Archive for July, 2007

Big Sur river yet again

Thursday, July 19th, 2007


Here’s one more look at the Big Sur river. Have I mentioned it was a beautiful place? Well, it was. That’s the ocean way back in the background.

Terse post tonight. Possibly even perfunctory. It’s late again and I absolutely must get more sleep tonight.

I’ve started listening to The Innocents Abroad again this evening. I had downloaded it and listened to the first 25 chapters during our trip home from Mesa a few weeks ago. We never finished it, so I will now. Very amusing book and highly recommended, as is everything written by Twain.

I figured out the perfect job for Loyal Reader Number Two on the data logging project: he can write the help and readme files. He’s an excellent writer. Now I just need to get everybody working on the project. It’s really easy to dream and talk about doing something like this, but it’s a lot harder to actually do it. I think the key to success (link warning: BYU Forum address on how to write – video and sound version) in lots of things is just to sit down and do it. It has to be something somebody wants, of course, but a lot of good ideas die before birth. I’m trying to make sure this one doesn’t. Get to work, Loyal Readers! Me too!

See you tomorrow.

Mad dog

Wednesday, July 18th, 2007


Here’s an older picture of Loyal Pet Number One, back when she still had her red harness. She just can’t look fierce no matter how hard she tries.

No post yesterday. We went to the annual Oakland Temple pageant and didn’t get home until way too late to blog. Tonight was Wednesday-go-to-meeting night, but I have an obligation to my Loyal Readers, so there will be a little something here.

The pageant was very nice. There was a good spirit about it and we approved of the story. High points: great sets, very fine special effects (angel appearances were especially well-done), good singing from the balcony choir. Things to work on next year: the orchestra’s horns weren’t really with the program, the angel dance didn’t really fit in, and some of the rest of the choreography was too ambitious for the skill level of the dancers. Taken all together, though, they did a very nice job and I’m glad we saw it.

Loyal Reader Number One’s weekend campout at the Chain Lakes was officially cancelled yesterday. They couldn’t find enough adults to go. However, a few of them are going unoficially tomorrow anyway. LRN1 was looking forward to it so much that he’s decided to go, in spite of the unofficial, uninsured nature of the event. Have a good time, LRN1!

Quiet day today. I stayed at work about forty minutes late, having driven again today. I got home about fifteen minutes later than usual, so it wasn’t the worst possible drive.

I’ve started re-watching an old movie called The Milky Way, starring Harold Lloyd, one of the few silent film actors who was just as good in talkies. It’s a cute story about a wimpy milk truck driver who accidentally knocks out the middleweight champion and becomes a big-time boxer without ever realizing he doesn’t really know how to box. Recommended.

We’re seriously working on getting LRN1’s web-based homeschool time logging program on the internet and being used by a wider audience. The immediate goal is to get maybe half a dozen beta testers, followed by widespread use at their school. After that, it will hopefully be ready for a wider homeschooler audience next year and possible money-making. There’s a lot of work to be done in the short term to get it ready for even limited beta testing use, but I think we can have it ready by the time school starts. It won’t be as pretty as it will eventually be, but it should be working. LRN1 needs to get the email functionality working, I need to get the website up and running with access to the application and a help/suggestion/discussion forum working, and Loyal Reader Number Four is working on a draft website design. What with all the campouts coming up in the next week or two, it will be a challenge, but we’ll make it.

Loyal Reader Number Two is spending the night with a friend. Have a great time LRN2! And what assignment would you like in the time-logging project?

Time for bed. See you tomorrow.

Very odd

Monday, July 16th, 2007


Here’s Loyal Reader Number One several years ago. I can’t figure it out either.

Fine weekend, wasn’t it? The weather here in Lardville was beautiful, we got lots of satisfying work done on Saturday, and we actually got some time to rest on Sunday, in addition to pleasant church meetings. What’s not to like?

I tried the simple fix on the Miata on Saturday and drove it to work today to see if it cured the overheating problem. No joy. I’m going to try replacing the thermostat next weekend and if that doesn’t work, it’s off to the shop. I can’t live with the car not running right.

Loyal Reader Number Four’s non-Loyal-Reader sister arrived safely today.

– Pause for Family Home Evening and spa relaxation –

I’m back and relaxed. Time for brownie and bed.

Anyway. The sister-in-law arrived today and we’ve had a nice evening visiting. The rest of the Loyal Family spent the day in Sacramento. They went to an aerospace museum up there that was having a Leonardo DaVinci exhibit. They said the museum was fairly small but had numerous interesting exhibits. The boys especially liked getting inside a few of the cockpits and playing around with the controls, something which you’re not likely to be allowed to do in, say, the Smithsonian. In fact, I’m not sure they were strictly allowed to do it here either. They’re not in jail tonight, so either it was allowed or they got away with it.

I spent most of the day today running a test, which was a first for me. I’ve been managing testing for the last year but hadn’t actually been the driver before. I’m glad to have gotten a little bit of experience. I need a lot more before I become effective.

It’s late already, so I’ll see you tomorrow.

Cannon

Friday, July 13th, 2007


Here’s a nasty-looking piece of weaponry. Loyal Reader Number One took this picture at Alcatraz. I’m not sure what they planned on using it for. Cannons just aren’t much help at keeping prisoners under control.

Happy Friday the Thirteenth! Nothing bad happened to me today. I think it’s bad luck to believe in superstition. How was your day?

Well, another work week has come and gone. Today was a fine day. I spent some time in the lab, which I have been wanting to do for some time. We didn’t get anything accomplished, but I did learn some. Mostly, I learned that my people have been unfairly villified in the past by people who have sabotaged them pretty badly. I’m ready to fight back.

Good news about the Sable – it appears that yesterday’s garage floor puddle was just water. It’s gone today, so it certainly wasn’t oil. Nobody has any idea where the water came from, but we’ll just keep an eye out and go get the oil leak fixed next week.

More good news! Loyal Reader Number Four has an appointment for the Honda to get its windshield replaced next Friday.

Also, I have one more idea to try on the Miata’s overheating problem. I actually read yesterday’s blog link on this subject and think there’s an idea worth trying – apparently, there’s an “overflow” hose between the thermostat housing and the water pump. If that hose gets clogged, the thermostat doesn’t want to open until pressure really builds up behind it. Other people have reported behavior essentially identical to mine and cleaning out the overflow hose cured it. It still doesn’t explain why it only happens when I’m stopped in traffic, though. Maybe it’s because the thermostat can open partway under normal circumstances, which is enough to keep it cool when I’m moving but not enough for when I’m stopped.

But I still suspect the fans. Might as well eliminate one more possibility before it goes to the shop, though.

I took the 4:00 train today, which has wifi, so I’m actually typing this directly into Blogger on the train. If I can find some Great Art on this machine, I’ll actually post during the trip. There should be plenty of time – the conducter got on the loudspeaker and told us there’s some kind of problem with a train up ahead of us, and we’re going about two miles per hour right now. I’m not sure what the problem was because I was listening to Click and Clack on my iPod, but I don’t expect to be home on time.

Let’s see, what else is going on? The weekend should be pretty busy – I need to work on the Miata’s overheating problem, as mentioned above, build the screen around the air conditioner, swim, relax, wash a few cars, and probably do a bunch of cleaning in preparation for LRN4’s sister’s arrival on Monday.

Sunday’s projected meeting load is pretty low at this point. I ought to go home teach my two less-active people. We haven’t been able to find one couple for several months now, and I don’t know if they’ve moved or not. They had sold their house to a developer, so it’s entirely possible they’ve moved already. It doesn’t really look like they’re gone, but we certainly can’t find them. We also need to see the shirtless guy, who we really like. He lives in an old trailer that lost half of its electricity several months ago, and he hasn’t been able to find anybody to fix it. I’ve made arrangements for an electrician friend to go with me and work on it, so we need to get an appointment. I certainly wouldn’t like living in a half-dark house. He’s just been using extension cords to get light in the dark half, which would drive me absolutely bonkers. I hope we can help him.

Anyway. I think I’ll get back to the iPod now. See you on Monday!

Killer pet

Thursday, July 12th, 2007


Here’s Loyal Reader Number Two in our yard in Virginia being brutally attacked by a vicious Loyal Pet a few years back. He got better. Photo courtesy of an unknown person or persons, but probably Loyal Reader Number Four. Photo also courtesy of my first junky digital camera.

Drove the Miata to work today. It overheated three times that I noticed. Very annoying. When I sit in traffic, it heats up to its limit and then cools back down. As long as I keep moving, it’s fine. It seems obvious to me that the cooling fan isn’t coming on when it should and then there’s some safety switch that turns both fans on just before it overheats. I’ve tested the fan and it seemed to be fine, though, so I don’t know what’s going on. I think it needs to go to the shop.

Which is too bad, since the Sable needs to go to the shop to fix its oil leak – and a new, serious leak of something clear right behind the engine. Sigh.

And the Honda needs to go to the shop to fix its broken windshield and the dent somebody put in the quarter panel several months ago. Double sigh.

And the Taurus may need to go to the shop too. Loyal Reader Number One reported this evening that its Check Engine light came on twice today. Triple sigh. We may be reduced to walking before long. I’m not sure why this is all happening at once – our checking account balance isn’t high enough to trip the Automatic Car Breakdown function.

Otherwise a quiet day. I got up (just a little late), went to work, worked, came home, ate, and sat down to work on the blog. Just like every other day. It’s hard to be interesting when that’s the sum total of your day. Maybe I’ll do something interesting over the weekend. Yeah, that’s the ticket. I’ll let you know.

See you tomorrow.