BK13

Yeah, the wrenches and maybe the sockets were, but unfortunately the pliers were Chineseium.

The total tool haul from a ~2500 mile road trip:

And get off my lawn! LOL

I bought me a pair of those. Haven't used them yet, but i kinda like 'em, particularly the lock on them. I wish they weren't Chinese, though.

Good luck, man! I just drove South Bend IN, to Sidney NE, to Colorado Springs to Elko NV, and I'm currently in Eastern Oregon (LaGrande) and home tomorrow. Then get to drive the GF 2-1/2 hours to a doctor's appointment and back, then take her to the airport. Be safe!

Trim routers... Bosch vs Makita

Stopped briefly at a Northern Tool somewhere in Iowa. Here's a joint I could spend some money. Reminded me of a Harbor Freight, but with name brands (I saw a Honda lawnmower and Stihl brush trimmer) and less cheap rubber stench. The Klutch hand tools looked pretty nice. They had the CP and Klutch shorty pneumatic impact guns in 3/8" and 1/2" drive I was drooling over. I managed to walk out of there with only buying a single 1/2" 12 point deep socket, but if I ever get back....

Phil: Carnage:

Well, I got the tour of ND's campus, complete with mention of Touchdown Jesus, First Down Moses, and Fair Catch Corby. Saw my Sister's dog Phil the Dog. Went to Michigan for a nano-second, just for you, Jason. Went to Rural King, disappointed in the tool selection, cheap hand tools and pretty standard Team Red and Team Yellow power tools. Went back to Indiana and went to Menard's. A huge store with tons of stuff, but again the tool selection was a little disappointing. A lot of private label stuff and some Bosch power tools. I bought a set of angled grip pliers (and a Mountain Dew, of course!). Pics later. As a guy from an area without much snow and ice, and where they don't salt the roads, I'm astounded by how badly deteriorated the vehicles get.

Oh, this is gonna hurt my wallet....

On my short list is a small router... Either the Colt or the wee Makita.

Greetings from O'Hare

Trying to help. I long ago came to terms with the fact my mug could break a camera lens....

Aaaaaaand, I'm off. Sitting in a bar at PDX waiting for my flight to O'Hare.

My dad has one or two adjustables....

Now yer talkin!

The bosses wanted us to be hyper-accurate on tree diameters, so they bought us the chintzy tree diameter tapes that lasted for about fifteen minutes of actual use. Oops. Not quite so sure why, as the stuff we normally topo doesn't get acted upon for a year, and it's not like trees grow in that time.... Probably the same reason survey requests come in asking for 5'x5' grids on storm water swale jobs.... Actual engineers hand off work to interns and don't really supervise their work. I just did a job that asked for a 5x5 grid, partially in A FREAKING BASEBALL FIELD! "Boy, the elevation really drops off there in right field..."

If it makes you feel any better, Chris, she was probably equally hotter than you then as now. Just trying to help, my man.

No, more about some jack wagon running into me.

No, but i'd be afraid to actually drive it.

Yep, though I prefer the '69 rather than the '70.

And the Ford Boss 429 engine...

Now if only HD would carry the Fein Multimaster kit I want (the one with the hard case)....

Not really a fan, but I will occasionally watch a motorcycle or off road race. I always thought rally racing would be cool, but never really went to one. I always thought NASCAR on the radio would be spectacular. "He goes straight! He turns left! He goes straight! He turns left!"

Realistically, cell phone (and one of those USB charger battery thingies) and AAA memberships. First aid kit, jerky, emergency blanket, jerky, water, jerky. Also, some jerky.