Life In The Weeds

Can a Gas Engine Run on Diesel Fuel?

Short answer...yes!  And, I learned this the hard way!

Let me 'splain.

Last week, my wife went to get our two 5-gallon gas containers filled with gas...simple enough.  When she returned, my son filled up both our Sears Craftsman tractor and John Deere lawnmower...topped 'em off.

I was away and received the phone call..."Dad, I can't get the tractor of the lawn mower to start"...both machines were running like a top when I left, so this did not make me happy.  When I got home on the red-eye, early on Saturday, I went right out to the shed to see what was going on.  I pulled the air filter off the lawnmower, shot in some starting fluid...the John Deere "ran", then quickly died...over and over! I did the same with the Craftsman tractor and, surprisingly, she stayed running.  Smoke filled the entire backyard, but she remained running and, after several minutes, stayed running, smoke free.

Keep in mind, at this point in time, I HAD NO IDEA that Diesel fuel was in the tank.

That dam Craftsman ran all afternoon as I cut the lawn on Saturday...when I went to shut her down, she would not turn off!  With the key switched off, the old girl remained on...sputtering and coughing!  I then pulled the spark plug...she remained on!   Finally, after several minutes of sputtering and backfiring, the Craftsman turned off.  That's odd...

I then went to fill up the gas tank, and when I began to pour in the fuel, I noticed that the "gas" was a fluorescent green.  Obviously not gas!  How can I blame a 14 year old to know the difference between Diesel and gas?  I only knew it was not gas...and assumed it was diesel...then confirmed after a trip to the gas station.

I proceeded to properly dispose of the diesel [read sarcasm] and refilled with gas....both the Craftsman and the John Deere.  BOTH are running fine!  I never would have guessed that a Gas engine would be able to run on Diesel fuel...I wonder what it is about the Craftsman engine vs. the John Deere?

I also wonder how many people drive in to a gas station with portable tanks and the attendant assumes they want the tanks filled with DIESEL?  Answer...NONE!!  

Another reason why folks in NJ should be able to pump their own gas!

mj

What's Going on at Princeton Pike and Fackler Road?

I was wondering the same thing!

Here is an article I found in the Lawrence Ledger about the project...they are removing contaminated soil from a 10-acre section of a 184 acre parcel of land which belong to Lawrence Township.

Still undetermined as to whether or not the 184 acres will be determined active or passive use...I'll be jealous if I see more Lawrence Township soccer fields under construction!!

mj

Recycling - One Stop Shop?

Recently, our recycling service went from two trucks to one truck...

I happened to be home when the same style recycling truck rolled up to the end of the driveway and, alas, ALL the recycling got dumped into the back...glass, paper, plastic...you name it, it all got dumped in.

I tried to do a little research.  It seems odd to me that after all these years of sorting paper and glass/plastic that, all of the sudden there is no need to sort.  The only reason I could find centered around cost savings...one less truck to go around the neighborhoods collecting. See letter.

It does not address what happens at the recycling center?  Is someone there sorting it all?  I would imagine more manpower would be necessary, right?

What about a new design in the trucks to separate the items?  One truck, two compartments?

We have not embraced the concept...we still "sort" in the house and keep things separate in our large buckets...it's weird throwing the newspaper in with the milk container!

mj

Naked Bronze Men

If you have had the pleasure of walking around Madison Square Park recently, you may have noticed something a little jarring...Naked Bronze Men.  

From March 26 through Aug. 15 naked men will be on display in NYC, thanks to the  Madison Square Park Conservancy.  Okay, more specifically, it's 31 slightly different sculptures of the same naked man.  It's an exhibit called Event Horizon.  

What's really wild about this installation is that 27 of the 31 six foot sculpture will be perched on rooftops.  The artist, Antony Gormley says, "my intention is to get the sculptures as close to the edge of the buildings as possible...I want to play with the city and people's perception."

Well, Antony, it worked!

As you look up at the building surrounding Madison Square Park (5th and 25th), these freaky sculptures are right out there on the edge!!

His latest, on the edge of the Empire State Building, is a bit unnerving.

 

mj

Fly Eagles Fly

Not those Eagles...everyone should know by now that I'm a Jets fan!

A couple of weeks ago, over President's Day weekend, we had some friends in town from Maryland. With a house full of kids, and some mildly hungover parents, we decided to take everyone over to Rosedale Park for some sledding action.  It was a good opportunity to "represent" Jersey sledding...as there had been a little smack talk comparing sledding hills amongst the kids.

As the adults watched and chatted from the bottom of the hill, one of us turned an noticed a large hawk (at least that's what we immediately thought) drop out of a tree and begin to take flight.  Once the bird opened it's wings and soared a bit, two of us, in unison said, "is that a Bald Eagle?"

Sure enough, it was...a Bald-friggin-Eagle!  We watched it fly above us for less than a minute and then, it was out of sight...you could see adults and children at the top of the sled hill pointing as it flew overhead.

Fast forward to yesterdays NY Post article.  Sure enough, Bald Eagles are among us!

I like the idea of the country thinking of New Jersey as the home of our National icon, rather than home of the cast of the Jersey Shore!

mj

Missing in Haiti

As it turns out, the earthquake in Haiti has reached our own little town of Hopewell Township.

A 22-year-old student, Christine Gianacaci,  who graduated from the Lewis School of Princeton and resides in Hopewell, NJ has been missing ever since the 7.0 earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti.

Christine was just starting a Journey of Hope-Haiti humanitarian effort with 12 other students...she was staying in the Hotel Montana when the quake hit.  Rescue teams are hard at work trying to clear the rubble, not only at this particular hotel, but throughout Port-au-Prince.  Are there survivors living within the rubble?  After 8 days?  Hard to imagine if you had survived...and were trapped...how would you deal with each minute, hour, day of survival?  What a terrible circumstance!

It makes you wonder...why?  Is there a higher purpose?  Do things really happen for a reason?  I'm sure Christine's parents are asking the same questions.

Keep praying!

mj

Buy your Christmas Tree HERE

If it's not to late, I found a great place to buy your Christmas tree this year.  I have passed by this place for several years and we finally checked it out.  It will now become OUR place to get a tree!

It is located on Princeton Pike in Lawrenceville.  It is a residence...and the family is really nice.  The owner is a Lawrenceville Policeman and each year he take vacation to run a Christmas tree "farm"...turns out, his parents owned a Christmas tree farm when he was a kid...so, it's in his blood.

He carries lots and lots of trees...both Douglas and Frasier firs...we bought an 8' Frasier Fir (our first) for $50.

I do not know the exact address...but here is a picture of where it is located...it's the farm, right "underneath" 3902 on the map.

mj

There Once was a Lady...

...who stood on the corner of 31st and 7th and sold newspapers!

Let me tell you, I would never, ever buy a newspaper from anyone else in all of NYC.  I have been buying the New York Post from her for 6 years...and there are probably thousands who have been supporting her much longer than me.  She is now standing on a milk crate to make her presence a bit more know...all 5'5 of her (on the crate!)

Her voice is unmistakable - "Newjork Post and the Dailey News" is stated, like a jingle.  I'm sure most, like me, sing her little jingle all the way into the bowels of Pennsylvania Station. Always greeted with a smile and the same welcome, "jhes, meester...hello, meester...thank jhew meester."

For the last year or so, her daughter has joined her side.  Nothing better than a family business!

Look for them next time you need a paper while you are in NYC!

mj

NJ Bullet Train

As you know, I am a commuter into NYC.

When I tell people I live out in Princeton, they are surprised and always ask, "we'll how long is the train ride?"  My typical response is to explain that I am lucky because "my" train is an express and it only makes one stop - Newark - before pulling into Pennsylvania Station...so, the train ride is only around 55 minutes.

That's about the most I think about the actual train ride, until recently!

Just a couple of days ago, as the conductor was punching tickets, a gentleman realized that he was on the wrong train.  He asked if the train would be stopping at New Brunswick.  The conductor's response was, "no, we'll be passing through New Brunswick at 120 MPH." 

I had to ask if we really clocked at that hight of a speed!  When I asked if he was exaggerating he, very proudly, as if he owned the entire railroad system, responded with a resounding YES!

It makes sense, based on the miles traveled and time elapsed...but I really never thought we were going THAT fast.  120 mph is hauling'!  Especially in a Double Decker NJ Transit model.

So, next time you head into NYC with the kids, make sure to them just how fast the train is going...in fact, tell them they are riding on the NJ Bullet Train!

mj

Welcome to Mayberry!

Yesterday was family day!  And, after Halloween costume shopping and before Pumpkin picking at Terhune Orchards, we managed to head into Pennington for a good 'ol fashion Chili and Guacamole cook-off at the Pennington Fire Department social hall.

We were a little reluctant, but we got the green light from "Irish", my co-blogger in crime, who confirmed that the Chili was flowing, so we set our sites to attend.

I am glad we did!

The scene was great...lots of familiar faces and a country band (with a slide guitar, mandolin and banjo!) to keep the atmosphere vibrant, along with lots of Chili and Guac!

ChiliJilli's, Mr.B's Blazin Chili, To Hot to Handle, Spice GIrls and many others were serving samples in hopes of a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place finish!

We stayed longer than expected while the kids created their own dance floor...

Pennington is a sleepy little town, but yesterday was definitely a Mayberry moment!

mj