Wednesday, November 4, 2009

I don't Want To Go There Again...!


I have been to the airport here in Houston more in the past week than in the past year!

I've done 4 round trips in the last 10 days. No big deal, right? Well, for someone that doesn't like crowds, planes, dealing with machines, and having to be held hostage by overly rude attendants at over priced parking garages...it can become a big deal very quickly!

Add to that, the fact that during the last trip, the parking lots were full...except on the third floor parking area in the very rear...about a quarter mile from the terminal, where the passengers were picking up baggage.

Bottom line here...I DON'T want to go there again any time soon! OK? OK!

Now for the newest item I've added to my Preps! A small solar powered shed light! Not for outside use, though...I wanted to use it inside as a night light or as a back up when the power went out!

It's not very bright (equal to about a 30 watt light bulb), but what you need to remember here, folks...is that in the dark even a candle is better than nothing! A good example of this is to consider the night lights you may have around your house! Most are about 4 watts, but they at least allow you to move around in the dark safely, don't they?

Anyway, this light is perfect for a start to the extra lights I'll be using at the cabin. Powered by the sun, this one is a fluorescent bulb...but you can get them with LED bulbs as well! I like this particular one, because it has a pull string to turn it on and off!



I'm satisfied, for now. The main thing about these lights is to not expect too much light, OK? These lights are fairly inexpensive and quite possibly could come in very handy some day!

Just thought I would pass this on to you, for what it's worth!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and enjoy the sunshine for a bit, OK?

21 comments:

Wyn Boniface said...

A few months after 9/11 I had to pick up my first love's (she gone and good riddance) friend coming in from Anchorage, AK at Bush. I remember one of the security people giving me crap for stopping and I was screaming at them. I am amazed I never end up tazed and screwed. I hate that place also.

HermitJim said...

Hey Wyn...
Lucky for me, all my trips were to Hobby! Not nearly as bad as Bush, and a lot closer to home...since I live on the south side!

Airports do suck, but that's just my opinion! Actually, I guess it's more the people than the airports that make them seem so bad!@

Hey, thanks for coming by tonight!

Anonymous said...

Almost worth paying for a taxi to pickup your friends eh?

That light is cool where did you buy it?

TEAM HALL said...

Hey Jim! I'm diggin' your light. Where did you get it? What's the dimensions of that little panel?
My neighbours, during the last power-out, brought their outdoor solar path lights in so they could see...
Have a good one,
Cath

Anonymous said...

I hate airports too. We have a few travel vouchers from being bumped from a flight last summer. I hate it so bad, I haven't used them and flying would be free! But not hassle free.

I know you researched where to buy this. Were all the places about the same or did you find a spot with a really good deal?

Enjoy the java.

Anonymous said...

Been thru Bush Airport too many times. It is never a good experience. I have nothing good to say about that airport.
Do like the light though, tell us more.
YeOldFurt

Anonymous said...

Morning Jim;

Tampa Airport is one of the best. That is it used to be until 9-11. Now it takes longer to get thru security than it does to fly to your destination. I don't fly now period.

The light is cool. Would led's be brighter? Like everybody else said where did you get it?

See Ya

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One,
Hate air ports as well and I hate to fly. Haven't been on a plane in 22 yrs. Tucson isn't to bad its still small enough not to get overly crowded.
And yes where did you find the light, would be great for my shed.
Lets discuss over coffee on the patio.

Anonymous said...

Excellent advice. 5 years ago, we picked up a cheap $25 dollar solar shed light for my wife' hay shed. It lasted about 4 years before bulb burnt out. Well, that or Hurricane Dolly may have messed with wiring assembly, need to take a look at that.

4 years of dim (but usable) light for $25 - sounds like a bargain to me! Note to self - buy at least 1 spare bulb when you buy fixture.

HermitJim said...

Hey OGT...
Sorry, but I forgot to mention that I got the light at Harbor Freight! If you go to www.harborfreight.com and type in solar lights under the key words search, it will show you all the lights they have available.

Hey, thanks for the visit today, buddy!


Hey Cath...
The solar panel itself is only 5.5 by 6.5 inches...but it works pretty well! Swivels to adjust to where the Sun is! Harbor Freight has several solar shed lights...cheap! The light itself is only 8 inches long!

I thank you for coming by today!


Hey Kris...
Harbor Freight had the best prices on this light of any place I found! At around $25 bucks, it was a good deal! Great for your kids room!

Thanks for the visit today!


Hey YOF...
I agree about the Bush airport...and airports in general!

The lights are something I've been thinking about for a while, mainly in case of a storm! Harbor Freight is a good place to look!

Thanks for coming by today, my friend!


Hey Tony...
I don't know if the LEDs would be brighter or not! I'm going to buy a second one...and may go with the LED light next time, just to compare! They probably would be a little brighter!

I appreciate you coming by today, sir!


Hey JoJo...
I don't blame you for not flying...as you know I don't like it!

Thanks, Sweetie, for coming by today! Hugs to ya...


Hey Anon 7:58...
I think it's a pretty good deal! Like I said, not a lot of light, but better to "Light one candle than to curse the darkness"!

Extra bulbs would be a very good idea!

Thanks for the visit this morning!

Kyddryn said...

Mister Hermt, sir, you did yeoman's duty! I'm sure your passengers (and the people they were visiting) were grateful for your kindness.

I do adore solar powered doodads...one of my favorites (I wish I had a photo of it) is a backpack with solar panels on it that charges cell phone, iPod, and laptop as the wearer walks. I found it fascinating, and wish I had one. I'm also keen on the panels that can run a laptop - handy, those, when one camps a lot!

It's a beautiful day here at Casa de Crazy - I'm enjoying crisp, clear air and am filling the house with the smell of baking bread (which would go nicely with a cuppa joe). I hope you have a good one!

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

Kyddryn said...

Mister Hermt, sir, you did yeoman's duty! I'm sure your passengers (and the people they were visiting) were grateful for your kindness.

I do adore solar powered doodads...one of my favorites (I wish I had a photo of it) is a backpack with solar panels on it that charges cell phone, iPod, and laptop as the wearer walks. I found it fascinating, and wish I had one. I'm also keen on the panels that can run a laptop - handy, those, when one camps a lot!

It's a beautiful day here at Casa de Crazy - I'm enjoying crisp, clear air and am filling the house with the smell of baking bread (which would go nicely with a cuppa joe). I hope you have a good one!

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

vlad said...

I stole this link from Bison Survival Blog.
http://superbrightleds.com/

HermitJim said...

Hey K...
My hand crank flashlight has a cell phone charger attachment on it. Just plug in the cell phone, Ipod, whatever...and crank away! Couple of minutes is usually all it takes!

Cost...about $9.00! Hey, thanks for coming by today!


Hey Vlad...
I saw this link. The only thing is that they don't have a separate solar panel included with the light!

Thanks for coming by, budy!

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

No airports isn´t any fun places to be at. Especially the smell from the fuel is terrible. But the one we have near Gothenburg is so small that every place is close if You know what I mean.

Over here more and more people use sun powered garden lights. But I´ve never seen any for indoor using. Smar thing that!
Have a great day now!
Christer.

HermitJim said...

Hey Christer...
I know what you mean about the fuel smell. This light was actually designed to be an outside light for a garden shed...but I just decided to use it inside. Of course, the solar pane is outside and the cord to the light is run inside to a spot close to my desk. With 10 feet of cord, I can put it where I need it!

Thanks for dropping in today, my friend!

Chief Instructor said...

Harbor Freight is a great place to pick up prep supplies. I've done purchases of packs of leather work gloves that are amazingly well made for the price. Tarps are pretty well priced as well.

We happen to have one of their retail stores near me, so I can go pick the stuff up myself.

Airports: Here in Nor Cal, San Francisco is a nightmare, but Oakland is almost pleasant. Bet you don't hear comments like that about ANYTHING in Oakland very often!

HermitJim said...

Hey Chief...
I've been to the Harbor Freight store (one of them) here in Houston, but they didn't have the light so I ordered it.

I watched a program on the history channel about Oakland, but I have never been to California, except when I was a baby. Mom took me to meet my Dad's ship when he came home from the war!

Might have to visit your state someday!

Thanks for the visit today, my friend!

Frugal Canadian Hermit said...

I kinda like the looks of that light Jim. I'll bet it would be good in an outhouse. My question is, how much?

HermitJim said...

Hey Hermit...
I hadn't thought of light for the outhouse, but that would work! They have another one which is motion activated...but this one was $24.99.

The motion activated in a case where you had to get there in a hurry!

Thanks for coming by today, buddy!

Ryan said...

Been there twice and it just seemed like another airport to me.