When I got back from Oklahoma, one of the first things I did was check my email. I had 33 messages, with 7 of them being considered “junk” by Outlook’s filter.
Here is the contents of one of those emails.
Subject Line: Hi Lee Buy Heroin, cocaine and other shit from timothystuff
I am very sorry for you Lee, is a pity that this is how your life is going to end as soon as you don’t comply. As you can see there is no need of introducing myself to you because I don’t have any business with you, my duty as I am mailing you now is just to KILL you and I have to do it as I have already been paid for that.
But I give you a chance. Call my neighbor 315-678-2840 and say password “there is time to save my skin” and if that would sound convincing, I will forget about you.
Tell him this password for Timothy Sinclair (be sure it is not my real name).
WARNING: DO NOT THINK OF CONTACTING THE POLICE OR EVEN TELLING ANYONE BECAUSE I WILL KNOW.
I’ve never seen something so strange in all of my life, and I’m not that scared. I’m hoping it’s just some spammer, and many others received the same email.
Wednesday, all of us (Me, Rachel, Taylor and Dad) are embarking on a journey I have made many times in my life. We are going to a little bump in the road where my 3 aunts and 2 cousins live in Oklahoma. The trip is somewhat less exciting as it used to be, as there is no Speed Trap in Watts anymore. I might get my aunt Beth to talk on camera about how that Speed Trap became history, as she was involved in it.
The total trip is roughly 700 miles, and can be done in as little as 8 hours.
All of us have never made this trip together, so it’s going to be very, very interesting.
It used to be all about how fast I could make it there, but as I’ve aged, I’ve wanted to see things along the way.
The reason for this trip? My aunt Beth is having a “family reunion” of sorts for the 4th of July. We are going to stay at her house, which could double as a B&B.
I also have a delivery to make, as my aunt Laura sent me 13 8-tracks and 2 cassette tapes that she wanted transferred to CD. The 8-tracks were a disaster, but I hope she still loves me.
I hope that someday, they can make the trip here. It would be great to show them around for a change. I’m hoping that perhaps next summer one of my cousins can come out for a week or two. I would love it.
It’s been 2 years since we’ve made the trek, and I must say I’ve missed my aunts. Their southern hospitality is something that is not found ’round these parts.
I started bright and early on installation of our new solar attic fan. I wanted to get it done before the heat of the day set in.
The first thing I had to do was remove the cover of the old fan. While I do not have any pictures of it, it entailed removing some shingles and prying it off the roof.
I then had to replace those shingles I had to remove to prepare the hole for the fan.
As you can see, the top half of the hole has been removed completely of shingles and roofing felt. I then used my reciprocating saw and pry bar to loosen and remove any nails in the vicinity of where the flashing of the unit goes (underneath the shingles).
Now it was time for some test fitting.
As you can see, the bottom half of the flashing is above the singles. This is how the instructions said to install. It took a few times, but we finally got it. The major pain was the fact that the fan is so close to the peak of the roof.
I then applied some roofing sealant, some call it tar to the underside of the flashing from the 9 o’clock to the 3 o’clock positions. I ran 2 beads of it for an extra layer of protection. I then slid it right back to the same spot.
I then nailed the unit in place as the installation instructions recommended. Then I applied roofing sealant to the areas where I nailed the fan into place.
That’s it! It was running before I even had it fully installed.
I was very surprised that it only took me about 2 and a half hours to fully install this fan. I dread any work on a roof, but this went as smooth as can be.
Many thanks goes to my dad for helping me with this one. It’s much easier to pass things from ground level to a roof with another person.
Now hopefully our attic will stay cooler, our energy bills will be lower, and we will have no leaks.
The next solar project we are discussing is water heating. It’s hard to decide on what type of system to decide on.
We are currently working on having our first garage sale ever!
It will be this Saturday, June 21st from 8:30 am til 4 pm. I don’t totally feel comfortable putting my address down, so if you’re interested leave a comment and I’ll give you my address.
Nothing is junk, everything is stuff we just no longer use. As you can see it has taken up a lot of space in our basement. My sister-in-law has donated some stuff as well.
As you may or may not know, I am a handyman for a small company called Morgenstern Home Services. While most of the time I am fixing some problem at somebody’s house, on occasion I am working on the only “company” vehicle.
It’s a 2001 Ford E150 that gets the job done. The only job it doesn’t get done is getting what you need easily. That is about to change.
A few weeks ago, the front brakes went out of it and needed replaced. This van is used almost daily and it being out of commission for even a few hours puts a big hurt on this small company. I took the initiative and told the boss that I’m an expert on brakes, and I would be happy to do it for him. I saved him a ton of time, and I’m sure a few bucks. He thanked me by paying me 4 hours of extra pay, which I greatly appreciated.
As you can see from the picture, the van is merely a cargo van, nothing special. The one hindrance is that it’s highly disorganized. My boss, Rick thinks highly of me and wants me to come up with a storage system for it.
My first thought was to find one online and just install it. I then understood why he wants me to build one, storage systems for these vans run in the thousands.
They didn’t have any work for me to do today, so I’m working on this project, which he told me he would pay me for researching and designing. I’m writing this blog to document that, in case any questions arise.
So taking some design queues from other storage systems, I have designed one for our van. I have plans drawn out, and a materials list.
Hopefully he will like it, and want me to go forward with it. I’m planning on handing it in to him tomorrow.
Editor B shooting footage of people at a peace rally, I believe, with a piece of paper attached to his camera with the question, “Bomb Wal-Mart?”
Today somebody took that thought provoking question one step further and called in a bomb threat to the local Wal-Mart. The first thing that came to my mind was the picture above.
The matter was taken very seriously, and the place was evacuated. The employees were sent to the Murphy USA gas station nearby (good place to go when there is a possible bomb). The store has now been closed for almost 6 hours, with word that it will re-open “within the hour.”
“Lunch Hour Shopper” left a comment on the Herald-Times website that I found quite interesting. It states that, “I was there when it happened. They came over the intercom and said “attention all associates and customers, we have a code blue. thank you” and that was it! Like we all know what a code blue is. Doesn’t that mean a sale at KMart! Some employees just left their cash registers with customers standing there. Then some other associates started telling people to leave.”
So I take it that it’s Wal-Mart’s policy to not give a damn about their customers during a emergency situation.
As a Wal-Mart shopper (I’m not a fan, just doing what I gotta do.) it seems like a good thing to do with the weak US economy today. Wal-Mart is now nothing more than the quickest way to get to China or in some cases Vietnam.
No I don’t think it’s B’s fault, but that question brings up very serious philosophical questions. Especially in financially trying times like these.
By now I have become somewhat of an expert on light fixture installation, but this one was a doozie.
When I removed the old light fixture, I discovered that it was just merely attached to the drywall and not a junction box. This new fixture required one, so I went to Menard’s and purchased one. When I went to install that, it became even more of a jungle. There was the layer of drywall and underneath that a layer of 1/2″ OSB (Oriented Strand Board). It had to be removed by means of a reciprocating saw. Because of the vibration of the saw, more drywall than what I wanted fell off, leaving a not so pretty site where the fixture is mounted.
You can’t see it unless you’re right underneath it, but it’s going to drive me crazy until I fix it.
UPDATE: To see aerial photos of the flooding, point your web browser here.
Due to the volatile weather this week, most of southern Indiana is flooded. Parts of Morgan, Owen, Brown and Bartholomew counties are being evacuated. 10 counties have been declared disaster areas, including Monroe.
The sad thing is that it’s only going to get worse before it gets any better. I have seen reports on TV that these are century level floods. After the water is gone, we will still have to repair the roads and so on and so forth. Many roads and bridges have became impassable or even demolished due to the water.
Here is what Bloomington looked like a few days ago:
For the most part, Monroe county is alright now. All of this flooding has created a major problem though, as it has washed away roads, and in some cases bridges.
It has been very hot and humid, which only causes trouble in the mid-west. It’s been beautiful during the day, but we have been paying for it with these consequences at night.
I have never seen flooding this bad in Indiana in my whole life.
It’s been an extremely long time since I’ve posted, and there’s a very good reason why. I haven’t had much free time at all lately.
I took on a paper route, then after getting the kinks out and finally getting it down pat I started a new job as a Handyman for Morgenstern Home Services.
Between the two, I barely had time to sleep, let alone all the other responsibilities I have.
I’m currently in Chicago, IL. Rachel has a conference tomorrow, and we used it as a reason to get away for a few days.
We’re staying at the Club Quarters Hotel located in the Mather Tower. It’s the first time I’ve ever stayed in Chicago, and I must say I am enjoying it!
This break has given me an opportunity to find a replacement for the paper route. She called me tonight asking about inserts for the Sunday paper. I no longer have to worry about that 7 day a week commitment.
Now I have time to concentrate on various projects, such as our upcoming trip to Oklahoma to see my aunts.
Then I’m your man, at least on the far westside of Bloomington.
I officially became a carrier for the Herald-Times today.
Rachel and I went on the route, and we had a few hiccups but it went pretty smooth.
200 papers, 2 hours.
With high gas prices, you would think that it would be a losing situation, but it’s not. The route is only 26 miles, and I can deduct that expense on my taxes next year.
I’m eventually going to buy a beater of a car and use it. Until then, I think I’m going to use my truck. This morning we learned that Rachel’s car is just a wee bit small.
While making dinner this evening, I received a phone call. The phone was ringing like crazy today, but this one was way out of left field.
It was the Herald-Times, asking me if I was interested in becoming a paper carrier. I had sent them my resume about a month ago when a carrier position opened up. It just happens that the carrier for “my” area quit.
I’ve agreed to go on a “test” run tomorrow morning, bright and early at 4:15.
This is something that I would love to do, but a 7 day a week commitment is tough for a young individual like myself. We occasionally spend the night at friends and family members homes. I wouldn’t want to be grounded.
In other job seeking news, I had an interview at the VA clinic in town, and got another call for an interview with what seems to be a general contracting company in town.
The interview at the VA clinic went well. It’s a position in their front office, I’m just worried that my lack of experience in a medical office setting puts me at a disadvantage.
It would definitely be exciting to work for a general contractor again, but my back isn’t what it used to be.
Due to these concerns, I’m giving this some serious consideration.
I don’t want to work for KFC again, anything but fast food.
For the first time in my lifetime, the Indiana Primary has become an important step in the process of deciding who will become the next president of the United States.
The hardest part, for this household anyway is deciding on who to vote for. We are not “hardline” party voters. We instead vote for the issues that are more important to us, and try to make an effort to vote for a person who will do their job, and do it well.
Since G.W.’s administration has made everything under the sun a nightmare, we are voting Democratic this time. One point I have been making since it has become a Obama vs. Clinton showdown is that history will be made no matter who wins the nomination.
Both canidates have made appearances in Bloomington. Obama showed up for the Little 500, and was here last night. He gave a speech at Assembly Hall with a crowd of 13,000 present. I sat comfortably at home and watched it via a live feed on the Herald-Times website. Hillary, Chelsea and Bill Clinton have all made appearances here. While I have not gotten a chance to see any of them speak, I haven’t heard much buzz regarding those appearances either.
When all of this began I was leaning towards voting for Hillary, but I have changed my mind, I think. The turning point for me was last night when Obama said that, his entire campaign was funded by the american people, one $25 check at a time.”
Last night, we went to my grandmothers for dinner. We have to drive by the airport to get there, and saw a large plane. It had an american flag and “The United States” printed on the sides of it. We knew it was for Obama. While there, we were watching the news and they had a live feed from Indianapolis. He was there speaking. About 11pm, long after his speech here was over, we felt that plane leave. It was an experience unto itself.
This country needs a change, and while I see it happening with either canidate, I see it happening better with Obama behind the wheel.
I worked my last day of the semester at Kelley today, and after I left, I immediately went to pick up my mower. It had been at John Deere since last Saturday being repaired.
I was in for a shocker at first, as I couldn’t get it started. Once I got it started though, I was nothing but amazed.
One new but insignificant problem emerged, due to it running much better, there is much more vibration. Because of this, the throttle will not stay at position while the engine is running. As a quick, simple fix I jammed a wood shim underneath the throttle lever to keep it in place. I will find a permanent fix later.
Since I bought it 2 years ago, it has been a good mower. I have always worried about it’s lack of power, but I learned today that it was simply a carburetor problem. It is much faster, and doesn’t bog down when going through think and tall grass.
It was definitely money well spent.
I spent the afternoon mowing our entire yard. This task normally takes me 3 hours, I completed it in a mere 2 hours today.
She has also devoted her career, and much of her life on education. Which is very interesting because I’m almost the exact opposite. I guess opposites really do attract.
The only question now is if she will someday take that next, final step and go for the doctorate degree? We have been discussing it, and at the same rate she has taken the masters program, it would take her 10 years to accomplish the required credits needed for the doctorate.
Perhaps when she’s had a chance to breathe for a while.
Anyway you cut it, I’m very proud. (It’s not easy with the distractions I seem to bring along)
Since taking my mower to the shop to have it repaired, I have not been able to mow the lawn.
When I first mowed the lawn, I only mowed the front yard. On top of that, I fertilized it as well. Now the problem is that everyone is starting to mow their lawns on a regular basis.
I’m not as concerned with the back yard, as not many people see it, and it’s still a mess. I’m hoping to at least get the hole from where our pool was filled in this year. I have finally found someone selling dirt, it’s not that cheap at $25 a yard but they do offer delivery.
I might have to wait until next year on re-grading of the back yard. If anyone near me (Bloomington, IN) has a small tractor with a bucket and/or a yardbox reads this, leave a comment. I need the use of you or your tractor, and I’m willing to pay for it.
It’s not a big job, but it’s a job that can’t really be done by hand.
