Morning commute

County truck helping another out of the soft shoulder.

Party time!

"2012 Rebound Rumble"

Went to Traverse City today to learn what the FRC 2012 project will be for this year's 6-week robotics challenge for High Schools across the nation. In the end, the summary of this years game can be found in this 3:24 YouTube video.

FRC is an acronym of an acronym:
FRC = [FIRST Robotics Competition]
FIRST = [For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology]

The local high school that I am a mentor at (Petoskey High School Paladins #3816) has until February 21 to design, build, wire and program a robot that does as many of the elements of the game as possible.

Go Team!

Breakfast by the fire,

Snow on the trees.

The price of having no power is going to bed early and getting up early...

Fireside chatting with Dad

He's got no power and needs parts for the generator to get it going again.  Maybe Monday...

Seafoam frosting anyone?

That annual event has come again...

Pie anyone?

Yummy part of thanksgiving!

That's a cold job done!

Getting the hot tub wiped down while there's ice forming around the top!

Guess I should have done this a while ago!

Yup,

It's sticking this time - at least for the morning...

Ta da!

"And let there be light"...  and a fan!

Pumpkin shapped biscuits

Hungry?

Almost as good as a truck on recycle day

Maybe?

There's always something needing to be fixed

Yup, we can have Halloween now!

We got the first snowflakes (big ones!) today

Who's ready for an evening apple snack?

I am!!

Just a part of a day at Dads

We got the generator lifted 15" so the starter could be reinstalled.  Last one was put in Jan of 2010.  Oil changes will be easier too.
Went through and disconnected, cleaned, and reattached all the battery connectors so they should make it through the winter.

Who's ready for some chili & cornbread?

Time to eat, and no one here to share with me!

First & last time!

Between Sunday and tonight the entire lawn got trimmed!

Hungry?

I've got some 2008 cereal to put some (lumpy) 2009 milk on...  Yum!!

Dad's still making beds

Two different beds from two different times for my same little girl...

Let's just say Mom wasn't too happy when she saw I put them together.

Wedding bell weekend

Tom & Deb got married this weekend and allowed me to be part of their ceremony.
The coolest, geekiest nuptials I've seen or heard of!

Loft, reborn

Now another end with steps, a footer and side rail.

Post graffiti

Inspection underway. We'll have it approved any minute now!

Today is new front door day

Vycor Plus layeres around the bottom. The outer trim board was a bit punky, but the underlayment still has good intergerity.

Dad's house

3 sheets on the north wall and 2 sheets plus a wall on the west end.

A bit of flooding

Behind the McDonalds & Letavis car wash.

Rerouting complete

Ballards / Great Lakes re-plumbed the Domestic Hot Water (DHW) connections from the Water Furnace so I don't need to find a replacement for this goofy X thing (for recirculating) that was used in our 17-year old installation.

We've had Spring break...

But what is this? No school today!

These kids

Don't want me to go to work

The 'easy half' is done:

Now off to ACE for more parts!

My indoor weekend project...

Existing GE waterheater started leaking last night, triggering the water alarm at 6:30am.

Does she look legal now?

Our baby just got her level 2 license, so she can drive without a parent!

'I gots an idea!'

We got a cat AND we got paint AND we got an (upside down) 'light-bulb' over her head... she's sitting in the middle of the newspaper workspace, so let's get started!

Water fun today!

Reassembly nearly complete.
Test and good to go $221 later!

Furnace man was here today

Ballard's / Great Lakes swapped the failed Solenoid out. Should cut down on the water usage, now that it can shut off! Better thing is, all covered under their Warranty!

Daddy...

"Do you have something that can fix my 'new' truck cover?"
So I found some thread and jean material to path a tear. Don't know how well that will hold up though!

'Frosted' trees today'

My car is getting older...

Comparing notes:

Do you ever have such good help on your projects?

What's wrong with this picture?

Just a picture of MY appliance problem...

Shame on me!

This must be the original filter for my furnace! I thought I replaced it last year, but I guess not.
Maybe my heat bill will improve now that my furnace can breath!

The Ford needs some fixing...

Getting out the spare car. Sitting for 3 weeks+ and -5 today, started right up!

Last time was 400 years ago...

a full Lunar eclipse on the winter soltice. It's about 50% now but I have to go to bed!

Go blue!

Closing ceremony at David's graduation from U of M!

Wow!

And there's more to come according to the weatherman!

Yup it still works!

Here to stay?

Probably!

I give up!

Taurus is going to Roger's to finish the other side...

It's alive!

Put some new gaskets in, tightened some bolts, charge the battery and she lives again!

Some assembly required

The right side getting back together after replacing a knuckle that should not have needed to be.

Ball joint before the repair