Welcome to the November 2005 BLOG. Didn't see the end of last month?
Click here: October 05 BLOG

Nov 28, 2005 Mon

Tom   Jenkins  is dead.

Died about a week ago, of complications from  a fast moving cancer.

R.I.P.

Nov 27, 2005 Sun

Brett and Amy send along pictures of Hogan, our youngest grandson. Hogan got new teeth!

Riding by the water we find the dredge in operation, on a Sunday. This guy is making the big bucks!

Ann and Evelyn took Fae back to Seattle this day, and might have done some shopping on the way back. We took this opportunity to scooter here and there. This was by the dredge at Cap Sante Marina.

A bit later, trying to catch the sunset by the Guemes Ferry dock- dang - missed it!

We got the notion to put the scooter in the new shed. It fits!

Now we're not quite sure how to get it out again? Back it down the whole ramp?
After the actual driveway apron is poured, hopefully tomorrow - then we can gravel the approach to the shed. Now we're seriously thinking about a turn around area.

What a lovely day in Anacortes. Sunny to beat the band. No wind. No clouds. We will say that we don't think temps ever hit fifty - but they were close. Switching to a heavy leather jacket has made the difference, scooter wise. We are holding long johns, heavy gloves, and 'chaps' in reserve, so as to ride in comfort on sunny days even if it's low forties. We can't imagine getting Ann out if it's much chillier than that. . .

Somebody got Lovebirds - They have names, which we needn't go into, at this point. OK - They relate to Harry Potter. Something about 'snitch' and 'quaffle'.
Yes, we're talking birds, here. Wait a minute! That looks like Niomi's house?! It is! She has birds!
Can you say, Guano? Just kidding - been there and loved it. Birds are way cool.

Nov 25, 2005 Fri

Just as everyone arrived at Dick and Laura's, the skies gave us a rainbow - it was huge, showed both ends, and was actually a 'double' rainbow - the colors inverted on the faintly visible outer one. Those that could (are in town), gathered at Gram and Gramp's. Barb and her clan, and ours (minus Evie, alas).


The master of the house prepares to deal with the main issue - the bird. Check out the 'abs' on that bird! A turkey on steroids?

We got an 'all girl' photo

Then a single girls photo - hey, how did Anna get so tall?

Ann took this of Cass and I - first with no flash - you can see the 'tubes' glowing in the amp. Some of the younger crowd wanted to know if that was normal? 'Is it going to blow up?' They were a nice warm healthy glowing, orange.


Here's the gang in a group photo - we took several, of course.

For the last one, we suggested; just make a face!

One of Fae's photos - she has the same knack that her Mom does - an 'eye' for the good photo.

We will set up a 'Fae photo' page - you will love it!

Who finds us at the Vet? Anna and Barbara, buying cat food. Tizzy was getting the last in her series of puppy shots.

The weather finally cleared enough to get out. Temps around fifty.

Nov 23, 2005 Wed

You'd never guess that the heat was back on, from the way the cats burrow under. . . This is Jasper. She and her sister Roma are now two and a half years old. Jasper is a tad cross eyed -

Did you ever see their
kitty pictures? 

That's how we know that the kitty in this picture is also Jasper, at age a few months.

Whoa! What dog is that wrestling with Chico? Not our little puppy, Tizzy? Yes. Our not so little anymore at only three and a half months old puppy, Tizzy. Tizzy has her own 'PUPPY' page, too.

Nov 22, 2005 Tue

This is another of our favorite kind of thing - perseverance pays off.

This calculator would not display properly. We changed the battery. It still didn't work. It worked, but the display would seldom indicate more than two or three numbers? Sometimes the display would go blank altogether. The calculator itself was a freebie. It seemed we'd run out of options, so we pitched it into the trash. Looking at it the next day we decided to at least remove the new battery. Curiosity got the best of us and we wanted to see if it would operate without the battery? It did. Without the rear cover we had to hold the circuit board in place with fingers. We noticed that pressure in different places would make the display work properly. It was reassembled paying extra attention to those screws. And now it's a working calculator. Back from the dead, as it were. The moral? Never give up! Keep trying. Boy, this is the computer guy's constant refrain. Try, try, try and try again - until it works.

Sister Mardi sends along a few pictures. THANKS! Here is Dad on his front porch taken only a week or so ago. Yes, it's fall in Michigan.

This picture was taken only a month ago (in October) north of Traverse City, Michigan. Sun and sand.

Oh, that fickle Michigan weather -- Mardi took this on her way to work just the other day.

They had a big storm up there near Sutton's Bay, where Mardi lives. Some sort of electrical surge or spike caused this problem. Aside from a new surge protector - no problem!

The same storm also weakened this spruce, located near Mardi's office. Sadly, it had to be removed.

These two fellows got all our electricity, phones etc. back online. Many thanks to Rude Electric.

And of course I couldn't resist a shot of this giant dredge working in the marina.

Nov 21, 2005 Mon

Electricians worked all day, this day. "Rude Electric". 'It's a name, not an Attitude', is their slogan, on the side of the truck. We think we might a' picked a shorter slogan. . . or a different name?

Two brothers. So far, we like their work. Meaning, we haven't got the bill. Both sheds are wired, plus three new circuits in the house, so far. Not to delve into this too deeply, but -

The house 'service' (from the 'pole', as they say) had been upgraded to 200 amps before we got here, in a swell new circuit breaker panel. This is more than adequate for most single family dwellings, including ours. It was also probably required, to sell the house.

However, the number of 'circuits' coming out of the main service panel, was only - yes?! - four. We're sure that the inspector 'missed' that.

One circuit for the left side of the house, one for the right, and one for the dishwasher/washer dryer. This is way inadequate. Especially on the 'kitchen' side of the circuit. Let alone the (other side) shed (power tools), the computer room (amps and such), etc.

So, to have upgraded to seven circuits is good, and after tomorrow we hope to boost that number to ten or more. This reduces the 'load', i.e. number of amps (therefore heat and fire risk) carried by each circuit. A 'circuit' being that loop of wires going from the breaker box to the house, and back, that might service plugs, lights, etc. Oh, never mind.

Nov 19, 2005 Sat

Here is a cool thing -

click here

This is my Uncle Steve's grand niece, Casey. Bruce Robbin's daughter. Steve's wife is my Aunt Peggy, who is my Mom's sister. We really admire what Casey is doing!

Nov 18, 2005 Fri

The sidewalk and curb, plus the shed apron are poured. The driveway apron comes next week. Today, we've been vigilant about protecting the new concrete from 'taggers', since the highschool (right up the street) and middle school (down four blocks) both got out at noon, today. So far, so good. Another few hours, and we'll be home free - the cement will be set up. In this picture, Ann's truck is parked outside the curb cut, to discourage trespass. It's been almost twelve hours, and the concrete is mostly solid. So, we're stepping out for a bite to eat.

Ann moved all the stones today, AND sanded, AND painted.

While I, was riding this day with Richard. Nice Harley!

Nov 17, 2005 Thu

Yes, it's true - fewer puppy pictures, already - and she's (Tizzy!) so BIG! Her ears stand up most of the time these days.

Yes, this is our ductwork, hooked back up - and just in time for the chilly nights. No more getting up at 4:30 to turn on the gas fireplace.

At 8:15 AM yesterday, these guys showed up. They had our shed on a truck, in pieces. The walls had been pre assembled. Two fellows set it up and had it roofed in about four hours. Yes, we recommend Tuffshed.

9 AM - the steel bottom is connected and leveled. It's made out of 2 X 6 metal joists on 16 inch centers. Then, moisture barrier and 3/4 inch plywood floor.

9:30 - start setting the walls in place.

10:30 - Walls up, window and vents installed, ready for shingles and trim.

11:30 - almost done. The curb has been broken up for removal and re pouring as a driveway.

Gabe (on the right) and Shane - cleaned up every bit of scrap and hit the road. Gabe says he's done this over two hundred times. They were very efficient and polite. I could get used to being called 'Sir'! Today, Ann painted the shed and began to load it up, and gave the house trim a second coat. Work also continues preparing the back rooms for tile. Closing up the floors now that the furnace guys are through, patching and levelling.

Filling up fast - trying to leave room for the scooter. Some of this stuff might be able to come back into the back rooms, eventually. And it will all come in once the upstairs is done. Then we can 'thin' the other shed - move some of that stuff into the new one.

Nov 15, 2005 Tue

Happy Tuesday! OK, everyone - dump and clear those temporary files! Delete those cookies! Clear that history! Do it NOW!

This machine -

Did this work - shed comes tomorrow.

Then it quit. Causing this machine to get left overnight parked across the street. Ouch! I went and explained things to the neighbors.

Full moon. That pink smudge is the top of Mt. Baker. This is from the front porch.

Moon and ~ Mars? (OK, Venus, then!) Down by the water at the end of the street. The bright lights? The refinery, sitting across Fidalgo Bay on its own little spit of land - that is part if this (Fidalgo) island.

Let them lie - it's a rule -

Nov 13, 2005 Sun

Well. Richard and I finally hooked up and played some music. This was big fun.

While I've been goofing off, riding, playing music and doing generally not much - Ann has been whipping the back room into shape. Here she is in 'sanding' mode, but taking a phone break. . .

First coat on the wall brings a smile!

You may recall that when we remodeled the kitchen, the same person did the sanding? Ann working in March, 2004 (but wearing the same shirt!)

That critter on the right is no less than Tizzy! She is growing like a bad weed, and getting big fast. She still acts like a puppy, but she must weigh almost five pounds! OK, slightly over - we checked.

Night riding - the rain let up, again - temps around fifty. . .

No flash - see the boat -

flash - no boat

Hey! Recognize that Tee shirt? Some of the women might. . .

Nov 11, 2005 Fri

Yes. We're getting ready for two things: The shed, and heat.

The area where the shed will go is now leveled out -
And the area where the heat will go has been ready for some time. . . we think they're coming next week. It'll probably all happen on the same day, natch.

Nov 10, 2005 Thu

Anna and Evelyn trying to catch up on their violin lessons. Note the totally electronic violin Evelyn is playing? Anna is trying it out - they ain't cheap! Played through my wee Fender practise amp, it sounded awesome!

An (below) under the sodium lights picture - no flash. This was down by the water. I was trying to catch sunset. Missed it. Missed it again today - and sunset was the only time today that it wasn't drizzling. Still, I can count this as a 'day rode the scooter'.

This is a great picture, to give the idea why Shadows (and those dang Harleys) are so popular. They are built low to the ground. That was mostly the problem with the 'ol GoldWing. I had to stand on my tippy toes, to hold it up! Which, sadly, meant that it fell over a few times. Always while standing still - but - Nuff said.

We have a lot better control over this scooter.

OK. No more scooter stuff, for awhile! Except :!~~~

Whoa! Yes! That's Ann, ready to ride year 'round!

Nov 08, 2005 Tue

Laura and the pup.

I love this old house - still in service

Guemes Ferry back in service

We had an ant take this. . .

Nov 07, 2005 Mon

'Nother nice riding day. Went just about every place I could dream up to ride. The appliance store, the ferry terminal, the marine hardware, a few construction sites. It was in the fifties during the afternoon, and dropped into the forties after dark. I added a layer, and kept right on. Just local, just going slow, just being out on two wheels. Sure beats sanding the back room! :)))

This is one of the temporary ferries filling in on the Guemes route. No cars, on this one. (Camera focused on the Ferry sign, duh- close by - sorry!)

Nov 06, 2005 Sun

Ann took this while out riding. We saw Paul's new office at the end of Commercial.

Paul's Office.

We saw the Guemes ferry, too - currently out of service, undergoing maintenance at Dakota. It was out for trials. That large land mass in the right background is Guemes Island. The ferry does nothing but run back and forth all day - a seven minute trip, but the only way to get to Guemes unless one has a boat.

After such a wet day yesterday - the sun today felt great! The scooter started right up, by merely applying some CHOKE! We put the bedliner back in Ann's Toyota - did you hear this story?

Look, Jerry! Proper precautions! Oh! I better tell her how to open the vents. . .

Fall in MI - plenty of leaves to rake. Adam (with Devin's help) was doing just that and sends along this photo record of the event. Thanks, Adam and Devin.

A monster pile of leaves!

Hey - is that a leaf monster?

No! It's Devin! Kind of like 'Where's Waldo', with leaves!

Sue responds (from Budapest) to the request for pictures with the following - she's quite right, of course!

Pictures?? I'm proud that I can use a computer in a foreign country--you can't expect pictures also!!!

Nov 05, 2005 Sat

The first day in weeks where the rain never let up. All day damp. I mean, it has been a pretty damp few days - going on weeks - but usually there are 'sun breaks', or 'no shower' breaks, that one might refer to as 'dry spells'? Or, better yet - riding spells!

Not today, alas. So, we worked indoors, on the back room. Re applied the old tongue and groove porch siding that is our furnace room wall treatment. A lot of this had to be removed to get rid of rotten wood and strengthen the studs.

All repaired, but we'll drywall this area.

The plumbers had to remove paneling all the way to the ceiling. The old tongue and groove siding is what we put back, today.

Re applied, and sanding/patching has commenced.

Lest there be any confusion about who is doing the major bulk of the sanding ~

The dreaded task of clipping Chico's nails is accomplished, yet once again! He screams like a stuck pig.

Talyn playing with Tizzy - Evie in the background -

My camera stopped responding to the remote? We use this feature more than any other, perhaps, besides the flash.. It has completely replaced the 'timer', or what we used to call the 'auto knipse'. The battery in the remote was kapunkt. This shot was the first test of the remote. Still a bit of paint chips here and there. . . Yes, that's how we went to Radio Shack. . . Thanks to John for the swell shirt!

Nov 04, 2005 Fri

Happy Birthday!

To my sister, Martha Louise. Mardi, to us. Ahh, she's still just my kid sister. Hardly out of her teens.

From our dear Evelyn come some thoughts:

I even WROTE IT DOWN on a piece of paper, and you STILL spelt it wrong. It's Lord VOLDEMORT, not VOLTEMORT. And: The girls (Janell) heading out. Evelyn had such a haul, she was willing to part with some of the booty. I ate five candy bars before bed. Can you say, Silly?

I parted with that candy because I did not LIKE that candy, not because I got too much of it.

These observations and corrections are noted. Thanks, Evie! While we're making corrections, I think it's 'spelled', not, 'spelt'. :)))

Also, many thanks for not only checking the blog, but paying attention to the details, and keeping me on my toes! You're the best!

More responses to the request for pictures. Thanks to Niomi.
This would be Ivey, Blair's Mom Jeanne,and Dog Midnight and Dad, Jerry.
Then Ivey's dog Zippy, and then Blair, herownself!
There is a hidden but detectable common theme to these pictures, if you are clever enough to see it?

And of course, Miss Ni, herself, in the spirit of the holiday.

Brother John has also responded - from Cairo, where he is on assignment, or just goofing off.
Here is what he had to say:

Hi all,

Attached are a few pictures of fall in Cairo. It's end of the holy month of Ramadan followed by the three-day festival of Eid. During Ramadan Muslims abstain from food, water, sex and smoking. During Eid they make up for lost time.

I am trying to shoot film while here because of the better image quality, so I won't have most of my pics until I get back and can have it processed. The pics here are digital because I filed them as news to SIPA.
Love,
Hassan

(That's 'John' in a different language - Islam?)

What a great view of the old and new. John is a pro.

John, this is a great shot - so much tradition, and one little girl having a snack! (and giving the photog the eye!)

Quit drizzling long enough to get out a bit -

For this, I give thanks to my MI chums, Jerry and Ken. Why, you might ask?

Because (as mentioned below) the scooter has been hard to start, since it got chilly and damp. Those 'cool climate' guys kept up the same refrain - choke the motor, give it a little gas with the throttle, crank and start. Except, I wasn't starting?

Changed the plugs - that seemed to help a bit - not much - but it did get me going yesterday.

Today - still hard to start. Finally had to put the battery charger back on. Waited. Tried again. Dang. Made me thankful that the Saab, at least, turned out to be a simple fix! (Below). It's running great! But I was recalling that we had to install a new starter on the Goldwing, soon after we'd made the purchase. So, we couldn't help but wonder - here we go again!?

Forced myself to stop and think things through. Gas on? Ignition on? Kill switch on? Choke on? In neutral? All the things that starting depends upon. We even checked the gas in the tank. Yup. There's gas in there.

After re charging the battery for about the fourth time - and running out of options - tried this, tried that - we got the idea to observe the choke cable once again. Guess what? I'd been pulling the choke set lever until I felt resistance, and stopping at that point. 'That point' was not enough to choke the motor.

Choke the motor?

All engines used to have two carburetor adjustments to help one get them going; the afore mentioned choke, and also a 'throttle' or 'idle' adjustment. These things have since become 'automatic', on your family automobile. But not, on motorcycles.

The choke is merely a flat, plate shaped piece of metal, placed in the throat of the air/gas mixture device (carburetor), where the outside air gets mixed with the gasoline. When it's moved to the 'on' position it is flat across the carburetor throat, and doesn't allow as much air to enter the engine. Thus, the motor is 'choked'. This gives a richer gas mixture, which is essential to starting a cold motor.

By stopping the choke application when I felt resistance, I was stopping it just as it might do me some good. Actually watching what the choke cable was doing, we realized that AFTER the point of first resistance, the lever will move quite some additional distance - i.e. enough to apply the choke.

Having garnered THAT particular piece of news, and moving the choke lever that final mile, (about an inch) as it were, the engine fired right up. Those MI guys were right - one must choke a cold motor!

The 'throttle' adjustment, (pull it out, faster idle) is no longer available on most engines, even motorcycles. One must use the gas pedal/lever to accomplish that. Motorcycle engines warm up pretty fast. This is good. Riding today, was good.

Nov 03, 2005 Thu

Whoa! Typical WA weather - very damp. Rained hard a few times. Flooding, here and there.

However, in lovely Anacortes, where we get a (weather) break, it STILL did sprinkle most of the day. If I'd been on my toes, I could have ridden between the showers, it was plenty warm. Not as warm as the folks in MI are enjoying - Seventies there, today! Hey! That reminds me - why don't those MI guys send along a few fall pictures!?

Hey - Jim replies! Yahoo! Thanks!
Jim and lovely wife Pam, while in Mi.

Their kittens (well, now almost cats?)

Nov 02, 2005 Wed

Sister Mardi sends along this shot of what happens when one has two cats, and then decides to lie on the floor. One becomes an instant cat cushion. Mardi's cats are getting a lot of seniority - Mickey is 17.

Chilly and damp have made the scooter hard to start. We decided to clean the plugs, or at least look at them, for a clue? We pulled the two out on the left hand side of the motor (thinking that was all the plugs - there are only two cylinders?) We noticed that the plugs were gassy - from flooding the motor, no doubt - and probably the originals, meaning; they have twenty thousand miles on them. We cleaned 'em up, and were rewarded with an easier starting bike. While it was warming up, we tried to visually trace the choke cable, to make sure that it was actually working? Lo and behold, while scanning the right hand side of the engine, what did we behold? Two more spark plugs.

Yes. Double indemnity. Cross fire ignition. Double spark plugs, two per cylinder. We cleaned those two, as well. Then bought four new plugs. After 20,000 miles, why not? We haven't installed the new ones yet - we want to see if cleaning the old ones makes any difference? Here are left and right views of the engine. It seems so obvious - but unless one is paying close attention, this might (and did) go unnoticed, until today.
We cleaned these two, first - thinking that was all the plugs. The tiny blue letters say; SPARK PLUGS!

Then noticed these two. The round things on each side are horns!

Speaking of noticing things. . .

We may have mentioned that the Saab has had an intermittent battery problem, going back two summers. Suddenly, the battery will go flat overnight. Saab no start, is the immediate symptom. Boy, this has caused us no end of grief, as you might imagine. Time to drive to ballet? Saab no start. The last time this happened, (over a year ago) the mechanic couldn't get it to fail, while he had it. Since then, the problem went away, and the darn thing has run fine. All summer on our trip - no problem.

Then, the other day, like some evil Halloween gremlin - the problem returned. Saab battery goes dead overnight. I charge it up, drive it around, park it for the night. Next day - Saab no start. This is a new battery, by the way. Something running the battery down, it would seem? Key off battery drain, is the official diagnosis. This time I waited - and tried to figure it out myself. I'd charge it up, and not use the alarm. Leave the radio on. Or off. Etc, Etc. It kept failing. Well, since this was no longer an intermittent problem, we figured that it might be time to give the mechanic another crack at it?

They noted the battery drain this time, at least. But couldn't find what was drawing it down? They got the idea to go to the Saab TSB (tech service bulletin) website. There it was in BOLD letters: If the owner inadvertently hits the trunk release (which happens to be right next to the alarm button on the key fob) and doesn't actually open and re close the trunk, it will run the battery down in 28 to 36 hours. Yup. That's what it was doing. They checked, and my truck was open (as in, unlatched). It's still actually closed, as far as the sensors are concerned, and doesn't show up as 'open' on the dashboard display. If one actually opens the trunk, and then fails to fully relatch it, THEN it shows as 'open'. Live and learn, I guess. The trunk release (on this and several other models) doesn't 'pop' the trunk open, like on newer cars. It just releases the latch, so one might open the trunk. It also turns on the trunk light, which is what draws down the battery. We're just glad to finally - after two years - know what the problem was?! And most importantly, how to avoid it. Check the trunk. Don't hit the wrong button.

Nov 01, 2005 Tue

By the by - the foundation work is finished - but for the stuff WE have to do, yet. We're sorta' waiting on the furnace guys to finish their thing, and then we'll be off and running in the back room. Ann bought a 'mud room sink' today!

The rains let up late in the day. We managed to get out on two wheels for a quick trip down to the water.
Both local Tugs - The Response and The Hunter - were in town. A fellow off the Response got the Captain to turn on the running lights for the picture - which he then took! It does add a colorful aspect. It was a very nice gesture, to be sure.

Yes, I love my scooter. . .

The Mayor has been at it, again.
You may recall that he is a denizen of the Windy City, and those folks are all Ga Ga because their baseball team won the World Series for the first time in eighty odd years. Jim got some REALLY great photos, which he is kind enough to share. Check them out, HERE

Oct 32, 2005 Tue

Right. Falling a tad behind. It's the weather. Too soggy to think. Warm, but damp. For 'damp', read: raining a lot.

Porch pumpkins - last night. Hooligans smashed one of them, late in the evening, after trick and treating was over. SMASHING PUMPKINS! I said, Well, let's blow out the candles on the rest? She said, Heck no! We're letting them glow and glow.

And we did. No further problems.

The guy with the snoopy/droopy nose grew right in our former compost area, in the alley. Evie gave him his face.

Herself, as 'Hermione', with the red eyed white pumpkin - Lord Voldemort! (sp thanks to Evelyn!)

The girls (Janell) heading out. Evelyn had such a haul, she was willing to part with some of the booty. I ate five candy bars before bed. Can you say, Silly?