to share this; and get everyone's week off to a great start.

"Action Line: Doggone; this could be a shaggy dog story

By Dennis Rockstroh
drockstroh@mercurynews.com
Posted: 02/04/2012 12:00:00 AM PST

I could not pass this up.

Q This might help Janet from San Pablo (Action Line, Jan. 31)

A Kansas farm wife called the local phone company to report that her telephone failed to ring when her friends called, and that on the few occasions it did ring, her dog always moaned right before the phone rang.

The telephone repairman proceeded to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog or senile lady. He climbed a telephone pole, hooked in his test set and dialed the subscriber's house.

The phone didn't ring right away, but then the dog moaned and the telephone began to ring.

Climbing down from the pole, the telephone repairman found:

1. The dog was tied to the telephone system's ground wire with a steel chain and collar.

2. The wire connection to the ground rod was loose.

3. The dog was receiving 90 volts of signaling current when the number was called.

4. After a couple of jolts, the dog would start moaning and then urinate.

5. The wet ground would complete the circuit, thus causing the phone to ring, which demonstrates that some problems can be fixed by "pissing and moaning."

Mark

A I've always believed that, Mark."

To read more of Mr. Rockstroh's columns, click http://www.mercurynews.com/action-line/.

Enjoy your week!

Woodworking Hints and Tips

Recently, we have noticed people have been searching our site for tips on woodworking. We told the expert at Shea Paul’s that people are interested in woodworking tips; and asked if he would talk to us about working with wood. He was kind enough to provide some tips you can use that will save you time, money and heartache.


Many decisions need to be made before starting a project. The first is wood selection. Are you going to carve the wood? Then you should use a soft wood like pine or maybe a soft hardwood like some varieties of maple. Are you going to make a baseball bat? Then you need a hardwood like hickory or ash. If you want the project to have a glass like finish then you need a closed grain wood. If you use an open grained wood like oak which has a wide open grain, you will spend a lot of time trying to get that glass like finish. Not impossible to do; but it can turn into a nightmare! Like most projects, painting the house, remodeling, etc. planning ahead will save you hours of time and energy.

The next thing you should know about is buying material. You consider your project, decide on the type of material, and figure out the piece of material you will need. You figured out that if you bought a piece of wood 12 inches wide by 8 feet long you could get all the pieces you need to complete your project. Off you go to the lumber yard in search of your material. The first thing you discover at the lumber yard is there are no boards that measure 12 inches wide in any length. Unfortunately, finding a board that is 12 inches wide is rare. Next, you find out lumber is sold by the board foot. A board foot is 12 inches wide by 12 inches long by 1 inch thick. So, a board 12 inches wide by 8 feet long is 8 board feet. Because there are no boards 12 inches wide, how do you know the number of pieces you will need when you are selecting the material? Here is a good tip to use; if you find a board that is 4” wide and the next board is 8” wide stack them next to each other measure their length and you know approximately how many board feet you have. So if you have a board that is 4 inches wide and 8 feet long and you set a board next to it that is 8 inches wide x 8 feet long the two boards added together equal 8 board feet. This tip holds true even when you have one board at 3” wide, one at 2” wide and one at 8” wide. Even though the width adds up to 13” the next boards selected might only add up to 11”wide. If you try to figure it out exactly you are going to have a very long day. This tip becomes real handy if you are buying a lot of material.

The lumber yards use a tally stick to determine how many board feet you are buying. Running over to the yard guys to see how much lumber you have every few minutes is not a good idea. He has a lot of work to do; so babysitting you will not make him very happy. If you are buying lumber by the running foot it is a lot easier. Usually you will find price by the running foot on moldings, trim strips, or where the width of the boards is the same size in the whole stack. So, if the price is 99 cents a running foot and you buy 8 feet it is about 8 dollars. Ok, it is exactly $7.92; but the point we are trying to make here is buying wood is not exact. We can tell you why. The length of wood is random cut so most of the time your selection may be 8 feet 2 inches long or 7 feet 10 inches long rather that the perfect 8 feet. This also holds true for the width of the board. Also, you have to allow extra for machining and maybe a mistake or two. Now that you know how to buy the lumber you should also know what to look for in your selections. Unusable material is costly and usually ends up in a fireplace.

 

Why some Birthday Gifts for Kids are a Hit and Some are a Flop

Finding birthday gifts for kids or coming up with kids birthday gift ideas can be difficult. This is one of the best tips we know; DO NOT buy clothes! A typical mistake people make is buying a child clothes. If you want to see disappointment on a kids face, clothes will do it. If you do want to buy them clothes; take them shopping and let them pick out what they want. Style and fashion is very important in their peer group.

Kids want toys and games. With electronic games being so popular with kids, it is easy to make the wrong gift choice unless they tell you a specific game to buy. Why? Because a boring game will never be used; and they probably have the games they really want already. So what do you do? A great tip here is to see what they do when not playing electronic games. Do they enjoy Legos? Do they like to take things apart or tinker with their bikes? Do they enjoy puzzles or like to watch you cook? Do they ask you for the time or love to pretend play? Do they like crafts or decorating with glitter? When you see what they enjoy buying a birthday gift becomes an easy task. Here are a few of the birthday giftt ideas for kids we feel they will love.

We all know this kid, Tim, the timekeeper. “What time is it?”, “Is it lunch time yet?”, and “tell me when it is 3 o’clock”. The perfect birthday gift for any kid who likes to keep track of time is a watch. A watch that is also a toy is two gifts in one; so, our Lego watches are great birthday gift ideas. Kids love Lego toys; and a Lego watch with action mini figure has to be the best idea to come along in a decade. We carry Buzz Lightyear and Woody Lego watches from Toy Story. We also have Storm Trooper, Darth Maul, R2D2, and Yoda from the Star Wars animated series The Clone Wars. These are not ordinary kids watches. They are build your own watches with additional colored links to customize the watch band in any style you like. The watch face is an illustrated image of a Lego mini figure. The two links around the face feature standard Lego studs for attaching the additional Lego elements that are included. Add the studded bezel and attach additional Lego pieces for your own unique look. As an added plus these are water resistant watches to 150 feet. What could make a better birthday gift for a kid?

Perhaps you know this child, take apart Mark! Mark wonders how things work and how things are put together. Perhaps, one of the most important gifts you could ever give Mark is an Erector set. Opening a child’s mind to structural engineering, architectural design, or mechanics could become their life calling. Now with modern designs, colors and plastics, Erector sets are fast becoming great gift ideas for kids again. We feature Erector sets from the Space Chaos collection, Silver Force and Dark Pirates.

Thomas the Train toys have been a love of children since the TV series Thomas and Friends began in 1984. Now your child can make Thomas whistle while he works with the Thomas Train Whistle. Thomas the Tank Engine toys are always great birthday gift ideas for kids; and this whistle is no exception. Kids love to play with flashlights; and Thomas will make his or her flashlight special. You will be a hit giving a Thomas and Friends tin flashlight as a birthday gift or just to say I love you. Not just a toy, but a handy item to have around when needed!

We carry wooden toys, games and puzzles from Melissa and Doug. The Stacking Train, Take-Along Tool Kit, and Shape Sorting Clock make great learning toys and are classics. The Decorate Your Own Piggy Bank or Decorate Your Own Princess Mirror is perfect for kids who love crafts or love to decorate. Kids have fun while learning with the Farm Animals Sound Puzzle. Place the puzzle pieces in the correct spots; and hear farm animals sound off. For pretend play we have the Bake and Decorate Cupcake set. Your little bakers will have lots of fun decorating and serving the cupcakes. With more kids birthday gift ideas like the Turbospoke Bike Toy, Rattlesnake Egg Singing Magnets, or The Hyper Dash Race Game, we are sure your gift will be a hit. Visit our Birthday Gifts for Kids page or you can find all of our kids gifts under our Toys and Games category page. If you are looking for more gift ideas and information, visit Great Gift Ideas.

Hubcaps and Gravy has birthday gifts for boys, birthday gifts for girls, birthday gifts for kids from toddlers, preschoolers to preteens. We have baby gift ideas and gift ideas for kids of just about any age! Do you have trouble finding just the right gift; or need help with gift ideas? Browse gift ideas for kids to get great gift ideas; or email us to tell us a little bit about the gift recipient. We will be happy to make some suggestions for affordable gifts.

We hope our Birthday gifts for kids and great kids Birthday gift ideas page will help you find a great birthday gift for that special boy or girl in your life.

1962 World Series Game Six (Part 2)



Whitey Ford





Juan Marichal

 As you can imagine Giants fans were wound up going into game six with the Yankee’s ahead three games to two. Our star pitcher Juan Marichal lost a fingernail trying to bunt in game four putting him out of contention for game six or seven.

The big day was here at last. There was a light rain falling; and I was sick with a cold. Not a bad cold; but bad enough to stay home from school. About 8 or 9AM there was a knock at the door. It was Mr. Tenant looking for me. I jumped out of bed; and got ready to go to game six of the World Series. We were going to go to his office where he had a meeting to attend before leaving for the game. Just before we left my house he was talking to my mom and was praising me for the wonderful letter I had written to him. My mom asked him “what letter”? I went numb realizing there was some kind of mistake. Mr. Tenant had mistaken me, for someone else. I heard someone say “you remember that letter I wrote” realizing the words came out of my mouth! An awkward pause, then I remember my mom uttering something like “oh yes”. I had lied; and I think Mr. Tenant knew something was wrong. I felt sick to my stomach as we walked to the car knowing I not only lied but; was also cheating another kid out of going to the World Series. To this day that lie troubles me; and I am sorry that I had not told the truth.



Mickey Mantel





Willie Mays

 Mr. Tenant’s office was very large with a great view atop a building in downtown Oakland. It seemed like he was in the meeting for hours. I had a lot of time to think. Then, I remembered a name I had heard a few times at the Boys Club that sounded like my name. I knew that someone mixed up the names; and had given Mr. Tenant the wrong phone number. When Mr. Tenant came back in from his meeting, he said the game was rained out. I still said nothing about the lie.



Willie McCovey



Roger Maris



Orlando Cepeda

After three days of rain the sun came out; and game six of the World Series would be played. That morning Mr. Tenant picked me up; and we drove out to Walnut Creek to pick up another kid. Off to Candlestick we went. The funny thing is I don’t remember much about the game itself. I remember helicopters drying the field when we got there; and I remember seeing and hearing the names of the players. Perhaps you know some of the player’s names like Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Whitey Ford, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey Felipe Alou and Orlando Cepeda, The Giants won game six by a score of 5 to 2 tying the series at 3 games apiece. Game seven would determine the 1962 World Series champs. I think that Juan Marichal and Felipe Alou telling the ending to the 1962 World Series would be a lot more interesting than me telling you.





1962 World Series Game Six

One October evening when I was nine years old I received a phone call from a Mr. Tenant who had gotten my phone number from the Boys Club. I had never met him before; but was asked if I would like to go to the sixth game of the World Series. The San Francisco Giants were playing the New York Yankees at Candlestick Ball Park; and at nine years old I was going!

These were the days when baseball was America’s favorite sport or past time. People listened at work, home, the grocery store, or office to their favorite team on the radio. People walked around with an earphone and transistor radio wherever they went. Games on TV were watched whenever possible with the same enthusiasm as football is watched today. Color TV was new; and only a small percentage of people had one in their homes. Our TV was an old black and white that needed a butter knife, slipped behind the station tuner knob, to see the picture.

All the kids in the neighborhood traded baseball cards looking for Giants players with Willie Mays being the prize card to own. I never saw a Willie Mays card but I did have a few others that are lost and memories of them, forgotten long ago. Cereal boxes had baseball cards printed on the back that you cut out. They were printed on grey card board; and not considered a true baseball card. When I went to the store I would search the cereal boxes for my favorite players. One day when I went to the store with my Aunt, I looked at the back of the boxes for that one special card of Willie Mays; and there it was printed on the back of a box of Post Grape Nuts.

Not a real Willie Mays baseball card, but a card never-the-less. However, there was a problem. Grape nuts were hard as rocks; and impossible for my aunt to chew. What were a few broken teeth compared to a treasure as great as this? My Aunt gave in knowing that she was going to suffer eating rocks for a week. Of course, being a kid I did not appreciate what she did for me; and I still remember her sitting at the table grinding away one painful bite after another. This selfless act helped to make that summer one I will always remember.

The summer of 1962 was a neck and neck race between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants for the National League pennant. The Giants and Dodgers were and still are fierce rivals. The Dodgers had a song sung by Danny Kaye broadcast everywhere on the radio; and played a lot in the San Francisco bay area. You can here the song here. It runs about five minutes; and is pretty funny. Of course, the Giants came up with their own song, “Bye Bye Baby”. You can hear it here .

By the end of the season the Giants and Dodgers were tied for first place in the National League. Back then there were no playoffs unless there was a tie for first place. The National League race came down to a three game playoff between the two teams. Everywhere you went people talked abut the upcoming playoff. Dodger pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, the great shortstop and base stealer Maury Wills, and powerhouses Frank Howard and Duke Snider were respected and feared by Giants fans. Ultimately, the Giants won the playoff in Los Angeles; and headed home to play the New York Yankees in the World Series.

To Be Continued

InkjetSuperstore's Father of the Year Award

InkjetSuperstore's Father of the Year Award

Spammers Invade Facebook

We’ve all received the email promising something wonderful like a million dollars. All we need do is click on the link in the email to find out how to get it. Instead the email is the work of a spammer hoping to gather your personal information for their own illegal use. This is called “phishing”. Seems most of us have studied helpful hints and tips on how to protect ourselves from spammers; because they have moved into new territory.

Spamming is quickly becoming a problem on Facebook. Want a free iPad just for filling out a survey? Would you like to see a video of a whale slamming into a building during Japan’s tsunami? If you see these sorts of things on Facebook, BEWARE! Don’t click on any links. These are most certainly spam.

These kinds of attacks have long gone on in email. The attackers have now set their sites on a new target, social media. Facebook has 500 million users and counting. Think they’ll be able to hit this target? You bet! Spammers look at Facebook as a gold mine of untapped riches…your riches. And, you have all your connections on Facebook; so these criminals won’t stop with you. They hope your friends, family members, and co-workers will bite, too.

Spammers make money by driving people to sites that pay them for clicks. Facebook users get tricked into “helping”. Spammers rely on your social media relationships to help them spread the word, so to speak. If you see something on a friends page, do you believe it’s okay? There’s the built in trust factor that spammers count on.

Phishing uses fake messages to get you to sites or pages that can capture your computer. It also is used to trick you into downloading malware onto your computer. Malware is triggered when you click on a button on a scam Web page. Then, it sends your friends messages, directing them to a website that will infect their computer; and so on.

Remember that survey to get a free iPad? If you complete it, you just may be subscribing to the joke of the day for $5.00 each charges to your cell phone. If you watch the whale hitting the building video you probably instantly spammed all your friends and family…all your connections. One internet worm can hijack your Facebook account and send messages to all your friends; then steal their accounts and passwords.

So, what do we do to protect ourselves? Here are some Facebook Security Tips:

Review your security settings and consider enabling login notifications. In the drop-down box under Account on the upper right hand corner of your Facebook home page choose Account Settings, then click on the Notifications tab.

Don’t click on strange links, even if they’re from friends. Notify the person if you see something suspicious. If you come across a scam, report it; so that it can be taken down.

Don’t download any applications you aren’t certain about. Don’t accept friend requests if you don’t know the person. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Go to Facebook security and read “Take Action” and “Threats” for more information. Portions of this article are from “Spammers fast becoming huge Facebook problem” by Pete Carey of Bay Area News Group.