Here is a big shout out to our neighbors. We received a blanket of snow last night and yet most of them were out bright and early getting the trash to the curb by 7:00 am. Way to go guys. Of course, there has been no sign of any snow plows cleaning the streets or sanitation trucks stopping at each door step yet. That would just not be the way the system works you know. Oooops! I forgot that I had resolved to not harangue our solid waste agency and its policies. One resolution broken already.
I have been looking out my window to see how the snow removal is coming with my neighbors. I decided not to crank up my Toro 521 until everyone within eye sight had either cleaned their driveway and gone inside or else have left for work. There are only a couple left so I should be able to get out there in a half hour or so. I don't want to endure those stares and smirks if the Toro fails again. However, my small engine repair guy assures me that all is well with the Toro. My blind trust in my repair guy is waning though. I have had the those assurances before only to be let down.
We have a late gym class today. In keeping with another of our resolutions, my current wife and I will be going to the gym early to work out independently before class. Should be interesting to see if I can actually last through the class. It should be a good workout though. I need to work off Christmas and New Years you know.
I mentioned yesterday that I was on my way to an on site IT visit. I went, I saw, I conquered (after a while). Took about an hour but Sue was happy which made me happy also. Upon completing my support call, I decided to drop into my favorite Menard's. I picked up my necessary supplies to repair the table lamp plus a couple of other things. You just can't buy only what you really need. You have to pick up a few impulse items also.
Got home and completed the switch repair to the lamp. Of course, this is an antique so I couldn't find exactly the style of switch needed. Apparently no one makes what I need anymore. Why am I not surprised? I devised a MacIvor strategy combining old with the new to make a workable fix. Got her done, plugged it in and NOTHING. OMG, okay stay cool, I replaced the light bulb - nothing; I switched the two wires - nothing; I plugged it into a different wall outlet - nothing. OK, let it sit a while thinking it might heal itself. I've used this strategy before of course it has NEVER worked but will try it again. Off to finish the dryer vent cleaning project. I have to pull the unit out away from the wall to get enough room to get back there you know. Just about had it, only a couple more inches to go and SNAP! What was that? Crap, the elbow at the bottom of the dryer snapped in half. Yeah!!!!! Well I clean everything. I think this joint has been leaking for a while judging by the amount of lint behind the dryer. I head out to True Value to get a new elbow. I really wanted this done by supper time. While at True Value I decide to replace the entire dryer vent so I buy one of those aluminum flexible units that you pull to expand. It is 8 feet long when extended. I get it all pulled out, attached to the dryer, push the dryer back to the wall, crawl on top of the dryer and extend this up to the connector going outside. Just as I get it connected - SNAP!!! I know that sound - the brand new elbow I purchased has snapped in half like its predecessor. Okay, we will let this sit until the morning, maybe it will heal itself.
Up at 5:30 am today ready to take on the world and my projects but not until I have some French Roast. Like every other day, I prepare the coffee and push the ON button. The green light that is supposed to come on doesn't come on. What the @#@!&% is this now? I move the pot to another outlet by the stove. Green light and the French Roast is brewing. Now then in one of my more analytical moments, I ask myself, "Do you suppose those outlets I used for the lamp have no power also? If so, why don't they have power?" I checked both the lamp and the dryer vent and sure enough neither had healed itself over night as I had feared.
You may remember in my last post that I predicted there would be a total of 3 trips to either Menard's or True Value. As soon as I post this blog, I will be off for trip #3. It is like a commandment that all DIY's must live by. These hardware stores understand that also. Actually, the clerk at True Value said they would see me tomorrow and they were right. I've got to have another cup of coffee before diving into this chasm again. Until next time, keep a smile on your face and the wind at your back. TA!
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