Getting Cooler

This morning I made that phone call to an AC service company. Fortunately, they had an opening to have the tech come by sometime between 11-4. Yeah. Five hour spread of time. I just don't get that. Of course I told them that I would home for whenever they arrive. Not that I had plans to be anywhere today. I really didn't have any plans. I did feel elated for a short time, however, when five minutes later the company calls back, and informs me that there was a cancellation, so the tech was being routed over to my place at that moment. Yeah.... some good news!

It was short-lived though. then the dread feeling started in... that internal debate of how bad is it going to be, the cost(s), etc. Within a few moments of being here, he had down the blower & motor from the unit. Yeah, motor is shot. We discussed a few issues regarding the unit. Mainly, that it is an old one, and obviously he suggested that it should be replaced with a newer unit. Price range for a comparable unit (new) about $4000. Sigh. After discussing it a bit, we agreed to replacing the motor for the blower now, and everything else will have to come at a future date, as I know the Wife won't be okay with me just telling them to do it. At least at that kind of cost.

So, the tech is back now, as he had to run to the shop for a part. thankfully it is 'just around the corner' and soon I will have cold air in the house again. I'm tired of sweating while I sit here typing. Not that I don't do that when the air is on, but this is without me even trying mental concentration.

Now, I need to figure out about getting my van fixed....sigh.

PeacE

Getting Old and Falling Apart/Stimulating the Economy

Twenty years ago I made a trip to the hospital. It was 'sort-of' an emergency, and it took place in the pre-dawn hours of the morning. By 8am everything was good though, and phone calls were made to reassure family that things were fine. Also, to share joyous news that my daughter was born. I remember in those fast, few minutes as her lungs were cleared, and breathing started; the nurse didn't stop to rinse her off as they quickly did those first tests they do with newborns. It seemed within seconds the nurse was handing her into my arms, pink, mucus-covered, little thing, with her legs literally sticking straight-up by her ears. Tears were flowing form my eyes, as I leaned over as careful as I could to show her to her Mom. Our daughter was a breech baby. They had tried internal, and external manipulations to flip her around, but to no avail. Being her first pregnancy, and our regular OBGYN being out of town, the Doc on call (old-fashioned doc) made the call to do a C-section, rather than the possible attempt our regular doc had discussed with us. It's still a very sore point with the Wife.

So now the daughter is 20, has an apartment in another town, living on her own (though with monetary assistance from us). I'm 40 and though am trying to get my body back to healthier version of me, still somewhat falling apart from the use, abuse and agedness (that a word?) of my body. Kinda like my house. And my van. Speaking of house and van .....

I took the van up to the garage this morning after I did the work-out at the gym. About 3-4 weeks ago I had an oil leak that was due to a pinhole in the oil filter. Everything was good for about a week or two, then puddles started showing up again. I had other things keeping my attention, that I had to wait until today to get it in to the shop. Turns out there is a coolant leak at the gasket seal of the water pump. There doesn't seem to be an issue with the function of the water pump, but that will be looked at when they take it off to replace the gasket. In fact, I just called there to see if the quote they gave me includes the replacement of the pump - which it is full replacement of pump, gasket, coolant, etc. Plus they will check the misc hoses near that area for possible wear/tear/damages. Another several pretty pennies when all is said and done to fix that. 

Then..... Monday, I was out watching the game with friends, but when I got home, the Wife let me know she and one of the boys smelled like a 'burning rubber' type smell coming through the ventilation system of the house. Stepping outside they couldn't smell it in the air in the neighborhood, so the Wife shut off the AC. Turning it on later, there was no smell coming from the vents. Actually there was nothing coming from the vents. I am guessing the blower motor has gone kaput on us. Today I am calling some places referred by friends & family to get pricing for a service call, and possible repair. So far, I am looking at the near the same cost as it is to fix the van. More pretty pennies.

Soooo, tonight the Wife and I will sit and discuss where we are financially, and which one of those two things take the priority in getting fixed. 

If nothing else, I sure feel like I have been stimulating the economy this past year.

PeacE

Monday Morning Stimulation

Isn't that what so many of us need on Monday mornings? Some mental stimulation to get us going, whether it is to work, or to get the kids up for school, etc. Today I need it. I laid in bed, telling myself to get my fat butt up, dressed and to the gym. My butt won though, and I didn't. After about half an hour I did get up though. My back and knees feel sore today. I am sure it is from the unusual amount of time I spent on that damn disposal yesterday.

Found the piece of piping that the dog had carted off. It is not chewed up (thankfully) so last night I tried to get it all back together, again. Another failed attempt. I have no clue haw the guy who lived here before was able to  literally fuck all this shit up. This pipe just basically 'sat' there - no connectors, no cement, no putty, etc. No way could that provide a seal. But somehow, it was working. Though I cannot get it to a repeat performance. Again I will be doing the trip to Lowe's to see about some proper connections, length of pipe, even maybe some advice on how to do it properly. More stuff I don't want to deal with.

Looks to be a pretty light week for events this week. Friday the Wife has her Homecoming Game, which I know she will want to attend, taking the boys along to "show them off". I told her this year I didn't really want to go. She was okay with that. I guess this way I wouldn't be there telling her I was ready to go, and being a bump on the log. What can I say, I am good at that.

PeacE

Winding Down from the Weekend

Sigh? Yawn? I am not sure what to call that exhalation of air from my mouth. The Wife is back home form the weekend visit with the Daughter, and so far has claimed nothing but a good time occurred there. In our brief conversation in the vehicle (trip explained later) I filled her on on what we 'men' accomplished while she was gone. I think the trip did her well, and gives her a nice breather.

So that trip? It was to Lowe's yet again. Wife came home, and had her flip the power while I switched over the wiring for the garbage disposal I am installing. Five minutes or so, no major deal. Went to physically hook it all up - to the drain, to the sink, dishwasher.... and I am missing a piece of pipe about 9 inches long. It was part that went from the disposal drain pipe, to the sink trap piping. Cannot find it anywhere amidst the other pieces and tools laying around where I am working. I had removed it the other day, so I know it was here.

There was a flash of white I caught from the corner of my eye. Daisy, the dog. The Chewer of Things. The Destroyer of all things she can reach. The Anklebiter Prodigy. I am sure she is the cause of the missing pipe piece. So I had the Wife drive me over to Lowe's to get a replacement. I measured so I would be sure of the right size pipe piece I needed, found it, got some pipe cement in case needed as well as a new washer and nut for the piping. Got home and went back to work. I didn't calculate the difference of about 2 inches that the piece would overlap in connecting to the one side, so it is now too short. I needed the other, longer piece. Store is now closed. So we are another night without the kitchen sink. Tomorrow morning after the gym I will head over and get the right piece, and hopefully finish up this whole weekend job.

Wife is home though. I'll sleep better tonight having her near me. That's the best part!!

PeacE

While the Wife Is Away ....

The Wife left this morning for Tucson, to spend the weekend with our daughter. A little trip both the daughter and I encouraged her to do. I think the time away from "near home" and alone time with the daughter, will be good for her to sort of recharge a bit. I'm glad the daughter thought it up, and helped me push the Wife towards to doing it. I think this morning she was actually excited about going.

So she is gone, and I have all three boys (13, 9, and 5) at home. I also have a garbage disposal replacement to take care of over the two day period. No big deal. Of course, those are semi-famous last words.

I had noticed earlier this week, that in replacing the disposal, there was a leak along the 'drain sleeve' that I was hoping to not have to worry about replacing. Okay, so now I needed some extra stuff from Lowe's (plumber putty). I picked that up yesterday. I know have all tools and stuff I am pretty sure of needing.

I get down in there today, unhook all the piping work that needed, loosened up the bolts for the drain sleeve...popped it out. Started cleaning the previous (and now pretty much non-existent) layer of plumber putty; only to discover a hole. No, not the drain hole, silly! On the metal through the edge about an 1/8th-inch in size. No way is simple putty going to not leak through a hole like that, at the juncture that the seal meets the area where water is to be. Sigh. So, another trip to Lowes today to get some stuff called WaterWeld (like JB Weld) that they said should work for that environment. I am waiting another half hour for it to set up so I can see if it hardened up good enough to finish the install tomorrow.

Hopefully, it will be ready to finish, and I will be able to do so. Shouldn't be anything unexpected now, unless something electrical happens I think. Yes, I know, I just cursed that part, too.

PeacE

A Slow Afternoon

Today feels pretty mild. It's not as 'hot' feeling as it has been some of the past weeks, sun is out, looks nice. I have nothing 'pressing' to do today, so I jumped around on the blogs doing some catch-up, played a couple games, and brought myself here to put down some words. But since I really don't have much to write about, I'll just throw in some random thoughts I had.

I wonder if I will be able to see the falling satellite tomorrow... or will daylight be too bright to see it? They say trackers will only have 2 hours to know the exact location of where the biggest debris will hit. Glad I am not in the fall path....

Garbage Disposal project has turned into more. Need to get plumber's putty to install a new 'drain attachment' piece to the sink as well. Need to pick that up today.

Two pills left on the prescription med I take. Guess I will be heading to the store soon.

Started a book - "The Laws of Our Fathers" by Scott Turow. It's a hardback that my MIL sent over thinking I may like. Five pages in, and seems okay so far.

Think I may hit the pub this afternoon. Discounted beer from 12-3 and 3-6 is free chicken wings, and they are good!

PeacE

Take Another Piece of Me

This October will be a year since I came to the decision I needed to do something about my health/weight. Since that time, I am down a bit over 35 pounds, have improved my feeling of health, increased the amount of energy I feel, and lowered my cholesterol and blood pressure. Overall improvements that are contributing to me being healthier, and hopefully, extending my numbered days so I can spend them watching my children grow up. A year ago, I would not have believed *I* could have done these changes.

But, it wasn't just me that made these changes. Yeah, I was the one that decides how much of a workout to do, how much to eat, etc, etc. Truly though, it was those around me that did the hard part. The support of family and friends, compliments from people, especially when you need them. All were (are) contributing factors.

As I near the one year mark of my little journey, and move into the second, I just want to say thanks to all of you.

Thanks.

Kinda a mushy post, but that's what you get today. It's just how I feel.

PeacE