Thanksgiving Weekend

Well, it's Sunday and Thanksgiving weekend is about over. The company gave us Thursday and Friday off for it, plus a 15 lb turkey as well. I decided to experiment this year and try to deep fry it. I've had the deep fryer for years, I won it as a perk prize at a company I used to work for. This was the first time I've tried deep frying a turkey though, I did some research on the net and came up with a general list of things, time, temps, etc... So, about noon on Thursday I got things started, it was a perfect day for it in my opinion, about 60 degrees, sunny, and almost no wind to speak of. I won't bore you with the details of watching a pot of oil get hot, I put the bird in about one o'clock and it started frying along quite happly, the only big issue came when it was about 2/3's of the way done, I ran out of propane! After a quick run to the Walgreens around the corner I had things up and running again. Everyone said the bird turned out pretty good. The rest of the weekend was spent in lazyness, watching tv and visiting friends.

Another day, another dollar

Not a whole lot happened today, same big bunch of idiots on the road this morning.



I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I build industrial control panels for a living. Anyway, I got started for a second time on a big one for JJ, had to stop the first time because as usual we were missing parts namely the 24 VDC power supplies, also as usual for a JJ project. They were supposed to be in today, but they weren't, so I got the measurements for them so I could get the panel layed out and start on the rest of it.

Bit of explantion here, I am one of two full time panel builders, they other one is in charge of the panel shop and has to spend most of his time with all the paperwork, chasing parts, dealing with project managers, etc... He does do work in the shop, he just has to keep it to the smaller panels that don't take a lot of time, so that means I get all the big panels, which doesn't bother me, since one of these will usually keep me occupied for a week easy.

Ok, back to the panel. This one's a 60 x 72 inch panel, kinda the norm for JJ, a pair of 17 slot PLC racks and a buttload of terminals. I took a quick look at the layout and spent the next couple of hours laying out and mounting the wireways and din rail (it's what the terminals and other bits clip to) that's when I start on my terminal count for each rail and realize that true to form JJ's draftsman has screwed the pooch again and the actual terminal count and markings don't match up with the layout drawings and he's even screwed up several of the terminal markings as well. So, first thing tommorow I'll spend probally a hour going through the entire wiring diagram and redoing the terminal layout, hopefully it will fit on the the panel.

Oh well, in other words, a normal day at the shop for me. LOL

I feel like doing this to some of these draftsmen, I haven't found one yet that actually checks his work.

Life as we know it

It's been awhile since I've posted, life's been crazy, I'm not going to bother with a complete update, just highlights.

Went to see my folks and picked up a load of our junk.

Been working my butt off at work.

That's been about it.

Sweety's New Ride

Well, the V-Star and the scooter are gone, we traded them yesterday for a 2008 Hyosung GV-250 Aquila. Cute little bike, I rode it around a bit and to me it feels like riding a mini-bike, LOL.

Since we were trading in two bikes, Sweets and me both rode over to the dealership, (Metric Cycles, Tulsa, OK) so we had to ride two up on the way back home, this was fun. I'm on a bike I've never rode before with Sweets on the back, and it's lite, very lite, GVW is 774 lbs, like I said, mini-bike. After about two blocks, I had to tell her to sit real still, because any wiggle of her cute butt sent the bike in motion. It's not really a two up kinda bike and once I find a book rack I like the rear seat and pegs are history, I trust Sweets on it, but I'm leary of her and someone else on it. I'm not going to do any tweaking untill after the 500 mile break in, Sweets has already commented on how quiet it is, I seem to be rubbing off on her that way, that should give me some time to see how well it runs. The one thing I am going to start working on is mounting a set of vintage hardbags I have, I've got to do a little refurbishing and painting, so it'll be a bit before they're on, but I think they will really set the bike off.

Now, onto the issues. Only one so far. I filled it up yesterday and later that evening Sweets complained that she was smelling gas from somewhere, I thought it was just the gas can sitting by the back door, so she moved it but that didn't help, so I went looking. I had the bike sitting under the awning behind the house and when I went out I noticed a big wet spot under the bike. Turns out the gasket for the fuel sensor was pooched.

Of course, I'm out there by flashlight, because the motion sensing porch light keeps turning off, trying to drain the gas and keep it from running all over the bike. I finally got the tank off and enough drained out so that I could set it on it's nose and that's how it spent it's first night at home.

This morning, I cleaned everything up and used some gasket sealant on the rubber gasket that was there, it pooched again while I was finger tightening the bolts, so I said screw that and when to O'Rellys and got some regular gasket material and made a new gasket for it. It's setting out in the garage right now curing, later this afternoon, I'll go out and put it all back together again.

Since the V-Star is gone, I've got to get my butt in high gear and finish the CB750ss, not a whole lot left to do, but lots of little things to tie up, so it looks like I'll be sporting the GV250 to work a few days this week, especally tommorow because I want to keep an eye on that sensor and make sure it's not leaking.

OK, that's about it for now, got some shopping to do and then work on the CB750ss the rest of the day.

Catch ya all later.

W.

My what strange weather we're having

Gotta love the weather, we've run through all four seasons in the last week.  But not necessarily in the correct order.  The last few days it's been beautiful, even hit the 70's yesterday.  Today we start the day at about 40 deg. and we're supposed to have major snow by 5pm, and then tomorrow it's supposed to start getting warmer all over again.  It's no wonder my sinus are in an uproar, they can't figure out what time of year it is.  LOL

 

Oh well, got to get ready for work, going to leave a bit early today, just in case.

 

Asta

W.

 

   

America's Legacy of Ashes

Sometimes it's just heartbreaking how our vets are treated.

The Weekend

    Been kinda busy this weekend mostly due to the weather, we had some major wind & rain yesterday, so it was a good day to stay inside and get some things done.  I got a bonus from work and we filed our federal taxes early by e-file, so we got our return back in a couple of days so Sweety and me had a little extra money, so we did a little shopping, actually we did a lot of shopping.  Bought a new recliner and loveseat for the living room, and a "Room in a Bag" kit for the bedroom, along with some new curtain rods.

   

    These "Room in a Bag" kits age nice, they were either designed by a guy or a woman that really used to having a guy do the shopping, almost everything you need to setup a bedroom is in the bag, comforter, fancy pillow cases, the little fru-fru pillows, bed ruffle, curtains, and table cover,  all you really need to buy extra is regular pillow cases, bed sheets and two curtain rods.  yes I realize this is all sounding a bit strange, LOL, but I felt the rest of you guys could use this info.  One of the main reasons I think it was designed by a guy is the curtains, most of us that live with a lady will understand this issue - hanging curtains.  When hanging the fru-fru curtains, you have to put up a rod for the shear curtain (the thin, kinda see through ones), then a rod for the regular curtains, then another one for the valance panel (the little short thing that goes across the top), so that's three different types of rods that you have to hang just right, so that it all looks right.  With these curtains on the other hand, they're all made together as one piece, that means one rod to get centered, level and at the right height.  Like I said, had to be designed by a guy, it's all in one bag, and for the most part makes logical sense.

 

    So anyway, Sweety and me put out most of it the night we bought it, but had to wait on the curtains until yesterday's shopping run, when I picked up a nice set of curtain rods.  I decided to be a nice hubby and surprise her by having it all done by the time she got home from work, so out came the tools and I put up the rods and curtains for her, and I flipped the bed up and got the dust ruffle on as well.  Sweety was surprised and tickled that I had hung the curtains and straightened up the bedroom all on my own.  Of course that was yesterday, today is all about cleaning up the rest of the house, which will include carting all my tools back out to the garage.  Speaking of tools, Sweety gave me my anniversary present Friday, a Skil 1-1/4 hp router, I'm a lucky guy, I've got a wife that understands a guys need for tools.  She of course got a pretty set of earrings, which is what she wanted.

 

    Ok, that's about all for now, time to get to work on the rest of the house.  Catch ya' all later.

 

W.

Veterans

When Veterans Retire

 

When a good Veteran leaves the "job" and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder.  We wonder if he knows what they are leaving behind, because we already know.  We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the Military life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet.  We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life.  We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

 

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.  Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life.  You are only escaping the "job" and merely being allowed to leave "active" duty.

 

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that "Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God," and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

 

Civilian Friends vs. Veteran Friends

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a week.

VETERAN FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met.

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.

VETERAN FRIENDS: Have cried with you.

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.

VETERAN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.

VETERAN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.

VETERAN FRIENDS: Will kick the crowds' ass that left you behind.

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.

VETERAN FRIENDS: Are for life.

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences...

VETERAN FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could ever dream of...

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.

VETERAN FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, "You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!!"  Then carry you home safely and put you to bed...

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will talk crap to the person who talks crap about you.

VETERAN FRIENDS: Will knock them the hell out OF THEM..... for using your name in vain.

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will come and visit you in jail if you goof up badly and chastise you for being there.

VETERAN FRIENDS: Will be sitting right there beside you, saying "Boy, we really goofed that one up, but what a blast!!!"

 

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will ignore this.

VETERAN FRIENDS: Will forward this.