8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC Part 12

[jonesing]

Jonesing - I hope you made it home safe!

Well, I'm all ketched up so signing off for tonight. Night everyone!

Yep! Made it okay. Good thing to because the secondary highway that runs to our little community by the forest is closed just past the entrance to our development! Not that that makes the least bit of difference...I found out that folks around here blatantly disregard such closures if it means they can't get home! And now that I think of it, there are several pockets of homes up in the Black Forest that can only be reached via that highway (or a dog and sled rig!)

The news is saying that LOTS of people in the area are stranded and they either abandoned their cars on the side of the roads due to the white-out conditions and 36" snow drifts or they had to seek refuge at local motels or a Red Cross shelter setup at a school. One woman out in the boonies was plucked from her home with a Snow Cat because she was going into labor! I guess she wasn't up for the growing trend of homebirthing

*laugh* DH must be suffering from memory loss as we have been to that target before. Well maybe it wasnt him... Hmmmm..... Anyway I am a HUGE target fan. I hate Wal-Mart almost as much as I hate "the golden god" aka Kodak. When we lived in Albuquerque we got a wal-mart grocery store which was awesome! No I don't mean a store within wal-mart but rather a stand alone store with nothing but food! The prices were cheap and the store was clean! It was the 100th store in the nation.

We survived the tornado warning. It made me see we are not ready for any sort of disaster as I could not even find a flash light! When I get back we will have to fix that. The weather man said we got 13 inches of snow in the black forest. This of course doesn't include the blowing that is going on. Its that pesky heavy wet snow also! The dogs took it like pros and stepped just far enough out to do their business then running right back in. It has to be hard to only have 5 inch legs! Zoe is currently nestled under the covers trying to get warm. DS is still stuffy. I think its mostly because his last two teeth are coming in! The top molars! He showed me today that he had an owie and there it was poking out! Of course the fact that it was 60 yesterday 30 and snowing today and back into the 70's by the weekend doesnt help! I only hope he is better before we get on that plane next Tuesday!
I am off to take a bubble bath! I found out that I can turn the TV in the bedroom towards the tub and the remote still works! Its the next best thing to having a TV mounted above the tub.

I have never been to the 2-story Target in DC! Musta been her other husband or boyfriend We have been to the 2-story Target in Springfield, PA and yeah, they had the special escalator for the shopping carts too. In fact, so does the new Ikea in Conshohocken.

 

[PBader]

Here are the last few photos which are half decent and taken by the little pocket camera. I dropped my DSLR the other day and the autofocus is not working anymore. So I have to send it in for service now. And - I brought it to Vegas but left the batteries at home. Good thing I had the pocket camera as a backup. However, I only had a little bit of power on it... so I used it sparingly. Below are the last few photos which seem half decent to me...

Your DD is so cute! (they both are ). That bites that you dropped your DSLR! Hope you get it back good as new.

 

[jonesing]

Yeah...

... I must agree. Ikea stuff is not exactly made in a heavy duty manner. However, in some ways some Ikea things can be "good enough" ... depending on what it is and how it is used. And - on the issue of sturdy construction .... I am modifying our new bunk bed to take a larger bed .... a full size instead of the twin. And since the capacity is larger and I don't want any trouble or surprises... I am using 2x4s, and 2" thick dimensional lumber in building the structural additions ... and I am augmenting with standard metal construction brackets which are all bolted together so I can disassemble and remove it in the future. Otherwise... if I don't plan ahead then removing the bed may require cutting it up when the girls out-grow the bed. I do plan on periodically changing and refreshing the outward appearance and design.

If it is any indication of the strength I am choosing to intergrate into the remodeled bunk bed ... my "stringers" for the stairs will be cut from 2x15" boards! Well... actually I am using standard decking stingers that are precut. The precision can't be beat (by me) and the beefy size makes potential structural failure a non-issue.

Yeah, Ikea stuff is engineered correctly--to be good enough for the price paid. Those Scandanavians employ 2 principles of engineering pragmatism:

1. The optimist says the glass is half full.
The pessimist says the glass is half empty.
The engineer says the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

2. They understand that you may pick ONLY two of the following three:

• It can be built well,
• It can be built quickly,
• It can be built cheaply.

Structure failure!?! My last house wasn't built with those kinds of specs!!

 

[PBader]

jonesing, Glad you made it home safely!

 

[PBader]

Good night friends

 

[jonesing]

Please do not send my way. I have so much damage to my flowering trees after our last snowfall!!! I read further about tornado warnings!!!! Keep safe.

No promises! Straight line winds around 45 mph but no rotation The tornados happened out towards Kansas and the storm is headed east...

I love how they take "official" reading for precipitation at the airport...NOBODY lives at the friggin' airport! Measure that crap near somebody's house! Don't tell me the official reading is 0.24" of moisture when I have 19" accumulated on my driveway!

 

[captaincrash]

Good night friends

G' nite Paula...

... don't let the beddy bugs bite (as my daughter sometimes quips)​

 

[sk8ingmom]

Evenin' s
Ketchup time.
I spent the day visiting agencies that my organization funds. It is one of my favorite days of the year. It is great to see the good that happens on the street from the work we do all year. Have I mentioned that I love my job??? It is only my job for another 3 days.

Brack, I spent some time with SA this morning!

Well we are off to the homeschool day at the Mariner's Museum. It is pretty cool b/c we'll get to see the new Monitor exhibit. They actually brought up the Monitor which was a civil war battleship made of iron (one of the first of its kind). DH and DSs got to see them driving it down the highway in pieces over the past few years. They have spent millions on this new exhibit . . . including a replica that you can board. This is definitely the year to come visit the Williiamsburg and the like . . .every museum here is doing something to help celebrate the Jamestown 400th anniversary (remember Jamestown was started in 1607 with a bunch of guys from England . . )

Have a super day and we'll chat with you later

Epic battle with the Merrimack! I love history. Have I told you that my dream job is at Colonial Williamsburg?? I can't wait until it is just a few hours drive!

DH rented an apartment in Gaithersburg for the 4 1/2 months he worked at the NTSB last year. It was a 50-60 minute metro ride for him. The kids enjoyed going on the metro to visit DC. They have a 2 story Target!!!!

I think we had the first 2 story target in San Diego. The cart escalator was way cool!

Ahhhh but figure skaters don't have an errant hockey puck whizzing about! I don't know about you but a 60mph puck to naked "cash and prizes"

probably outranks a fall on a spandex covered tushie!

The 2 scars on my face (lutz & double salchow) beg to differ.

And my dislocated knee.

And my seriously messed up hips.

It snowed overnight...and into today. So much so that I almost didn't come into work. Several people didn't. Went out to start the car and sweep the 8" of accumulation off the windows. Went back into the house to get ready for work. That took about 20 minutes. During that time THREE more inches of snow piled up on the car! The drive in with 25' visibility took three times as long as usual--had to cut through the Air Force Academy because some jerkoff who cut in front of me while leaving my development couldn't get his car up the inclined onramp

DW said the (wet) snow had drifted so much against the back door that she can't open it to let the dogs out. We may have to send them out the side door of the garage! Several people have plans to leave after lunch. I figure I'll do the same if the weather worsens.

DW called to tell me about the tornado warning in our area! The news also said something about making sure your tornado supply kit was stocked... What the hell is that?!?!?! I've seen earthquake survival kits when I lived in California but tornado kits? Oh yeah, because of all the snow, low visibility etc. parts of the interstate (the part that gets me home) are shut down. And evidently the news folks said anyone wanting to drive into/out of Denver has a, and I quote, "death wish"!!!

I guess I'll call my boss up and tell her I'm taking off early...

"This just in to newschannel DIS: Locusts reported in Colorado."

The moose gives 110%.

I had a loft in college. Really sturdy. My Dh and i used to sleep in it when he stayed over. Sure i almost fell out a few times (It was only twin size)

It was made of 2X6's and 2x4's...had cross bracing and solid ladder panels at the end. You could park a truck on top of it.

I had that same loft!

Ah here's where that 1000lb moose might come in handy...

Here's a beer for ya as long as we are talking moose

Got some in my fridge right now!

 

[captaincrash]

Your DD is so cute! (they both are ). That bites that you dropped your DSLR! Hope you get it back good as new.

Yeah...

... I was getting out of the car with my camera bag and I think one of the kids had somehow kicked the bag open or opened it a little. As I had the bag in the back in between the kids. In retrospect i don't know why I had the bag back there as it always is in front with me on the passenger side. So when I got out of the car the bag tipped and the camera fell about 2 feet onto the cement with a 70-300 IS lense attached. The 2 items together have a combined original value of about $2900... but I paid about $1300 for the rig as the body was purchased used for only $590. I think my zoom is OK ... and I would have been so pissed if it were damaged as I just sent it in for service and cleaning. It came back pristine.

O well... I can't blame anyone and the DSLR has served me throughly. So my only gripe is that i had been hoping it would have lasted until the replacement for the Canon 30D came out - as THAT is the one i am waiting for to consider upgrading to. As such I have to wait until October for them to announce it and probably November until I can consider buying it. And if I did ti would be top dollar as it would be just released. And I detest getting squeezed for top dollar. If fact.... I will just stubbornly refuse to pay (if I can) and I'll wait. So... I am hoping to repair the now broken DSLR for the usual $185 repair fee I've often been quoted before. And if it can be fixed for only $185 then I will indeed be a very happy Canon enthusiast! Oh yeah... i'll only pay to fix it if they also change my shutter assembly thus resetting the life on the body to run another 35,000 actuations again.


We'll soon see if the repair news is tolerable or not.

 

[eeyorelvr10]

We'll soon see if the repair news is tolerable or not.

Crash - I'm so sorry! Many and being sent your way as I know just how important your camera is to you - Please let us know your outcome - in the meantime its doesn't hurt to have hope. I'll be hoping alongside with you!

And I love your attitude - I will keep you in mind the next time something goes wrong (and I have a lot of those moments) thanks for sharing - if you can do it - I can suregive it a try next time!

Many 's to you -

 

[Verandah Man]

"Good Morning All" ​

 

[Verandah Man]

"Happy Birthday"
to
Garrett/DS Dougthetrojan​

 

[Verandah Man]

HI Andy , MR.

Hey there Jack, looks like I signed off, just before you signed on last night..........

 

[captaincrash]

Thanks Laura for your encouraging thoughts....

Now... let me circulate the ideas that I have in mind for the front of the bunk bed. Anyone have an opinion on either the CASTLE look or the cottage top? And, can you tell in the other image that I have a SLIDE set up on the LEFT? And on the right I have substituted a stair well for the ladder. There will be a sturdy hand rail attached too. This is what I have in mind... more or less. As for the facade on the LOWER level... I am beginning to rethink that as it divides the floor area and may be counter productive in more ways then one. So - I am setting that idea aside for now.

The castle facade would get a pair of authentic flickering torch lamps I found at Ikea (photo below). The cottage has a light at the truncated peak on both sides. The castle INSIDE would get some kind of light too... maybe the same torch lamp. Plus the stairwell will get a night light of some sort that will always be on. The slide is probably a certainty as my spouse likes the idea.

Any opinions folks?
​

 

[LITTLEKID58]

GM

Presently 65 going up to 87 here in Sunny Central Florida

Happy Birthday Garett



and prayers to everyone who is going to need it today

aboard to all the newbies

Have a great Wednesday

 

[Verandah Man]

Good Morning Liz, it will be a great Wednesday, at least this Wednesday, it is payday for me....................

 

[kap158]

No promises! Straight line winds around 45 mph but no rotation The tornados happened out towards Kansas and the storm is headed east...

I love how they take "official" reading for precipitation at the airport...NOBODY lives at the friggin' airport! Measure that crap near somebody's house! Don't tell me the official reading is 0.24" of moisture when I have 19" accumulated on my driveway!

I am glad you made it home ok. I know what you mean about measuring at the airport. My house back in Syracuse, NY was a mile from the airport and we would have 2ft of snow when they are measuring only a few inches. Also the weathermen would have a saying which would stand true " NORTH OF THE NYS THRUWAY". I lived north of the thruway and we would get white outs where just south of the thruway could only have inches and sun!
Go Figure!


Karen

 

[kap158]

Here are the last few photos which are half decent and taken by the little pocket camera. I dropped my DSLR the other day and the autofocus is not working anymore. So I have to send it in for service now. And - I brought it to Vegas but left the batteries at home. Good thing I had the pocket camera as a backup. However, I only had a little bit of power on it... so I used it sparingly. Below are the last few photos which seem half decent to me...

Tom - your pictures of Vegas are awesome. I have never been there but would like to go sometime. Most likely after TOAL.

The picture of your kids are - PRICELESS!!!

 

[kap158]

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Hope today is a good one today!

I am watching the Today show and I saw all the weather conditions out west. Hope all of you are safe!

Karen

 

[captaincrash]

Tom - your pictures of Vegas are awesome. I have never been there but would like to go sometime. Most likely after TOAL.

The picture of your kids are - PRICELESS!!!

Thanks....


my little one is just in a huff tonite. Whe has a bad case of the itches and is just a Daddys' girl. So I have her in my lap and shes in a half nap and half awake.

As for vegas... the photos are just of the old downtown area (Freemont street/etc.). While all the REAL action is on Las Vegas Blvd with the mega resorts. I didn't take many pix there on account of us not spending much time there. Well... we did spend a fair bit of time in Circus Circus on their games for the kids.

At any rate here are a couple of googled photos of the strip ...