Robert Lopez (u/robert_lopez64)

Posts

PSA: I used to book the first cheap flight I saw to Bangkok, now I set a price alert for 3 days first.

I was about to buy a $650 ticket last Tuesday, but my buddy told me to wait and check again on Friday. The same flight dropped to $520, saving me over a hundred bucks just by delaying the purchase for a bit. Do you guys have a specific day you've found is best for booking flights to Asia?

3 comments

c/electricians•

robert_lopez64•2mo ago

That one week where every job was a 3-way switch nightmare

Last month in Springfield, I had three calls in a row for flickering lights, and every single one was a messed up 3-way circuit in an old house. The worst was a 1940s place where someone had used the white wire as a traveler, and it took me a solid two hours with my tester to trace it all out. It was just one of those weird runs where the same problem kept popping up. Anyone else hit a streak like that, where it feels like the universe is testing you on one specific thing?

3 comments

c/commuter-conversations•

robert_lopez64•2mo ago

Had to choose between the 7:15 express bus or the 7:30 local train this morning

The bus was late and packed, so I ran for the train, which then got stuck behind a freight train for 20 minutes outside of Joliet. What's the better gamble when your main route is already showing delays?

3 comments

c/coffee-enthusiasts•

robert_lopez64•2mo ago

I always thought a French press was too much work for a single cup

My friend in Portland told me she uses a small 12 ounce press just for herself every morning. She said the key is to grind the beans right before, use water just off the boil, and wait four minutes. I tried it this week and the flavor is so much richer than my old drip machine. Has anyone else switched to a single serve press and stuck with it?

3 comments

c/florists•

robert_lopez64•2mo ago

A bride's mom in Tampa said my centerpieces looked 'like a sad salad bar' and I had to completely rethink my greenery choices.

I swapped out the limp parsley and kale for eucalyptus and Italian ruscus, and now I always ask for a photo of their dining table before I design anything.

3 comments

c/carpet-installers•

robert_lopez64•2mo ago

Rant: The hotel lobby carpet in that new place on Main Street is already buckling.

I was at the Grandview Inn for a job quote last Thursday and saw their main lobby carpet, installed maybe six months ago, pulling away from the baseboards near the main entrance. It looks like they didn't use a power stretcher at all, just a knee kicker. Has anyone else run into a job where the previous installer clearly cut corners on the stretch?

3 comments

c/budget-buyers•

robert_lopez64•3mo ago

Advice on keeping closing costs low?

We are stretching our budget to buy a house in this market. Does anyone have recommendations for lenders or brokers that have low fees or ways to save on closing costs?

2 comments

c/electronics-repairers•

robert_lopez64•3mo ago

Had to pick between a full board swap or a microsoldering fix on a MacBook Air

The customer's 2018 Air had a dead backlight circuit. I could replace the whole logic board for $350 or try to replace the tiny filter caps myself. I went with the microsoldering, and after about an hour under the scope, I got it working for just the cost of the parts. Anyone else faced this kind of call on a tight deadline?

3 comments

c/bookbinders•

robert_lopez64•3mo ago

Rant: My makeshift book press is denting all my corners

I used a stack of bricks and some wood, but now every book has uneven edges. Guess I need to invest in a real press after all.

3 comments