Nick Postagulous
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Trying Not To Freak Out (In a Good Way)
One of the reasons we picked Chinese Children's Adoption International as our adoption agency is that they are the best. They are smart and they shelter you from random crap that happens all around your adoption, only hassling you with the important stuff. I'm sure this cuts down on ulcers, which would require a new homestudy (not really).
Some agencies aren't so bright and will pass on info constantly, thus giving their clients ulcers, but also giving them information that they share with others on the internet and we all freak out.
China has mailed our referral. It has not gotten to our agency in Denver yet. But when it does (Tuesdayish maybe) Alison's cell phone is the first point of contact.
Now, if Alison is slacking off like she was earlier today when I left a message on her cell phone, then they'll call my work next. But I figure Alison will enjoy being the first, and I'd just come off as a total dork to a stranger.
But it's my email that the referral photos will come to. Yes, more than likely, within the week, we will know not only who our daughter is, but what she looks like.
And I have told my sister that the referral photos aren't that good. And they aren't. The kids really perk up after having a few months in Los Estados Unidos.
I Was Going To Write About Numbers
Or, more specifically, how I'm not too fond of how I make some of them. My 4's are pretty sad. And 8, don't get me started. My 8's aren't so much horrible, as unpredictable. And you'd think that with occasionally setting up BODs in the lab, where you have to write down the initial dissolve oxygen in mg/l, and it has to be between 7.0 and 8.9, and it's always in the 8's, that I'd get good at it. But no.
The true sadness of 8's came earlier when I was writing down a form number in some investigation paperwork. I made to little circles rather than making my messy 8. Sometimes, sadly, my 8 has such a small little bottom that it looks rather 9ish.
I have no problems with 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and I hope no one has trouble with 0. But 5, that's not really true, as we all kind of have the 5/S issue going on. It's a contextual thing.
Grap On My Tired
I keep seeing this. I want to know what it means. I know it means "what the...?" alledgedly. But I want to know the origins.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Glop Soup Email Response Style
But don't use that much meat. You'll dilute the soup.
--- Alison Postagulous wrote:
> I'm going to try it this weekend. (snerk)
>
> Nick Postagulous wrote:
> yike
>
>
> --- Alison Postagulous wrote:
> > I was looking at some recipes from a frugal website,
> and
> > here are ingredients for "Crockpot Enchiladas". The
> > first 4 ingredients are okay, then it gets scary....
> >
> >
> > 1 lb Hamburger
> > 1 Onion, chopped
> > 4 1/2 oz Can chopped chilies
> > 1 cn Mild enchilada sauce
> > 10 1/2 oz Golden mushroom soup
> > 10 1/2 oz Cheddar cheese soup
> > 10 1/2 oz Cream of mushroom soup
> > 10 1/2 oz Cream of celery soup
> > 1 pk Dorito chips
Hey, Baby, What Are You Wearing
TC has to make a phone call today. It seems that a gal we hired as an operator at one of the plants, but has since left to have a job at a water treatment plant for Huntsville Utilities, two weeks after she quit working here went to the uniform store and picked up the stuff that she ordered when she first got the job. Over $200 worth. TC was chosen since he has no one else to fob it off on.
A Great Class Ends With Tragedy
Our baby parenting class ended with a tragedy of sorts. The tragedy was that the normal teacher wasn't there and the morbidly obese, condescending, new age infant massage teacher was there. Alison and I pulled a "I'm sorry, but we're going to have to leave" when the time for the end of class came around. The lady was only three pages into her 12 page handout. The number of wrong things she said was enough that Alison and I debriefed ourselves for an hour afterward. Most notable was her idea that infants are stupid. She didn't say this, but said that when you talk to your baby, you can talk about anything, "that old woman in the tank on the parkway that almost ran you over, or how you want to kill your boss." Actually, kids will pick up on tone very easily and it's impossible to say something negative you believe and sound happy about it. Like all new age people I've met, she was in poor health and generally had contempt for her fellow man.
Video Games and Movies
I'm playing Vice City again. The only problem is that I totally rock at it. You could give me a totally unarmed man and tell me to kill 100 cops in 5 minutes and I could to it. The only mission I've failed was the Copland mission, because I blocked a garage with my helicopter that me and Tubbs flew in with. Even blowing up the helicopter didn't help, but really, with hindsight, I could have always flown it a little. But, not really, as it takes a while for the rotors to get up to speed and the cops had, I think, three stars on me, because of my judicious use of grenades on their coworkers. Oops. (covers mouth and makes bambi eyes)
And Leeann has bought a limited edition PS2 for her son Damian. Damian is almost 4. Leeann got him a dance pad game and dance pad. The game is some Jungle Book thing. Also Top Gear Dare Devil, one of the most kid friendly driving games there is. And I talked her into getting Spyro yesterday. Well, actually I sent the Amazon.co.uk page of it, and the unanimous 5 star reviews spoke for themselves.
As for movies, I bought three used DVDs last week and I'm waiting for them to come in. I didn't plan to buy them, but they were so cheap. When I checked my Amazon wish list, and saw that some of my favorite movies of the early 00's were three dollars a DVD, I had to get them. I got AI and Minority Report for under $4 and My Neighbor Totoro for a little under $5. With shipping it was $21.
Oh, And How I Stopped The Beep On Monday
Upon closer examination of the security system for the bomb disposal unit, the thing was squawking because it wasn't armed anymore. When the power went out it went offline and wasn't happy about it. The police Sgt in charge was in California all week and the bomb squad was in Birmingham for some dog and pony show. I called the company that installed it and while on the phone with them, I unplugged the battery backup (which, if you think about it, might not be hooked up correctly) and unplugged the unit from the wall. Ta-da. No more beepies.
I had already mutated so I couldn't hear it anymore. But Susan had a migraine and had threatened to start ripping wires out of it at random.
Later, a SWAT guy came down and tried to set it back up. He came back inside before he left and said that he just unplugged it again. So, hey, if you want to break into a empty box on a hill by itself, here's your big chance.
Monday, April 26, 2004
Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep
Ay, Caramba, the beeping. Behind our office is a storage box. It's not right next to our office, because it's the police's secret bomb disposal unit. We get the honor of it's presence because our offices are not packed in like the other offices downtown. Heck, when you're driving out to the plant, you think you've gone rural for a while. Well, until you get to the 10 foot tall barb wire topped fence.
But, the bomb disposal unit, like you'd expect, has a security system. That security system is located on the other side of a wall in my office. There is a part of my wall that is covered with a big ugly wooden cover. Under the cover is a big ugly non-wooden server for the whole plant, and a fiber optic relay that makes the Alpha precinct (the Dead Astronaut High School Precinct) have even faster internet that we do. Yes, because the fiber optic doesn't stop here. My office is just a spot to boost the signal.
But in any case, it's another situation like I wrote about in Stuffo: The Bleepin' Beeping. I've already called Sgt. Carter and left a message. But, you know, this time the beeping isn't driving me crazy so much. It's not so horrible.
Well, it's pretty bad. Who am I kidding?
That's Right, It's Your Boot Day
Due to the nature of my work, in that I occasionally get to get out of the office and go tromp around, I get free boots from work. It's the only way they can require me to wear steel toe while I'm out. And actually, the Iron Age Pimp Boots I'm wearing right now are actually composite toe wellingtons. $140 of high tech understatement. Not really understated, but they don't look like tactical boots, and they're comfy too.
Well, it' is boot day again. I have worn last years extremely heavy boots exactly once. These Pimp Boots are from two years ago. Now, they do have some wellingtons again, but I've had the hokey locals here say they look like Western boots, which they don't. So, I might not get Wellingtons again. In fact, I might go for some that have the mesh sides, breathable, because these pimp boots sure aren't.
Maybe Referral Week
Before I get anyone all worked up, there is exactly zero data to back up that we think we might get a referral this week. Last batch of referrals came out on the 8th of April. That covered the end of July up to August 28, 2003. Our DTC date is September 9, 2003, so we're in the next batch. And they do monthly batches.
So, why do I think that they'll come early? Because of May Day. The day all communists rise up and say, "Yay, we're communists, which sucks, but we get the next week off!" And they do. So, I'm hoping that the kind hearted communists in charge of matching dossier to kiddie file will decide to do that before their long vacation. If they don't, then we're talking about probably sometime around May 12, which ironically would be completely inline with the Statistics Page.
And running the stats with out date, if we are totally average, our referral (aka, knowing who she is) should come May 16th, which it won't since that's a Sunday, which is different than last time I checked the stats since it was Saturday the 15th. And our travel would start the 2nd of July. Which would actually rock, because it looks like I might have to take some leave without pay, and having the July 4th holiday (which is on July 5th this year as far as days off go) would give me a spare 8 hrs.
Kill Bill 2
It was great. I laughed, I cried. I wondered "how long is this going to go on" when they had a totally black screen when Beatrix Kiddo was being buried alive.
Keep Your Phone Charged, Alison
Because, see, I put her cell phone as the first call that CCAI will make when they get our referral. Everyone at CCAI totally drops everything when referrals come in until ever family has been contacted. They will call Alison, and then they'll email pictures of Nina to us at my email address.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Quick Entry With Tons Of Info
I have three minutes to write this and I figured, hey, why not write about all that stuff that I haven't written about.
The adoption should happen around the end of June, maybe. We are next to be matched and hopefully that will happen before the big commie holiday of May 1, which they celebrate for a week. Even though our homestudy was supposed to be good for two years, we have to do an update since the state changed the adoption laws. So, we are doing paperwork again. I have a physical on Friday too.
Alison's mom is buying a house in a subdivision called Potter's Feild about two miles north on Slaughter Rd from our subdivision. It's your standard urban sprawl, no trees, used to be pasture. She's getting a small floorplan, about 1500 square feet, and bricking it. She's currently picking out all the carpet, etc. Since it's a package deal, like our house, you just pick things out and buy upgrade packages. It's like buying a car. She has tons of stuff stored at her current house. We'll see how much stuff goes over. I predict she won't be able to park in her garage if she brings over the lumber for the gazebo that has no plans anymore. But she's bringing it over.
My mom's, Corey's, and Tiana's birthdays are all coming up. Corey will be gettign a PS2 from my sister (his mom) and I picked up Ratchet & Clank for him. Tiana will get a $20 bill. Mom, I guess a plant.
Times up.
Monday, April 19, 2004
Accuracy in Reporting
Although I haven't ranted about how no one seems to notice the slant and bias in entertainment and sports reporting, I am pleased to announce that it seems that a recent article about Chappelle's Show got it right:
"Chappelle's Show" is a streetwise social satire populated by outrageous recurring characters played by Chappelle...it is quite risque, with particular emphasis on marijuana and the epithet "bitch."
Holographic Keyboards
If any of you saw the Final Fantasy movie a few years back, other than the absolutely planetary scale of the plot, another neat thing was the use of holographic keyboards that would pop out of places like your oversized watch type thing, desk, etc.
Well, When I was reading Jenny's blog (see link to right) she linked to some Toyota concept vehicles. I went there looking for the amazing MR2ish hybrid but it was the last bit of it's description that got me.
CS&S also unveils "Toyota Space Touch," where the driver selects functions by "touching" holographic projections.
Huh, that's not sci-fi anymore. No one told me.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
More Baby Stuff
Nancy, my wife's brother's wife's sister (2nd sister-in-law?), gave us a bunch of baby stuff yesterday. We picked it up out of Teri's van but Tom was the only one there. Well, Brad was inside and Christine was also there. We got a cool car seat that is that kind with that you have the basketness thing that clicks. That wasn't very descriptive, but if you know what I mean, yadda yadda.
And I am giving the old Kenwood stereo that was in my Miata to Christine. Her stereo in her new-to-her early 1990s Sentra doesn't work. Not even the radio. The radio will come on for about five seconds and then shut off. The Kenwood is actually two separate parts, a head unit with tape and a CD unit. Since Chris isn't double din, she only gets the tape. But she can mooch daddy's (Tom's) tape adapter I'm sure. That is, if Jessica hasn't already mooched it.
I should have told Alison to cover up the boxes that the Kenwood and my old Panasonic speakers are in. They are in her car at work now, and in Sony Xplod boxes. It looks like "come here, steal me, I'm a complete car stereo system in box".
And that's all I'm writing. It was pointed out to me that I have been getting better, and not doing so much "Hey, a hard drive. I waxed my car." which comes off as pretty boring to people. I guess that's why I read Autopia every day, because it isn't to me.
Oh, and I'll become the boringest when I get the kid. Since we know the referral will probably come this month, I'm especially emotional. I'm probably at "cry during that Phil Collins Tarzan Song" stage. The babies...the babies...boo hoo hoo.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
An Eagle Pooped On My Car
I'm mostly uploading these images to share with people on Autopia, but why not link to them here too.
Image 1: Water spots from hosing off the eagle poop at work. This is the King of the Water Spot Nation.
Image 2: Not all the eagle poop was washed off. There were about 10 of these on the hood and about the same on the windsheild.
Image 3: Washing, as expected, did not remove all of the water spot residue.
Image 4: My best quick detailer is Zaino Z6. I thought I'd QD it before breaking out the vinegar and the Z6 worked.
Image 5: Hail the conquering hero!
Here's a pretty good article, alledgedly on
Modern Paint Care, but what's nice is that it has a history of automotive paint technology. Would the Mustang have really been such a sucess if Ford hadn't changed back from the dull acrylic paint to the stove enamel?
The Pteranodon
This morning, I'm really batting 1000. I got soap in my eye in the shower. Actually, it was dandruff shampoo, and yes, I shave my head, but the dominant consumer culture and it's advertising has made me paranoid forever that a micro-flake of my skin will peel up on my head. And, hey, nobody wants that. I forgot to put in my contacts until after I made protein drinks, and then didn't wash my hands, so I had ookie eyes for a while. The micro-micronized protein, or whatever, is very small and eye unfriendly.
Then, an eagle or something crapped all over my car. And I mean all over. I don't have a big car. It was as I was driving south on Slaughter Road, approaching the RR crossing, which, yes, I got stuck behind a train. The eagle, or perhaps a flock of other large birds doing their synchronized pooping trick, nearly covered the drivers side of my windshield. I waited until I was at speed on 565 before I did the windshield washery thing. I normally don't have any in the car, because I never use it. I'm glad I did.
Better Than A Towel Full Of Navel Oranges
Oh, and that reminds me; Alison and I were going to the parenting class last night and in front of us was an older Camry which was not a good car to be in a wreck in. On the back "parcel shelf", they had some random crap like tissues and whatnot, but they also had a gallon of windshield washer fluid. I'd like to see the crash test dummy get hit by that thing when the car suddenly decelerates. Yikes. That's 8 lbs of smashola at head level. I guess some people don't think about those kinds fo things.
We were told in our parenting class last week that all those suction cup sunshades are bad because in a wreck, they will detatch and smack people. Now, I'm not one to think that a little piece of plastic will pierce my skull or anything, but minimizing things I'll get smacked with in a wreck is always a good thing.
Failed Autopian
The rest of the drive into work was uneventful, with the exception of a Honda Accord changing lanes onto me. Good thing one of us was paying attention, but I always have to as Suburbans driven by short women can't see the ground near their car and try to kill me on a regular basis.
When I got into work, I looked at the hood of the car and it was, not covered, but had a very good portion of it splattered with eagle poop. I have no cash on me to go to a U-Spray-Em washer and just blast the stuff off. And even if I did, I don't have enough time to drive it to get the water off. I don't have a microfiber towel in the glove compartment, and even if I did, the car is covered in a fine layer of concrete dust and mud, due to the stupid concrete people and APAC, a company which tracks about 400+ lbs of mud onto the street that I work onto every time it rains. They pave roads, and their spare asphalt mountain is located on the street I work on. And yes, it's a big old black hill o' asphalt. Eyesore? Not really. You'd be surprised. But tracking mud with their trucks sucks.
No microfiber towel. No quick detailer. None of the supplies that I have at home. Normally, I discover bird bombs on my car on my way home, so I don't think about being able to get them sooner.
After weighing the options, I hosed off my car. I'd rather deal with the water spots than risk the bird poop etching my black paint. It's not the perfect thing to do, but I think it's the better of a few evils.
I need to make up a kit to keep in the trunk. I'm keeping this car for too long to start letting it go downhill. I'm not planning on a repaint before 2010. Though I might get a new top in 2005 or so. Woot.
I Wonder Why The Wonderfalls
Since the show Wonderfalls was cancelled, this is a unique opportunity where fan defiance exceeds fears of legal reprisals. If you want to download the theme song (goofy, but fun) or read any of the scripts that weren't shot, go erehay. (That's pig Latin, yeah.)
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Quantity Two Means Each
Without going into too much detail, as it just plain irritates me to think about it, I'll be shipping the two shocks I got in early March back to JCWhitney today. As you recall, the description for the shocks was as follows:
Item GAS RYDER SPRING SEAT SHOCK ABSORBERS Note: Qty: 2; Front; All (Exc. ABS); Part number does not include VST.
Quantity of 1 Total Price:$78.99
Status: Shipped via UPS Shipping 2004-03-11
Item GAS RYDER SPRING SEAT SHOCK ABSORBERS Note: Qty: 2; Rear; All (Exc. ABS); Part number does not include VST.
Quantity of 1 Total Price:$77.99
Status: Shipped via UPS Shipping 2004-03-11
After some price comparisons online, JCWhitney had the best prices. Autozone had the same shocks for $40 each, but here was two for around $80, plus, I wanted to get a cheesey chrome palm tree license plate surround. In fact, this license plate surround was the source of all my ills with this order, as they also didn't ship the right gear oil the first time.
The first time I called JCWhitney, the gal said, basically, "Oh, you're right. Clearly the description says two shocks. The computer sent an order to the factory for only one each. We'll get the other two right out to you." But nothing ever came.
On April 2, I called again. Recall that I ordered these on March 2, so it was my one month anniversary with them. Yay. At this time, the same thing happened, but the gal said that the first gal only put a note that they needed to be shipped and didn't' actually put in the order. This gal said she would put in the order and I'd have my two additional shocks by Friday, meaning, that Friday we just had.
Yesterday, I called again. After talking with one gal, I was then transferred to Michele. Michele told me that the description did not say quantity two. I emailed the receipt they had sent me to her boss. I also printed it out so I could fax it to Michele. About two minutes after I sent the email, Michelle's tone changed, and so did her argument. She said that quantity two meant you should order two, not that there were actually two shocks in the set. I told her that it seems obvious that it does mean two since your prices are double what others are and it says that there are two. In fact, "each" would be a good way to describe what she was saying "quantity 2" meant. Michele had to check on something and would wait for my fax. She told me she would call me back within the hour. It was 4:30 pm.
At 7:30 pm, Michele called back, but Alison and I were at Publix buying milk. Michelle's message insisted I was in the wrong but that JCWhitney was so good that they'd allow me to have another two shocks for free since there was this misunderstanding. I think she said, "So, essentially, you're getting two free shocks." about three times. I still have the message on the answering machine.
I called back and asked for Michele. She was busy, so I talked to Cassie. Cassie understood the situation perfectly and it was decided that the best thing for me to do was to return the shocks. She would reimburse me for the shipping cost. Then I could buy the shocks somewhere else that actually had correct prices. Cassie had actually tried to alter the description, but it wasn't within her authority. Basically, the website clearly indicates two shocks and has the price that is correct for two shocks, but when the order goes out to the factory, it is only one ordered.
I can get the same cheapo shocks at Autozone, sans shipping, for $40 each. Or, do the KYB AGX thing.
Well, that wasn't the short version was it.
Friday, April 09, 2004
No, I'm Not Planning On Getting A Roll Bar
--- Alison Postagulous (lonk91@[blah blah].com) wrote:
> I think we will get you a roll bar when the money from
> [blah blah] comes in. Please research the best one.
I have researched and my car is safer without a roll bar. There is serious head injury from a rear end collision. The steel frame (many steel members) is plenty hard and the bar inside the A column is a rollbar in itself. Also, the Miata has a 5 on rollover, meaning, unless you are Kelsea Grammar, you aint flippin' it.
I just looked up Bob Hall, original designer of the Miata's response to what rollbar is best in the Miata:
"Beats me. Every one I've looked at has compromised raising and lower the top in one way or another. Then again I think they all look like crap, and every person I know who's put one in a Miata is a brainless wanker and oxygen thief. Of course I don't like them in the first place but that's because I'm not quite stupid enough to roll a Miata."
Ba-dum-ching!
Witty Crap
Not that I'm actually going to buy one, after all I just got my horribly tacky chrome palm tree license plate surround, but if I were, I think I'd get chrome with black, then white letters saying "Yes, I'm Having More Fun Than You" on top and "I HRT Tailgating SUVs" on bottom. Where HRT is the code for a lil heart.
Personalized License Plate Frames
I Finally Changed Out My Transmission and Differential Fluid
Well, remember how I ordered three quarts of Royal Purple (Royal Purple...Royal Purple...b-caaaaack!) 75w90 for the trans and diff? No. Well, that's because anytime I write about auto maintenance my very small audience's eyes glaze over. In any case, they shipped the wrong stuff. I got two 75w90s and a 80w140. I called, they shipped the other bottle, and free 80w140 which I'd never use, in theory.
Well, theory broke down when I found out that even if I hadn't put the five oz in the shift turret, I still wouldn't have enough, since the limited slip differential takes over a quart, and the transmission takes a little over two.
So, I'm running 75w90 Royal Purple (Royal Purple...Royal Purple...b-caaaaack!) in the shift turret and differential, but in the transmission, I actually have about 70% 75w90 and 30% 80w140.
(75*0.7+80*0.3)w(90*0.7+140*0.3) = 76.5w105?
We Bought Un-Fun Baby Stuff
We haven't been stalling on buying baby stuff so much as we've been buying baby clothes and toys only. I think I have a block fetish.
No, not really, but blocks are such a freakin' rip off. Why do they cost so much?
Last night, we finally bought some bottles, one of those mini-tubs, some washing type products...oh, and some more onesies, some cute little pink socks, and something else.
Alison called and she has a urinary track infection. I didn't really feel that warranted a bold subheading.
Also, I don't like how blogger's spell check suggests foreskin for freakin'. And I shudder to think of the google hits I'll get off this entry. Not only did I say I had a block fetish, but I used the phrase "foreskin for freakin'". Nothing good can come of that.
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
Oh, Yeah, Hellboy
This last Saturday, Alison and I went and saw Hellboy. I'm a big Ron Pearlman fan, and in fact, was pleased that Blade II came on Encore Action this last week for me to get all Ron Pearlmaned up for seeing him actually Starring rather than co-starring in a film.
Hellboy Rocked. Sure, what do you expect. But, it seemed more like a second movie than a first movie. The backstory about who Hellboy was lasted about 10 minutes. There is a great shot in the movie of a vision of the future. Future Hellboy is sitting on a hill with a destroyed city in the background and giant tentacles sweeping down at the city from the clouds. But what's most notable is that Hellboy's horns are grown back and there is a flaming crown floating above his head. Too cool.
And now, I'd like to say a few things about Mr. Rodger Ebert and his crappy, spoiler filled review. Sure, Ebert liked the film. I think he gave it 3.5 stars. But Ebe, you spoiled the movie. So, here's me reviewing Ebert's review.
***Hellboy Spoilers***
One of the things Ebert says in his review is that flame gal and Hellboy kiss and they are both engulfed in flames, which just shows how made for each other they are since he's impervious to fire. Well, that's all good, but that's the final scene of the movie, jerk. We don't now that they are going to end up all smoochies. Well, we do now, because of you.
Ebert criticizes one scene where after the bad guys capture Hellboy, they just happened to have a stockade thing that's made for his two different sized arms. See, one arm is very large and made of stone. Well, Ebe, if you didn't follow the plot, they captured him ON PURPOSE, not just as a side thing. Remember that stone he can put his hand into and open the gateway to let the dark master through? Those badguys had actually Planned that. In fact, did you notice that if they could make him say his own name, it broke the bands on the stocks, his horns grew back quickly, and the flaming crown appeared. Ebert, where did your mother and I go wrong?
***End Spoilers***
Oh, and if you don't want to be spoiled, don't go read Ebert's review. It's good, if you like things like Blade or stuff like that. Heck, it's Hellboy.
Timeline Errors
Since I'm no longer a gold member at Diaryland, my old site's images are now gone. Those are the little micro-doodles that I did and then scanned them in at about 1200 dpi and did a 100% contrast job on them. Like the image of the projector above the Hellboy stuff up there.
Well, I was looking into my old Stuffo site, since that is what I used to call it, since I was looking for when I decided I wanted a Miata. I got interested in other things, and after some looking, I found out that two things we say aren't necessarily accurate.
As for my migraines, which I thankfully no longer have since I know that it's chocolate which will give them to me, I always tended to say that after my most horrible migraine incident after eating Hershey's miniatures when playing cards, that I knew that it was chocolate which triggered them. However, it was later that week that Teri, the nurse in our family, told me chocolate caused my migraines. And the pathetic thing is, I thought it was only dark chocolate and continued to suffer through feeling horrible because I was still drinking chocolate protein drink a month later. The last time I tried any chocolate was about a year ago maybe. I ate one Oreo to test Yep, it still gave me a migraine. (How did I start being like this?)
Another thing we tend to say is that as soon as Alison was told that there was no way we could have babies made out of our own DNA, which is the day the 626 was totaled (Oct 10), we started on our adoption paperwork. That's not true. It wasn't until November 14 that I first mention adopting from China. Actually, there is another post where I mention it. As I'm was leaning toward that, and Alison was researching Kazakhstan. It wasn't until Thanksgiving that I mention that we had contacted CCAI, our adoption agency in Denver.
For the record, I don't miss chocolate anymore. I don't even know what it's like. Strawberries rock though. As does maple syrup. I also am kind of glad I don't have my own genetic kids. Sure, I'd be neat to have a little genetic Alison hybrid running around. But my DNA, sure, it's got it's ups and downs. But I'm content to let it die with me. It's common to hear someone say about another "they're nothing special", but at least I realize it. I'm nothing special.
Which could lead to a discussion on how we were all taught we were special back in the 70s and 80s, on how we were wonderful and the best...but really...I think we'd be alot better adjusted if we realized we were just part of the population. You are only as important as the help you give others. Blah blah. I'm in an odd mood.
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
No Spring Chicken
My 1994 Brilliant Black Mazda Miata C-Package, manufactured in March 1993 in Hiroshima, Japan, passed it's 100,000th mile on the way back from our baby CPR and car seat class. I am it's third owner. The C-Package consisted of a torsen limited slip differential, MSSS2 Bose Sound System, leather seats, and a tan convertible top. The combination of Brilliant Black and the C-package is commonly referred to as a Black and Tan, the same as the phrase describing the coloration of black and tan dogs, like Rottweilers or Dobermans. My car's original sticker price on the lot was around $23,000. I bought it in July 2002 with 72,000 miles on it for $7500.
I highly recommend picking one up.
Woot!
Like That BlockBuster Ad
I'm not sure if you've heard that radio ad for Blockbuster where people describe what or when they like their movies. Examples are "Fast food, late night, and westerns" or "Coffee, a crossant, and romance". I actually made that second one up, since I can't remember any of the others besides the fast food one, which, man, I don't want to hang out with that guy. But...
Chinese takout, Diet Tang, and techno-occult action.
The Sockets Are Pressuring Me
Ok, I wasn't able to change the transmission and differential fluid in my car because I didn't have the right sockets. I was planning on buying some, but they are $6 each, so I decided to ask TC and Labman if they had the odd and quite large 23mm and 24mm sockets. They own no tools. They are non-tool users.
However, I was told to ask Tommy. So I did, and in the presence of Shorty, just in case he had different ones. Well, Tommy and Shorty were going to let me borrow their work sockets (they're fix-all type maint guys). But, they didn't have a 23 or 24, so they're going to ask Bruce. So, basically, they might show up and hand me two sockets today.
But I wasn't going to do it today. I'm busy today. I've got things to do, like sit around and relax before we have to go to that baby class.
Baby Class
And I know I mentioned the Baby Class before, but I'm not sure how much I mentioned how it's informative, but in ways we might never need. It's all situated around babies who are just born. I'm sure that at least 20 minutes of the 2 hrs class last week was about umbilical cords. Hey, our baby was done with that crap nearly a year ago.
The best information out of the class so far is that the $8 baby bottles are pointless. You're going to burp the baby anyhow. The hospital uses the kind that you get three of for $3 at Wal-Mart. But, then again, our baby will be around one year old, and will probably still eat from a bottle, but a modified one, as they will have been mixing formula with rice since she was around six months old.
Oh, and big news of sorts, we got our Pre-Placemnt document. It's 22 pages of making sure we understand the next step. And the next step is referral and acceptance. If we're completely average, according to the new April 1 statistics, we'll get that referral on the 22nd of May (which won't happen as that's a Saturday) and we'd fly out on the 6th of July.
Monday, April 05, 2004
Balance
Sunday, as Alison and her mom toodled around looking at some houses on the Tour of Homes, I was planning on changing my transmission and differential fluid. You're supposed to get the them warmed up, but then wait for 30 minutes so the nearby exhaust pipe doesn't burn you. It cools faster.
So, during that 30 minutes, I changed my shift turret oil. It was like gray milk, which probably means the horribly ripped boot (not the leather one that I see, but the rubber one that protects the leather one and keeps the turret from being under the car) let some water in from below the car. I think the boot is $32ish.
After I finished that, I did the following. Pay attention and you'll figure out how I could have solved my problem easier.
1. Jacked up front left wheel as high as possible. Put in jack stand.
2. Jacked up rear left wheel as high as possible. Put in jack stand.
3. Jacked up rear right wheel as high as possible. Put in jack stand.
4. Jacked up front right wheel as high as possible.
5. Noticed that rear right was not sitting 3 inches above it's jack stand as the car is balanced across rear left jackstand and the jack at FR.
6. Adjusted RR jackstand so it was higher. Higher than my jack can go.
7. Put jackstand under FR.
8. Got under car and realized I didn't have a socket to fit drain and fill plugs.
9. Lowered FR wheel, but it didn't reach the ground.
10. Started jacking behind FL jackstand to remove FL jackstand...
And that's when the car started tipping forward. Very slowly, my car started to fall toward the front. I put my hand under the FL wheel and stopped it. With about 5 lbs of pressure upward, I pushed the car back into place. By moving the pivot point back by a few inches, the front right half of the car was heavier slightly and it started tipping that way. Still holding the wheel up with my left hand, I had to use my right to release the pressure off the jack.
Then I tried several different things. But, it's true, the car was balanced between two jackstands, one of which was higher than my jack could reach. Nevermind the stuff I tried, but when I sought external help, I had it on those jackstands, but with a ramp under the FR tire and the jack holding up the RL corner just a little.
Mr. Smiley Rocks
Mr. Smiley is my neighbor across the street. He had a stroke this last year and can't work anymore. He makes cabinets, a lot. I think that every wall in the house must be covered with cabinets at this point. Well, he was in his garage puttering around.
Me: Hey, Mr. Smiley.
Mr. S: Yes.
Me: Can you help me figure something out?
He only looked at it for about a minute before he said: "Do you have another ramp like that?"
Solution: Put jack on spare ramp. Raise RR (too high) side. Lower setting of jackstand to normal level. Lower jack. Remove Ramp. Raise RR side. Remove jackstand.
The rest was easy enough. I forgot to mention that when I sought Mr. Smiley's help, I had exactly 24 minutes before I had to leave for church. And the Miata was blocking the Focus in the garage. But it's not like I'd leave my car suspended in the air while I was gone for a few hours anyway.
And Speaking of Church
There was a meeting after church about what the relocation committee has found. See, our church is in a location which has had a 14% population drop in the last decade. It's one of the worst parts of town. House property values are depreciating. The relocation guys had been looking at the north and east, mainly based on what people wanted. However, most of the possible location out that direction suck (I'm summarizing here). So, they are going to start looking west. We live on the furthest west border of Huntsville. This could be cool.
Very cool, as we are getting a new school within a mile of our house, literally in Research Park. We are also getting another school, a middle school, in the Providence area. If you could, re-read that last sentence and say providence in a snooty accent. When I asked Alison what the sidewalks in Providence were paved with, her mom and her said, in unison "Gold."
And one thing Curtis, spokesperson of the relocation guys, said, was that they are targeting areas which will show good growth in the next 20 years, and a good indication of that was new construction and good schools. Woot! It'll be in our back yard. Ha ha. No more driving 20 miles to get to church.
And yes, there are nearer ones, but not nearer ones with Alison's mom at them.
Friday, April 02, 2004
Glasses Man
I've been wearing glasses since Tuesday night. Why? Because I lost my left contact somewhere. I don't have that agreement with America's Best anymore where I can get a replacement lens for $15. In fact, it's been a while since we have been there, as Alison found out recently when she went in. Her contacts were bought in 1999. So, I need to go in and get some new contacts. Lame.
Too Cold To Wash The Car
I know my Canadian readers will think I'm crazy, but it was around 55 degrees yesterday when I washed the car and I almost froze to death. Yikes. I didn't have any rubber gloves. I usually have some from work in my jacket pocket, because, hey, you never know what you might need to touch, but really not want to touch. And the yellow, "women's dishwashing" gloves weren't under the sink in the kitchen. I can't wear my yellow pullover when using those, as I morph into Big Bird. But I washed the car.
I'm not sure if it's the Meguiar's ColorX or if it's the TW Zip Wax wash I'm using, but the water sheeted rather than beading. I like beading. I like micro-beading actually. But, no waxing this weekend. I have stuff to do.
But Not Shock Stuff
Yesterday, when I got home, I called JCWhitney to see when my shocks would show up. To summarize, I ordered a front set and rear set of shocks, and then sent me only one front and one rear shock...for my car. I called and even though the gal on the 10th of March that I talked to had made a note in my account record that I should have another front and another rear shock sent off, she didn't actually order them. So, I'll probably get the shocks around the 9th of April. I ordered them on the 5th of March.
I should have bought the best possible shock for my car, the KYB AGX (horrible name, no?) which I can get shipped for $306. However, I saved over $150 by getting Tokiko branded as Gabriel. Actually, there is no identification at all of a brand on the shock, they just say that they are made in Japan.
I'll change the transmission and differential fluid this weekend, or maybe today if it's nice. Heck, if it's nice I should drive over the mountain. I should put up shelving in the library closet tonight too. We bought shelving for it yesterday. Alison has taken all the stuff stored in there and moved it into the baby room. One closet full of boxes can cover an entire floor.
I also might add some mud flaps to my car this weekend. I know, possibly uncool. But I'm so sick of having the side of my car covered in dirt from this stupid road I have to drive down.
Hellboy tomorrow. Woot!
Thursday, April 01, 2004
More Wildlifey Than Usual
I saw a turkey. Like, a real, big, freaky, white-headed turkey. I had just approved a place for them to put a light pole and decided to drive into the new phase of a subdivision. It was in a heavily wooded area and a turkey was walking across the street.
I slowed the van down and just watched him. Big ol' dorky turkey.
I've never seen a wild turkey before. And in city limits.
Sleepy Sleeperton of the Sleep-Sleep Clan
(from Sleepsville, Sleepabama)
Fortunately, my boss has stopped his "Oh, you wait till you have kids. You don't know tired until you have kids." which is just fine as I'm a zombie. I'm getting ready to eat brains. Starting with yours. But why, why, why am I so sleepy? Well, that would be because I'm stupid.
Last night, we go to church and then go grocery shopping...wait, that was yesterday, wasn't it? Or was it?
In any case, when we were home, Alison started watching some Extreme Organization Makeover show, so I retreated to the computer room and read about portable garages. And then it was magically 11:30. Crud.
Tips for Reading Archivey Things
One thing about blogger Archives, they aren't like the way an archive is like at Diaryland. They are all the posts from a certain month listed in reverse chronological order. It's reverse, so that when a new entry is posted, it'll be at the top. That works great for day to day stuff, but when wanting to read an entire diary, as I've done for that funny stop-motion animator, you have to go into a certain month and scroll to the bottom. Then find the first entry, read it (scrolling down), then scroll up to find the next one, repeat. A little irritating.
Now, I've got only one day showing on the front of my blog. I like it that way, but also kind of miss the way Diaryland did it. Oh, and I need to see if D-land even keeps my old site around. As of yesterday, I officially stopped paying my Gold Membership.
I wonder if there are any perks at blogger if I throw a few bucks at 'em.
Oh, And Alison's Belly Button Is Disgusting
I didn't mention Alison's belly button pain. Well, it puffed up. She went to the doctor and it was an abscess due to an infection related to her surgery. Good news, no co-pay. Bad news, naaastyness. Ook.
My running joke, which totally irritates Alison, is "Well, if you'd wash that thing." And "The doctor wrote a prescription for you, it said BATHE."
Disclaimer: Alison is a pretty well hygienic person, and all around great gal. The doc said this was an internal thing and didn't have to do with hygiene. However, it is very fun to get Alison all irritated at you. Please, don't hurt me, honey.
Spell Check Oddity
Blogger's spell check does not know the word "blog".
