morrowlife

Here’s a real computer, the way they used to make them. None of this “desktop” or “laptop” stuff. This thing is a “roomtop.” Actually, it’s the guidance computer in one of the early blockhouses at Cape Canaveral. Good stuff. I’m so old school, they tore the school down.

Wonders of Blogger today. No time on Friday night – it rained all day and the trip home on a rainy Friday night took three hours and fifteen minutes. I believe that’s a new record. I certainly heard a lot of podcasts. By the way, I’ve been really enjoying some old Nero Wolfe radio shows. They’re probably from the early ’50s – pretty much the end of the line for radio drama. They’re witty and entertaining, and I even can’t figure out whodunit within the first two minutes sometimes. I’ve also been listening to some Hopalong Cassidy westerns, also from the early ’50s.

Anyway. When I got home, we had our family birthday dinner and party for Loyal Reader Number One. He’ll be seventeen years old tomorrow, but Loyal Readers Numbers Five, Six, and Twelve can’t be here then, so we did the party last night. We had a great dinner (chipotle chicken with orange sauce) and a delicious cherry-topped ice cream dessert. LRN1 received some nice gifts too. It was a pleasant evening. But there was no blogging.

That’s right, the move is on for this morning! LRN5 picked up the apartment keys last night and we’re getting them moved in later this morning. I’m really happy it’s worked out, and they’ll be delighted to be living closer to work.

It’s time for breakfast, so I need to go. See you on Monday.

Here are Loyal Readers Numbers One and Two relaxing on the front porch. Looks like the house already needs a coat of paint.

No post yesterday. It was Meeting Wednesday. I worked late and got home just in time to eat dinner and go to the meeting. I got home from the meeting just in time to go to bed. Ergo, no post. Not a good thing to do to my Loyal Readers, I know, but unfortunately essential.

Loyal Reader Number Four had the Sable at the Midas shop today to get the oil pan worked on again, as mentioned previously. They admitted both the oil pan and the transmission pan were still leaking, were very apologetic, mentioned that the person who worked on the car last time no longer works there (along with various other members of the former staff), replaced both pan gaskets in a few hours, asked us to bring it back in 3,000 miles to get it rechecked, and gave us a coupon for a free oil change. It seems like they’re trying to get us to come back. LRN4 is almost convinced. I want to drive the car for a while before I decide.

Good news! The RAZR works with the new Sim card. Nothing to worry about after all. LRN4 is happy with her phone as well.

It’s supposed to rain tomorrow. I’m planning to ride the train, thus avoiding the inevitably horrible Friday afternoon traffic. Better wear my waterproof clothes.

It looks like Loyal Readers Numbers Five, Six, and Twelve will be moving into their apartment on Saturday morning. We’ll miss them, but we’re pleased that they’re getting back into their own place. We really hope it works out this weekend.

I’m uber sleepy, so I’m off to bed. See you tomorrow.

Here are Loyal Readers Numbers Two and Four carefully observing a dangerous situation. Or maybe they’re just waiting to see a crash.

Three hour drive to work this morning, offset by an hour-and-a-half drive home. The Law of Commuting Equalization holds (mostly) true once again. Or what was it I called that law? I need to add search to my blog. Maybe later today.

LRN4 is hosting book group this evening. They read Frankenstein this month. There’s a pretty big group here right now, and from the sounds of things, they all enjoyed the book. I’ve never read that particular one myself, my literary tastes running more to non-fiction, but I’ve heard good things. Besides, I’ve read the Wikipedia entry, which is pretty much the modern equivalent of the Cliffs Notes. Maybe even better. Anyway, I’m sure my Loyal Readers would agree that Frankenstein is perfect for an October book club meeting.

Our new cell phones arrived today. It turns out that, for technical reasons, I couldn’t order new service for Loyal Reader Number Four without getting new phones (and a new 2-year contract, of course) for LRN4 and myself. Sigh. Well, her phone was dying anyway and she had hated it since she got it besides, so maybe her new one will be an improvement. I certainly hope so. I got the free phone for myself, since I plan to switch the new Sim card to my brand-new RAZR as soon as I activate the new service. It had better work, too. If it doesn’t, plan B kicks in: I don’t think it’s too late to return the RAZR to Wal-Mart and get a working one from the dirty rats at AT&T.

There is no cell phone company in America that doesn’t deserve to be rounded up and shot in the foot, in my correct opinion.

The Sable seems fine. Mostly. I think. It has its old pep back and the engine seems smoother and quieter than before. Probably just in my head. The throttle is definitely smoother – it had a hitch in its get-along before that seems to be gone now, perhaps because they removed the intake manifold and rerouted cables and such. The brakes are quiet and seem to stop well. All that’s great. On the downside, it seems to really be following the grooves on the freeway all of a sudden. I’m guessing they overinflated the tires, which will be more than simple to fix if it’s the case. If not, who knows? I’ll figure it out.

Other things await me, so I’m off. See you tomorrow.

Here are Loyal Readers Numbers One and Two engaged in some interpretive dance. Wait, don’t tell me. Ummm . . . LRN1 is interpreting an oboe player taking a bow after his second performance at Carnegie Hall and LRN2 is interpreting a giraffe wading in a stream. Nice job, guys!

No post Friday. I forgot. It seemed so much like Saturday that it just slipped my mind. Sorry about that, Loyal Readers. I have no idea how you survived.

Great General Conference over the weekend. I watched all ten hours. I had predicted the new First Presidency member a few weeks ago. It’s nice to see that President Hinckley agreed with my judgment.

I finally took a few minutes on Friday morning to re-replace the front brakes on the Sable. I took off the junky Napa brakes – they grabbed excessively and squeaked like crazy – and put on Autozone ceramic brakes. The whole job took only about half an hour and cost just thirty bucks. While I was out for the test drive, the check engine light came on. Sigh. I took it to the Ford dealer and told them to fix it, change the oil, find the oil leak, and put on two new tires. We got it back today. I’ll see tomorrow how I like their work, and will finally give the brakes a chance to prove they don’t squeal. They discovered the oil leak was in the oil pan gasket, which we paid a exorbitant amount of money to have replaced eleven months ago. We have an appointment on Thursday to have the other shop rework the gasket under warranty. Let’s hope for the best.

Otherwise, I didn’t get much accomplished over the weekend, what with the conference going on several times a day. Loyal Reader Number Four and I went to the stake adult activity on Friday night. It was a murder mystery dinner, and it turns out to have been based on a Book of Mormon story, which was cute. I suggested that they use an Old Testament story for next year’s dinner, but I think that might turn out to be just a bit too violent. Or something.

We had a nice baptism last night – two brothers who are 12 and 13 years old. They seem like really nice boys and are excited to be church members. One of them got his head bonked pretty hard on our unusually small font. That’ll be something to remember.

It was perfect top-down weather again this afternoon, and I took advantage of it. The Miata was basically mandatory, given the location of the Sable. I suppose I could have taken the truck, assuming I could afford the gas.

Weather alert! We’re expecting rain later in the week and snow up in the mountains at any moment. So the convertible is staying in the garage for a few days.

– Later –

Home Evening is over. We played Chinese Checkers. LRN2 was the victorious conqueror, with LRN4 one move behind. I barely squeaked out third, one move ahead of LRN1. Loyal Readers Numbers Five and Six stopped playing before they figured out who was ahead, so I think it would have been a tie.

Time for treat and bed now. See you tomorrow.

Here’s a trailer that’s going on the HRVA Real Soon Now. This old wreck veteran survivor is quite a piece of work. It has a great big owner-installed picture window in the back that really sets it apart from most other trailers. I was hoping to find the owner at home and maybe get a tour of the interior but, alas, it was not to be. It will always remain shrouded in mystery.

Cool day today. The wind blew like crazy last night around here, and it was apparently really blowing again today. No wind in my building at work, though. No windows either.

Anyway. It’s supposed to be only about 69 degrees tomorrow here in Lardville, start warming back up on Saturday, and be back in the 80’s by Sunday. I guess we just have to get used to these harsh Fall days.

Loyal Reader Number One decided to return his iPhone and get a less extravagant communication device. Today was the fourteenth day he had it and therefore his last chance to return it with no questions asked. I think he made the right choice. The iPhone is cool but not cool enough for the money they’re charging – certainly too rich for my blood. I like its bling but believe I would quickly tire of it. He can spend about a tenth of the money over the next two years and have a very nice phone with great okay passable service. We’ll probably get him a new phone ordered tomorrow, at which time he’ll box up the high-zoot one and send it packing for a full refund, less a slight restocking fee.

I’m planning on staying home tomorrow – I worked the last two off-Fridays, so I assume it’s my turn to skip. I’m also planning to miss the next off-Friday, so we’ll see how my irresponsibility works out. Woo hoo!

See you tomorrow.