Travels and Images
WEEK 38 2006
Last Week-
Sun- Mon- Tue- Wed- Thur- Fri- Sat- Next Week
Picture of the Week
MAIN PAGE
Saturday 23 September
2006
Saturday
- my back hurts.
But that's good - I went to
the dump, finally, with a load of junk from the side yard. I'd been
hoping to hire someone, but they've been putting me off for a while,
so... It was starting to prey on my mind, and it's hard to mentally
start planning the fixes and upgrades for the back yard until the side
yard is accessible. And I'm saving money, which is good, because
redoing the boat brightwork is not exactly free.
I noticed the other day (month?) that the garage door opener was
laboring. I haven't lubricated the track, chain, and rollers in a
while, so I pulled the cars out and sprayed everything with silicon
lube, opening and closing the door until I was satisfied everything was
well greased. Then I cleaned the garage, a bit. It really, really, really needed it. In fact it needs a lot more cleaning.
It's a lot easier to pick up and vacuum a garage without cars in it! I'll have to remember that.
The fires down here continue - the day was cooler than it might have
been because the Labor Day Fire is still burning. We could use the Phillipine Mars and Hawaii Mars flying boats right now.
Actually I sketched out bigger planes than the Mars at one time, but I
doubt anyone would want to spend the money build them. They haven't
even built any more Mars boats.
Friday 22 September
2006
Friday - so, the
permanent crown is in. I went off to the dentist thinking that they'd
just plaster the tooth over with gunk, and that I'd be in and out in
ten minutes. No such luck - my permanent crown had arrived and they
said "Let's put it in now!". So, surprise, another hour or so in the
chair.
Then off to work, for meetings. We've a flight Monday and the flutter
lead for that project is about one hard sneeze away from giving birth -
and I'm the flutter backup for her. As of last week. So, a couple hours
of briefing. Then some work on another project - a big FEM model, that
runs but doesn't create all the output files I need. Too big? Network
problems? Dunno. It's annoying. Why can't the tools just work?
Book #39 is The Eternity Artifact, by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.. Eh.
No boat trip tomorrow - I'd like to, but I've things to do in
Lancaster. But my brightwork guy has managed a couple more days of
work, so that's good.
There is a stunning shot of the Space Shuttle and Space Station passing in front of the Sun, here.
Thursday 21 September 2006
Thursday
- I got up early this morning and watched the space station fly pass over. It was really quite bright - outshining any of the stars in the early dawn sky. The new solar panels have made it brighter than ever. The smoke and haze dimmed it a bit, but it was unmistakable. Like a planet, and unlike stars, it did not "twinkle".
(How it must annoy the mullahs in Iran that a woman is flying over their heads.)
Then I went back to bed for a couple of hours. I had to smog the car
and no smog station is open before nine, so... It worked out fine -
Scott's oxygen sensor repair apparently worked well, and then I went
over to AAA and picked up my registration tags.
I looked for a black light bulb at H&E Hardware, next to AAA, but
they had none. (I need one to find the tomato worms that are
devastating my bushes this year). Then, off to work for another
exciting day of rocket science.
I figured out, I think, why I've been feeling low all week: my
temporary crown is gone. Today on the way to work I realized there is a
giant jagged hole where it used to be - tomorrow I go to the dentist to
get it filled (again). I wouldn't be surprised if I've picked up a bit
of infection or something from that. My teeth have become unpleasantly
sensitive to heat lately (though, oddly, not to cold) and that hole probably has something to do with it.
Wednesday 20 September 2006
Wednesday
- it wasn't too smokey today - the wind was blowing the Labor Day Fire south, or so it looked from here.
Wikipedia has some stuff on the Peninsular War. Napoleon was really quite the weasel, despite his (Napoleon's) reputation Wellington beat all his generals, and then beat him. It's just like the french to admire a murderous second rater. Sheesh.
Had the Explorer worked on today: a new oxygen sensor, changed the oil,
and had it washed. It really needed the wash - after a hiking trip and
multiple trips to the sea shore it was pretty dirty. The ash fall, from
the fire, in Oxnard and Lancaster didn't help much. Tomorrow I'll smog
it.
Tuesday 19 September
2006
Tuesday - more smoke.
Book #38 is Sharpe's Escape.
A pretty typical Sharpe story - though I'd never heard of the defenses
around Lisbon. I'll have to read something on the peninsula campaign
someday.
Monday 18 September 2006
Monday - the fire continues. The smoke is
so thick that it blots out the sun at times. Apparently it's over a
hundred square miles in extent now.
After work I went out to dinner with some people from the office - one
of our engineers had his fiancé visiting Lancaster for the first time.
She doesn't seem as freaked out by it as some people.
Sunday 17 September
2006
Sunday - D
and I shouldn't be let out together. We managed to waste the entire day
looking at boats, looking at computer junk at Fry's, and talking. I
think we both needed the rest...
