| For Christmas, the boys both received rockets. This past weekend, we decided that we would put them together. For those how know me, I have always been one who enjoys putting these things together. As the years have gone on, these model rocket kits keep getting easier and easier to construct. This is something that I don't enjoy. While it is nice to put them together rather quickly, I would much rather take time with the details of construction rather than just snap them together and go. I think that Ethen and Kyle would prefer the snap method, and to their delight, this was basically all that was required. |  |
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These rockets are pre painted and the fins are made of plastic. To put them together all you have to use is some super glue, hold it for 20 seconds, and they are complete. I don't know if you remember or not, but I would spend a few days gluing the fins (made of balsa wood) onto a cardboard body tube and trying to get them straight and not let anyone near them to knock the fins over before the wood glue would set up. Once they were glued then they needed to be sanded, sealed, and then painted. Well things have changed, and in just over a half an hour, both of these rockets were compete with paint and decals (now stickers). They had a good time and I guess that is all that really matters. Now they want to go and launch them, and once it warms up a bit I imagine that we will. |
| One week ago on Saturday, Terra and I arranged a baby sitter for the kids and made the 4 hour trip to Memphis, TN so that we could attend the temple. We haven't been able to do a session together since living here and thought that we would give it a try. We made it about 200 miles and about the time we were 10 miles from our destination, our Mazda decided that it had gone far enough, and wanted a rest. After stopping on the side of I-40 we were met by a TNDOT emergency response vehicle to help us get it off the freeway. Apparently Tennessee doesn't like people stopping on the side of the interstate, at least not in Memphis. We had the car towed to a local garage for a diagnosis and repair (hopefully) that afternoon. |  |
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Well on Saturday, it is hard to make things happen (even in metropolitan areas) and we didn't have any luck. They came to the same conclusion that we did - a timing belt and wanted $650 to replace it - and it wouldn't be finished until Monday. So we found a rental car and headed for home. After doing some research decided that this 2.0 DOHC engine is an interference engine, and therefore is most likely damaged beyond repair. We decided to go up and tow the car back (which entailed borrowing a friends truck, renting a car dolly) and then towing the rental car back and then towing the Mazda home. Since it has been home, we have had weather that is less than ideal for busting your knuckles, as so haven't confirmed our suspicions about the engines fate. |
| Luckily (or unluckily) just before we lost the timing belt, I had sent AJ and dad to Phoenix to look at a Bronco that I had been eyeing on the internet. They found it, inspected it, and purchased it. It is a 1995 Ford Bronco with a 302 and a 5-speed. I ended up getting it for $4,550 and it had 93,000 miles on it. Moments afterward, the Mazda decided it needed a break. I don't know what it is about cars. When they know that you are spending time/energy/money or other cars they get jealous and demand more of your time/energy/money. Well the Mazda must have heard the conversation on the phone and exhibited behavior that requires me to spend more of my time/energy/money in its direction. |  |
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When I get the time and the temperature is above freezing and it is not raining, I will start the processes. After I had made the purchase, AJ ended up driving the Bronco out here to Arkansas. He picked up Symantha made the journey. I think that he looked at the weather and decided that since I drove through the first snow storm of the season, he could do the same. The trip was eventful, and he ended up making it to our house just 26 hours after he left Mia's house. Once he arrived (and got some sleep) we did an inspection of the bronco and found that it was missing a receiver hitch. One of the reasons for purchasing this vehicle was so that I could once again pull the trailer that I have. |
| So we commenced the process of installing a receiver hitch on the Bronco. Now I know that I just mentioned that the temperature was below freezing, and I didn't want to work out side in these temperatures. Well this is a little reverse psychology here. You see, the Mazda knows that I don't like to work in these temperatures, so I thought that if it saw me spending some of my time/money/energy on the Bronco in the cold, it might just get more jealous and give me some motivation of directing my t/m/e on it (meaning that the engine wouldn't be toast and all it would need to run again would just be a timing belt). |  |
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Stay tuned for how that comes out. Now it is very important that the Mazda doesn't hear of this plan, and I am able to put it in to full effect without it knowing. If it hears, I fear the worst... |
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| It was nice to have Symantha and AJ out for a visit. The kids seemed to enjoy harassing them, and we even got to get in a few rounds of hearts with them prior to their departure. Every time Terra and I find someone who is willing to play hearts with, I always remember how fond I am of that game. I really like it, and I can't tell exactly why. I think that it has to do with the fact of granting someone else copious amounts of points and there is nothing that they can do about it. I know that it is mostly chance, but I still find it quite humorous nonetheless.
In other news, I bought home some crab legs for the kids to try. This area of the world has lots of seafood for local consumption. The kids were very excited to try it and so we had it for dinner. |
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At first they were a little apprehensive, but then they warmed up to the idea. In the end they didn't like the meat, but all fought over how could take the crab's skeleton and pull the tendons and make the other parts move. The legs would bend and the pincers would open and close. They really enjoyed that part, but don't want to try any more crab anytime soon. |