Todd Benatar » Travel/Transportation http://toddbenatar.com Seeds of thoughts from down on the farm Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:50:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Flat Tire http://toddbenatar.com/2011/12/21/flat-tire/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/12/21/flat-tire/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:42:24 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1628 On my way home from work I had a flat tire. I was glad it was on the way home from work, and not on the way TO work, as it would have made me late for work and the office has a pretty tough “tardy” policy. (Note to self – look for a new job, these people are not very nice!)

I was very glad that I have AAA insurance for just this kind of thing, I used my cell phone to call them and they sent a truck out with a guy to change my tire. I’m really glad my spare was good! So tomorrow I have to take my old tire to the tire shop and see if it can be repaired, or if I will need a new one. The guy who changed my tire seemed to think I was going to need a new one, and I suspect he’s right. If it isn’t one thing, it’s another! Money doesn’t seem to sit in my bank account very long!

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/12/21/flat-tire/feed/ 0 Used Parts are Good for the Environment http://toddbenatar.com/2011/11/01/used-part-are-good-for-the-environment/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/11/01/used-part-are-good-for-the-environment/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:06:21 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=226 As someone that likes to take in consideration the environment when ever possible or able to do, I like to use used parts for things that are in need of repair. Used car parts are a great in many ways, availability, cost effective, and good for the environment as well.

The days are gone that you have to go roaming through several distant junk yards in an effort to locate your desperately needed used car parts for your vehicles, what a difference the computer and the Internet have made in the used car parts business. Now you can go online and locate most parts for any type of vehicle with just a few key strokes, such as the website of 247spares.co.uk offers to the public. 247spares is rated number “6″ in the hitwise category for “Automotive Shopping Online”.

Not only can you locate used parts for cars, but SUV’s, pick ups, and vans as well as gear boxes, engines and so much more, by taking a few minutes and filling out the few short questions with your relevant vehicle information for their Free Instant Online Quote.

Good news articles to read also. Interesting to read what is happening on the roads on the other side of the ocean in the U.K., no issues with a language barrier to deal with here.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/11/01/used-part-are-good-for-the-environment/feed/ 0 What’s Up With That http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/26/whats-up-with-that/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/26/whats-up-with-that/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:57:18 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1587 Spent most of the day looking for the cans of degreasers that I swore were kept in the grey out building behind the garage. I always seem to be looking for something around here. If I didn’t know any better I would swear that some one is playing jokes on me, but considering that I am the only one that lives here and that I rarely have any visitors I really don’t think that that is the case. My sister tells me that she thinks that it is our late father messing with my head like he used to like to do to me while he was still on this earth. Or that I am just getting old and burned out, which is the explanation that I believe to be true.

I really could use a vacation, but I can’t leave this house and the farm to run it’s self for even two days in a row for heaven’s sake. A week away from here, some where nice and warm by the water sounds wonderful, but I don’t see that happening any time soon unless I can find some one to take over all the things that need to be done around the old homestead and I don’t know even one person that I could rely on to due that for me.

In the mean time I guess I’ll need to take a trip into town tomorrow and buy a new can of degreaser. As much as I am burned out from being here all alone all the time I really hate going into town.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/26/whats-up-with-that/feed/ 0 Safety, Common Sense is Involved http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/22/safety-common-sense-is-involved/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/22/safety-common-sense-is-involved/#comments Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:51:18 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=417 I have several friends that ride their Harleys and they all come from different kinds of backgrounds and a few have careers that you wouldn’t imagine them to have, while sporting the tattoos and all that black leather that is essential for any rider. Several times a year, I will hear the sound of Harleys coming down our road and then keep on coming up into the driveway and I end up have quite a good old time with some very interesting folks who have come by for a entertaining visit.We have heard so many stories of fallen brothers that have been killed or severally injured while riding their bikes, and all of my “Biker” friends seem very adamant about safety issues that are mostly just common sense if you ask me. There are many places no that anyone can go to and purchase all types of motorcycle safety clothing and Shoei Modular Helmets and get Nolan n102 helmets discount offerings and all types of accessories that play an important part of motorcycle riding.

One such online company that has a great selection of these types of items is bikerhiway.com, give them a look and see if you are interested or in need of any type of motorcycle products that are very reasonably priced and accept major credit cards for online purchases.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/22/safety-common-sense-is-involved/feed/ 0 Obvious Solutions http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/18/obvious-solutions/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/18/obvious-solutions/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:17:13 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=540 Sometimes the most obvious solution is right in front of us, yet for some reason we just don’t see it. When we use common sense in life things do tend to be a little bit easier. This subject came up after reading an article on gas prices, where it state that only 10% of Americans work from home. You would think that with the increase in gas prices that that number would have at least doubled by now.

Fortunately for those few they are saving a lot of money and time (without the commute). Unfortunately for the rest of us one reason why we still drive into the office is because employers do not trust us. That was the top reason why a lot of companies did not want their employees to work from home. Other reasons revolved around the work that needed to be done. For example, if you work the front desk at a hotel you need to be there in person. I guess the only thing we can do is hope and pray that the economy will improve in the near future

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/18/obvious-solutions/feed/ 0 My Daughter’s Protest http://toddbenatar.com/2011/09/03/my-daughters-protest/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/09/03/my-daughters-protest/#comments Sat, 03 Sep 2011 20:23:47 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1295 Guest written by our friend Gladys Fuentes

My oldest daughter asked us last night if she could ride her bike to school this year like the big kids. I almost choked on the water I was drinking and demanded to know why she wanted to do this. She feels that since her sister will be starting preschool, she will be a baby. My oldest feels like she is a big girl and wants to ride her bike like a big girl. Of course, she is too young to ride to school by herself. I tried to calmly explain this to her but she was not listening. She wanted to be a big girl. I was at a lost for words and suffering a headache. I did not want to have this conversation. So my husband went to www.allHOMESECURITY.com to see if he could find something to read to her. She seems to trust anything that comes off of the computer. I can see that being a problem later, but for now it might work. Whatever he read to her seemed to work. She is content with being at the bus stop with her sister.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/09/03/my-daughters-protest/feed/ 0 It’s All About Getting The Best Bang For Your Buck http://toddbenatar.com/2011/08/11/its-all-about-getting-the-best-bang-for-your-buck/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/08/11/its-all-about-getting-the-best-bang-for-your-buck/#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:15:59 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1279 We are all looking for ways to cut back on our expenses these past couple of years. There is a lot of information on the TV about ways to reduce your expenses, but for folks like me that don’t get to see much TV, we depend on the Internet for information and tips instead. I just watched a clip on a new book, “Living Large in Lean Times”, that was just recently released by Clark Howard, a money expert, who is famous for giving us all kinds of advice on how to get the best bang for our buck and how to avoid being ripped off in the process. I don’t have much time for books these days but hearing short clips like this that let you know that you can get prescription eyeglasses for $7 at ZenniOptical or that you can extend the life of your razor just by drying it after each use, I can take in small doses and not get over whelmed with too much information.

Shopping online is the way to go these days, especially for people like me that don’t live right in town, the nearest town to me is over 35 miles away, so running into town is a time consuming chore and takes a lot of gas just to save a couple of bucks on something that is on sale. With so many companies catering to the ever growing online shopping population you can find great deals all over the Internet and if you stick with only the companies that provide you with free shipping you can really make out on top. Let them bring it to me, yes indeed, that is what I’m talking about.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/08/11/its-all-about-getting-the-best-bang-for-your-buck/feed/ 0 My Love of The Ford Mustang http://toddbenatar.com/2011/07/30/my-love-of-the-ford-mustang/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/07/30/my-love-of-the-ford-mustang/#comments Sun, 31 Jul 2011 03:34:14 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=238 My first car was a 1967 Ford Mustang and I wish I had never gotten rid of it so long ago. Surfing the Internet earlier I ran across a site that sells Mustang Parts and I ended up taking a trip down memory lane for a time being, then I came back down to earth with only the sight of Mustang Tail Lights in the far distance once again.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/07/30/my-love-of-the-ford-mustang/feed/ 0 Virginia State Car Inspections http://toddbenatar.com/2011/06/22/virginia-state-car-inspections/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/06/22/virginia-state-car-inspections/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:46:05 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1265 Here in Virginia we have to have our vehicles inspected once a year. It is a pain the rear, but I can understand the reasoning behind this mandatory law. If your vehicle isn’t able to pass this state inspection then you are putting yourself and everyone else that is on the roads with you are are in danger as well and that just isn’t cool. So I believe that for $16 a year it is well worth the time and money that it takes to have this done. I just wish more automotive service centers offered this for their customers and that more of them stayed open on Saturdays to do the job. For some reason a most of them close at noon on Saturdays and apparently it is against the law to do these inspections on Sunday, which makes no sense to me what-so-ever and I have never found anyone that can explain to me why this is the case.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/06/22/virginia-state-car-inspections/feed/ 0 Honda Shopping http://toddbenatar.com/2011/06/08/honda-shopping/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/06/08/honda-shopping/#comments Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:15:11 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1244 Talking with my buddy, Dean, about the high cost of repairing cars and even just keeping up with the maintenance on older cars. It seems like every time I have to take my car in for service work it costs me between $800 and $2,500 – and that is killing my budget. At some point I have to quit spending on this money on repairs and just go get a new car. I have been shopping online for a new Honda and I think that’s what I am going to buy.

Dean was telling me that he talked with a local Honda dealer and couldn’t get a good deal working with that salesman, so he went online and started searching for a Honda Dealer that had a good inventory of new and used cars, ho wanted to set a fair price and give him a good deal on the car. It’s not that hard to save some serious money if you are willing to put in the time shopping around and asking questions of the right people.

I might end up with a late model, used Honda before the summer is over. I just need to get a good price on the car and a fair allowance on a trade in and I will buy a car this year. It’s just a matter of how much and when it all works out to my advantage.

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