I know this is an old thread but I just found this forum and this post was re-newed recently. For the last year and a half I have been inconvenienced by lumbar spinal stenosis. I have bone rubbing on a nerve that restricts what I can do. I sit or kneel on the ground when I garden. I can bend over once in a while but not for extended or many times. I try to work in half hours and chip away at projects. If I do spend a longer period of time outside working I need a soft surface, like a flat piece of foam in a garbage bag that works OK. I have a plastic garbage can on wheels I drag behind me. Else I leave a swathe of pulled weeds behind me. Works great. If I do too much and believe me I ain't smart all the time, I have to take some days off till the nerve in my left leg says, "OK I forgive you". I could not do my yard last year and this year I was more able to get around better and spent time shovel-pruning every fussy plant, and killing weeds. Next year I will modify my garden for easier care. I can expect surgery to correct some of my back problem but I don't think bending over is going to improve. I hated not being and working outside last year, there isn't one thing to replace my enjoyment in gardening. All you folks give me heart, I wasn't about to give up but my family thinks I'm crazy, well crazier than I really am. I was given a gazillion jig-saw puzzles and craft kits to occupy me when I was diagnosed. Everyone's sense of humour and practical advice here inspires me to be creative. Don'tcha love a new challenge? Susan

Lisa - like I've already posted on Jenn's thread, I too, am concerned about all those 16oz disposable L/P tanks filling landfills. So where-ever possible have replaced the disposables with a regular 20# re-fillable tank (also use a little re-fillable 5# tank). Still have a couple of the disposables tanks in reserve stand-by just in case I run out of propane. Dish washing: a lot of C/G's, like those run by the Army Corps of Engineers, some state parks and have even seen them at a couple of K.O.A.'s, - have dish washing stations - usually located close to the restroom/shower areas, where there is a large community sink (even with hot water), and you can take your dishes & pots & pans, scrub them clean and tote them back to your campsite. Now, when I'm in an area where no such facilities are provided, I do like Jen ... help some of the close by vegetation with the dish & rinse water. AND, I only use 100% pure soap for dishes, like Ivory bar soap. Fish cleaning: campgrounds that are located close to fishing areas, quite often will provide fish cleaning stations (just like the dish washing stations), and have special trash cans just for the entrails from the fish cleaning. In the case where I'm in more remote areas and no such facilities are provided, here I take the fish cleanings and dig a nice hole close to some nice tree and bury the stuff; a real nice treat for the tree! Canoe anchor: there was an older house that was being demolished in town and I got three or four of the old timey window weights that were used in house construction years ago. These are cast iron weights and since the weight is a tad too heavy for what I like, had a local welding shop cut the weight in two making the weight just right for what I do with my canoe. Here I connect a foot long piece of chain to the window weight and then tie the anchor rope to the chain. Just right for holding the canoe in ponds, small lakes and such; and for the rivers that are moving right along, perfect for dragging and slowing the canoe down as I fly cast my way along. Dale

I agree it depends on the venue. I've tailgated at many events and the crowds range from fun loving to obnoxious. We normally bring a grill, a large cooler, folding chairs, and large market or beach umbrellas with stands. We're very traditional in that all the food is served on the tailgate of the pickup. Grilled foods provide the anchor and everyone brings various appetizers, sides and desserts. For winter tailgating, we do chili, chowder, soups and stews in crock pots with an AC converter for the vehicle. And yes we do all enter the parking lot together so we can park near each other. Tailgating venues I've been to: Loudon Speedway for NASCAR - In the RV section, arrive a couple days early and relax. Yes this requires an RV :-)Gillette Stadium - Pat's game no problem. Good people, a few clowns but nothing outrageous. Lots of grills and some amazing food. Country music concerts, I'm done attending these at a large venue like Gillette, too many drunks, bare everything and slobs. Gillette has reduced the time you can enter the lots before a concert and have upped the police presence but you still get a lot of knuckleheads. Various Ice Hockey arenas in the NE and Canada for tournaments - This is a blast to be bundled up, sitting and relaxing, eating chow-dah and chili with BAKED BEANS. (OMG Heresy! Sorta like putting tomato in chowder!) Lots of events in various locations through out the country - Towing Shows, Snowmobile Shows, Boat Shows, Car Shows, Antique Shows, etc. Always nice people who police themselves. At these small venues everyone shares even with strangers! The regional smorgasbord is truly extraordinary! In the hot weather folks bring inflatable pools and tanks of water! Most interesting tailgating I've done was on a frozen lake on New Year's Eve on snowmobiles waiting for the fireworks at midnight. And yes, there was a pickup truck with a tailgate there. I have to admit it's very tough to tailgate when the windchill is -20F. Tailgating is definitely competive, it's about having fun but also who has the coolest set up, the best and or most creative food, the best libations, the best theme and the group with the most spirit.

childstar, I have some questions. i have several machines, including 2 Singer Touch & Sews. One is a 600E, which i think was made in 1966. The other is a 626, made in 1967. The 626 has nylon gears that fell apart in my hand when i undid the bottom to check. But the 600E has metal gears. Is it worth fixing the 626? And, if i see metal gears in the 600E, does that mean it is a good machine worth keeping?