All posts by cs

blinded by the light

social

attic_light.jpg

Last night I was atop this ladder jostling with the ceiling flush mounted lamp wishing that I had 3 arms. Analyzing from this perspective thinking that they had to have designed this operation as a one man job. Right? The fixture’s straps string between rafters so I hoist the contraption with the one hand and wield the hammer with the other. I reared back with the hammer and gave it a whack — there was this greenish blue flash and then total darkness. The vibration traveled down the stud and poof! The one and only bare bulb illuminating the place was toast. (remind me to get a pen light for my pocket protector) I inched my way down the wobbling ladder and then down the stairs for the door. Black as pitch.

Tip No. 39

social

TIP No. 39

The condenser coils on this refrig accumulate dust, lint, pet hair, fuzz, you name it. An internet search scores the tool that you need. Work this specialized bottlebrush in-and-out and between the coils — being careful not to insert the tool head clear back into the fan blades which may be running. Doh!

Note the vacuum cleaner hose extension pictured to the left side of the image: This will help to pick up the flying dust and debris that exit the airflow output side of the refer. The running fan may fill your kitchen with particulate but the vacuum will trap most. Your appliance will operate shorter cycles and save energy.

mutt ‘n jeff

opinion

I take offense to the front page photo (USAToday) picturing the Washington Sniper(s). It shows the two of them mano y mano, clean cut shaven, and rather father and son wholesome handsome. I don’t want to see that. I want to see mug shots. I want to see the real deal — how they looked after sleeping in that Chevy sedan beater for the past two weeks. Any glorification only serves to encourage other nobody psycho copycats who might like to have a little (twisted) recognition. I predict it will only be days before news articles try to understand these two and get inside their heads. “What made them do this…” “Was it society’s fault…” Meanwhile those who were ,at one time or another, close to these individuals will be interviewed and quoted as saying, “They were the nicest you ever met.” They played chess you know…
I say we start with Tar and Feathers.

no go

boats

This is the end of the season. Surface water and air are in cool down mode. We did have a narrow – good – weather window today and decided that this was THE opportunity for a final run. Our friend, Giovanni, was in town and it was my chance to show him a nice time. So we slid the boat off the trailer anticipating a grand finale ski ride and in MY moment of pride and glory I twisted the ignition key and — nothing. It was ironic justice that this same scenario played out for Giovanni just days ago (reference blog 10/20/02!). No showing off for me. The engine cranked 3 or 4 revs diminishing to the pathetic staccato click click click click of the weakening starter solenoid. The battery was flat. We all sat there in sullen disbelief that our grand plans were looking dashed. Hope was that an obliging fisherman would come along and offer a cable jump start. Immediately appearing in the middle of our plight comes an older backwoods couple in a clapped out mini van. They are situated at the top of the boat ramp and close enough for us to hear them yelling “HEY!” in our general direction. Don’t know if they blundered in and sensed our trouble or dreamed of a chance that they might get an impromptu invite to go out on the lake. The woman was insistent and likely skunked. The situation became a bit surreal as Giovanni started giggling, reporting that she just flashed us and did a little jiggle dance for his benefit as well. B.O.U.R.Girl was not amused feeling a little uneasy and reached for the cell. I mean, we were in double jeopardy. With creepy deliverance types atop and the wide open lake (and no paddle oar) beyond. I suppose we could have repelled boarders with a water ski and then cast off to drift… A couple of calls to the Park Service produced a sympathetic receptionist who promised to dispatch Ranger Cox to see to the ‘flasher’ and rescue us with a booster battery. The day was saved! What happened to the odd couple? Last we saw their vehicle was parked on the road shoulder, its occupants in the woods somewhere. What were they were up to there? Don’t know. Don’t want to know.

hostility

social

Hound dawg and I are jogging the greenway past the house where lives ZAK. Rude and obnoxious , he charges the backyard fence growling and barking like he would like to duke-it-out. Why should today be unlike any other day and we ignore the beast except there is a twist! My ear tells me that the barking is getting louder and louder and surprise — he’s on the wrong side of the wall! Here he comes with barred teeth. We slow to a walk (to continue running away would telegraph weakness and only encourage) in fact we nearly stop and a few harsh commands (like BACKOFF and GIT!) flatten his resolve. G O H O M E!

useful tip No. 38

social

uhhhhhhaachoooo

Seldom recognized, but much appreciated, is the back-up filtration in your vacumn. This is actually a last line of defense — a screen — which protects the motor and fan from debris ingestion. It loads up with lint just like the trap in your clothes dryer. It pops out and needs to be cleaned occasionally. Doing so will extend the life of the motor and restore the your machine to peak efficiency!

proud bird

flying

My co-pilot is Giovanni — from eet-ta-lee. With the gesticulation and dialect I sometimes have to glance over and make sure I’m not sitting next to Father Vesputechi. He just returned from Turin where he visited the folks. Momma works in a FIAT engine plant. Mamma would like to live in America. Giovanni is torn between old family and new American lifestyle. His American wife has been tagging along with us this weekend and last night after the passengers had been discharged we invited her to observe as we remote parked the aircraft for the night. This was Giovanni’s moment of fame and glory he proudly reached up to depress the START switch and whereas the mighty jet engines normally roar to life, ours just whirred, spewed smoke, and then konked out. So much for trying to make an impression on the lady! Giovannni looked at me imploringly as if he was not doing something right (or wrong). He figured that his distraction had caused him to ‘screw the pooch’ and that I would be blurting out a reason(his) for the failure. Luckily it had been, and we correctly deduced, one of those rare system failures. An embarrassing moment. Don’t tell Momma.

wake up call

flying

Flower Child got up at O’dark hundred to get me to the airport. Turns out that I goofed and that showtime wasn’t as early as I had thought. She could have slept in for an extra 45 and if she finds this out —- she ain’t-a-gonna-be-at-all-happy.

curious

flying

I haven’t figured her game yet but the FA is a nightingale and, feeling sorry for some of the other FAs trying to eek out a substandard living, she has been leaving them lunchmoney in their mailboxes. She’s confessed that she hasn’t cashed any of her paychecks (pocket change?) yet. Her husband owns a very large business. She picked up the job out of curiosity (whim?). I wonder if she’s gathering material for a story that she will author or could it be that she is exploring a fantasy. Funny how some people spill so much info within the first 20 minutes of acquaintance. I ask,”Have you ever adopted a pilot?” She invites us out on the town for Lobster dinners tonight and it might have been interesting conversation but I don’t want to know too much. I better not.

stir crazy

social

The rambunctious rascals are burning energy in the halls. They are here for a soccer tournament and since they are probably cold, but unwilling to cover-up the light weight uniforms that they proudly wear, they must run up and down to make heat. Much of this exercise is wasted as noise. Here they go again…