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Barbara has once again changed primary care physicians at the VA, and again they are experimenting with her medications. The result is that she sleeps a lot (at least a lot more than she used to). Further, sometimes even an avalanche doesn't awaken her (fortunately, she wasn't injured...). |
| I spent some time on the rabbit house roof. I couldn't seem to find anything substantial to which I could nail the corrugated metal, so I chose a slightly different route. At some point in the not too distant future, I will definitely have to undertake some major repairs but, for now, this is the solution to the migratory metal roofing. |
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Somehow AJ inherited Daddies love of sports (I have to admit I'm a little confused about the genetics). At any rate, he and Brittney came out to our house to watch his favorite professional football team play in this years edition of that American institution called, "The Super-Bowl." He even brought his big-screen TV so he could view it in high definition. That is amazing, given that he almost had a cow when we attempted to move that TV across the parking lot from one apartment to another. |
| Nathen and family stopped by on their way home from visiting northern relatives, and stayed for the event. I may be wrong, but I suspect Nathen's motivation had more to do with giving AJ a hard time than it did with watching the game. |
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These contests have grown into an "event" (though they do not yet have anywhere near the frenzied pageantry that surrounds the World Cup), and many times I have enjoyed the creative commercials more than the actual game. If I understood what I heard correctly, the price of a 30 second commercial this year was $3,000,000. Given that price tag, I was amazed at some of the absolutely unremarkable ads that aired (and characterizing them as "unremarkable" is being kind...). I think the only thing that could have surprised me more was if there had been one for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. |
| Historically, many of these contests have been one-sided blowouts which failed to hold my interest past the end of the first quarter. This year's game wasn't quite that bad, and AJ was on pins and needles for most of it. Once or twice he actually yelled at the TV set. But in the end, his team played a little better (or at least didn't fumble the ball as many times) and eked out the victory. He was able to go home vindicated and happy. |
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The ward in which we reside has demographics decidedly skewed towards geriatrics. Barbara has befriended one of the few fecund families in the ward, and as a result, she was invited to visit the hospital shortly after a birth. I include this image solely because it is so typical of the introduction of a second chid into a three member family. This exact scene has been played out so many time... (Look Mommy, an eye...) |
| Slightly less than a year ago, I impressed into service all who would, and replaced part of my roof. It had leaked for the better part of 15 years (but only when it rained...) and the time had come to fix it. I paid particular attention (90 minutes of time and 1.5 gallons of tar) to a certain troublesome spot, and came away from the project certain that the problem had been solved. So, it was with extreme consternation that, about a week ago, I view this scene directly below the "troublesome spot." (Yes, I know it's not a good photo--I was livid to the point of having difficulty focusing my eyes, let alone the camera...). |
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So, it was with implacable resolve that undertook to rectify the situation. (Again, don't blame the camera, I was slightly beside myself...). |
| This is the situation on the roof. A gutter between two roof pitches empties onto a seam between a pitched slope and a vertical wall. The white is were I painted over the previously tarred gutter (this was before Jim told me that tar and elastomeric roof coverings were incompatible). |
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The tar at that exact junction had (probably due to the recent extremely cold temperatures) cracked. Now I know (given the time and material that I lavished on it), that this isn't possible. But none-the-less this is what I saw. I added another coat of tar, and so far into our current storm, moisture has not leaked. Stay tuned for late breaking news... |
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And speaking of reoccurring problems, my Geo over heated again, this time on the way home from Tucson. That wasn't particularly happy news but it did have a silver lining. I was able (by following the sound of hissing steam) to locate a 3 mm leak in a hose (down, under, and behind) that took coolant from one part of the carburetor to another (oh, for the good old days when carburetors only dealt with gasoline). I was carrying a gallon of water, so the side-of-the-road-time was short, and that afternoon I replaced the leaking hose (and a couple of its neighbors for good measure). Hopefully this will allow me to get a couple thousand more miles out of the car. Barbara's turtles continue to grow and prosper. Anyone out there want the one with red on it's head? (Also known as a Slider.) We'll make you a great deal... FREE!! |
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A wise man carefully considers his wife's wants and needs, and thus it is that my next priority is the construction of a carport. The acquisition of these support poles completes the list of materials needed (except for some rebar), and all I lack now is time. The exact design remains a work in progress, with the details changing about every third day. Unfortunately, since I am the designer, this is a problem I can't blame on Barbara... |
| Over the course of the years, I have looked at weather forecasts many times, but this is the first time I recall seeing the chance of precipitation listed as 100%. |
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And, the forecast was accurate. We received about 6 inches of the nasty white stuff. This time I took Barbara's MB (maroon beast) to church. It has full-time four-wheel drive, and it functioned without the slightest problem. In low, I inched up our drive way. Near the crest, I stopped the car. When I attempted to start forward again, it responded as if it were on level dry ground. Given how my Geo moves (or more correctly, doesn't move) in snow, I found that to be quite impressive.... |
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This storm had more snow than the last one, but was not followed by cold. Much of it was melted by Sunday night. I tried to kick the cat out in the snow to see her reaction, but Barbara wouldn't let me and the cat refused to go out on her own. Sometimes I think that cat has it better than I do... |
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