Dad 199: An Inconvenient Curb

(Fridge update: A part is on order. Should be okay. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Coming to you from another late winter day in spring. It is cold, damp and very miserable! Very miserable! I, who wear shorts all winter, actually put on full-length jeans yesterday with a winter jacket and gloves to attend Josh's high school J.V. baseball game. More about that later.

Well, I sit here waiting for a technician to check out our new refrigerator. It seems that we have a water leak in the freezing department. We have icicles and ice on the walls of the unit. This never happened with our previous refrigerator. Maybe I should demand a new replacement. I don't want a 'LEMON.'

We had an exciting week. We went to two of Josh's baseball games. He caught the first game and pitched all but one inning of the second one. The first game was won in the sixth inning with four runs (5-2). The games are seven innings. Josh pitched six innings in the second game and his team won 2-0. Two more games this week if the weather cooperates. I doubt that it will.

Saturday, Auntie Kim took Spouse along with Josh and Zack to the movie "Heaven Is for Real." They all were impressed with the show. Zack said it was inspirational. I stayed home and watched the Red Sox game. They had better start winning on a regular basis or it will be a long, unproductive season. Go! Red! Sox!

Glen and Deb are now home from their Cayman Islands trip sponsored by Subaru. From what they say, it was a great trip. They even kissed the stingrays. I think on the Cayman Islands I could find something or someone better to kiss than a killer fish. To each his own.

Kim has fulfilled her duties as warden of the Reed household while Glen and Deb were away. She, at this time, is winging her way back to Illinois. Should be in Chicago in about one hour. It was a fun ten days having her around.

I must tell you about being attacked by a curb. You see, I was taking Zack to lacrosse practice and made the turn to go past the high school football field. At the same time I turned to see who was entering the school. Well the curb attacked my front passenger-side tire. We continued on to Zack's practice field. By then my tire was flat, only on the bottom. I did not have my TracFone so I decided to change the tire myself. I figured everything out and completed the task in less than 30 minutes. The spare had not been touched, so I was lucky it had enough air in it to get me home. To say I was embarrassed would be an understatement. This was on Friday so I used my truck until Monday when I bought a new tire. The curb owes me $140. I doubt that I'll collect. I think Zack is still laughing at me!

It was a fun-filled week, but it is now over, sooo....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

A Fetching Cat

Our cat Kurt is very handsome. But this is not what I mean by "fetching."

One night last week while sister Kim was visiting, Kurt jumped up on the loveseat with her and dropped a toy mouse. Kim picked up the mouse and tossed it across the room. Kurt went after it and brought it back to her.

This exchange was completed about four or five more times.

I had never known a cat to play fetch! It was so cute.

I have tried to recreate this activity since then, but Kurt has not cooperated. I guess it was a once-in-lifetime event. Still, that means he may play fetch eight more times.... LOL!

Finally Finished Friday

Breaking Bad

62 episodes, Netflix.

Intense, gritty, don't-go-down-this-road story.

Glad we watched it.

More glad we're finished!

Sweetness

Rylie with her great-uncle Lew. (Her mom, our niece Sarah, is in the background.)

Love!

A Popular Birthday

I just saw that today is Stana Katic's birthday. She is the actress that plays Detective Beckett on the TV show "Castle."

While Lew and I were at the grocery store, I heard a customer wish another customer, "Happy Birthday!"

The little girl across the street is four years old today.

We also have three church friends celebrating birthdays. This includes our pastor's younger daughter. She's five!

And at 11:48 this morning, our church family grew by one more: a beautiful baby girl. :)

Blessed!

Out to the Ballgame

Dad, Mom, Kim, Zack, and I all piled into my father's truck around 12:30 to head to Josh's 1:00 baseball game.

The game was fun to watch, but I will admit it was a bit chilly. The wind didn't help. Fortunately I had dressed appropriately, so I persevered.

Josh's team was behind 2-1 going into the bottom of the 6th. They ended up scoring four runs to go ahead 5-2. Three quick outs in the top of the seventh secured the win. (The games are only seven innings.)

Josh caught the entire game and made some good contact during his at-bats.

The game lasted only about an hour and a half (maybe a little longer), which was wonderful considering the cold weather.

Congratulations to Josh and his teammates on their come-from-behind victory!

Fine Dining

I've been having "blogger's block" lately. So I'll share a picture and call it good for today. :)

Adam, the Meal Conqueror!

 

Dad 198: How to Make a Door Close

(I think I understand what Dad did. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Coming to you today from a fogged in Northeast. Sun should be shining through shortly. Then the clouds will come back and we will have rain later in the day. Still very cool here. Supposed to reach 50° by Friday, so our visit to the baseball field shouldn't be too bad. Ah – Baseball season has arrived.

Well, if you checked out this blog for the past two days, you know that we purchased a new refrigerator. It seems that it was slightly larger than the one we removed. As you now know -- if you checked out the previous days posts -- the bathroom door wouldn't close. I'm about to let you know of all the help and suggestions I received from family members as to the 'FIX'.

One of the first suggestions I received from Tracy and Lew was to hang a series of beads in the doorway. This was a suggestion from each, separately and at different times. Great minds! Then a more logical suggestion was a sliding accordion-type door. I recall using these about 50 years ago. Then to the suggestion of a folding door. I believe this is the only sane suggestion I received. But I still wanted to use our existing hollow door.

I thought and contemplated throughout the remainder of the day and evening for a sensible solution. In early evening, I had the problem solved. Would it work? I'd find out in the morning.

Well, the next day arrived and I put my plan into action. I removed the door by knocking the pins out of the hinges. Then, before removing the hinges on the door, I drilled holes where all the screws were in the hinges. This would serve as a guide to replace the hinge and also show me the depth of the side of the door. I decided I could rip three quarters of an inch off the door. Marking as accurately as I could, I then used my 40-year-old skill saw (all metal and a Sears product) to rip off the section. I then replaced the hinges without even cutting them into the door. Luckily they lined up fairly close and I put the hinge pins back and the door now just missed the refrigerator. I used the strip I cut off as a strip to fill in the opening on the refrigerator side. Then I repositioned the striker plate and success was achieved.

Only one more strip of wood is needed. This will complete the construction. Then a little painting and staining along with a new striker plate and I'll be happy and relieved.

I must let everyone know that we are thrilled and excited to have Kim with us at this time for about a dozen days. She will be taking over as a parent to Josh and Zack as their parents (Deb and Glen) will be going to the Cayman Islands for a few days. A trip earned from Glen's work as service manager at Patriot Subaru. Glad to have Kim visiting!

Enough for now.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

The Door Now Closes

 

Two Arrivals

Sister Kim is here for a visit! Her flight got in around 5:30 last night. Debbie's family picked her up at the airport, and then we all ate Ken's Place food at my dining room table.

My parents' new refrigerator was delivered this afternoon. It is already decorated and full of food.

 

There is one issue still to be resolved: Due to the depth of the refrigerator, there is not enough clearance to shut the bathroom door. Dad tells me he has a plan. I imagine you'll read more about it in Derf's weekly post. :)

 

Happy Easter!

This is the most wonderful day of the year.

Why?

HE IS RISEN!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" ~ John 11:25-26 (NASB)

Morning Will Come

Tomorrow's sunrise: 5:55 AM.

When I was a teenager we had Easter sunrise services at the beach. We played our band instruments no matter how cold it was.

It's been many, many years since I've attended a sunrise service. So I asked Lew if he would like to go to the beach tomorrow and watch the sunrise.

His answer included the phrase "when I retire," so it may not happen this year.

But one thing for sure: I will be playing Easter Song by the 2nd Chaper of Acts fairly early tomorrow morning!

I'll cue the iPod tonight. :)

Good Friday

"The Old Rugged Cross" by George Bennard, verse 3:

 

In the old rugged cross,

stained with blood so divine,

A wondrous beauty I see;

For 'twas on that old cross

Jesus suffered and died

To pardon and sanctify me.

 

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." ~ Jesus

[John 15:13 NASB]

Cleaning Pains

After ellipticizing this morning, I decided to spend some time cleaning and reorganizing.

I was at it for maybe four hours.

I now have several muscles that ache. (These are the muscles that I didn't know I had.)

In addition to the aches, I am fatigued.

Why, oh why, am I not a princess?

I bet a princess has other people do her cleaning and organizing!

Going to look for my tiara....

Dad 197: Televisions, Telephones, and Refrigerators

(Will the excitement never end?! Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Woke up this morning to a below-freezing temperature and a fresh coat of snow. What a joy! I'm writing this as I wait in the parking lot of our family doctor. Spouse is here for her checkup. It is now afternoon and the sun has been out for a few hours. The morning chill and the new snow have completely disappeared. Quite nice out! Still have some snow to look at across the street at Ken's Place. No more snow on our land. Let the grass grow and turn green.

Today, I'll let you in on my morning. It has been interesting.

First, I was watching the morning news and made a trip to the sink. Upon returning to the television it was a screen that was totally red. I checked all channels with the same results. Turned TV off and then back on. Same results. I found the necessary materials and called the dealer. Was informed to call company that my warranty is with. That conversation took care of all needed info and they would be in touch with the dealer. It was then that I decided to unplug set by turning off power strip. Waited a few minutes and turned switch back on. The picture came back on. It was then that I received a call from dealer as the warranty company had sent word to his shop. I told him it was on and working well. Should I call the warranty people? Advised to continue watching and see if the red screen appears again. If no red screen shows up, I'll cancel my warranty request. If I am going to have a problem, I hope it happens before June 2015. That's when my warranty expires. Occasionally, I do have to turn off power strip to reboot system. Never had a red screen before. (It was a nice shade of red.)

Yesterday Tracy dropped over to tell me she had changed to a different plan (with the same carrier) for her landline phone. It is exactly the same criteria but about $20 cheaper. I decided to call today to get the cheaper plan. Well my first call locally was unable to connect as there was a problem in the phone line. So I went to the 800-number. I finally spoke to a human. I was told it was impossible to change to the new plan unless I added Direct TV or Internet. I told the person Tracy did not add anything. The conversation continued for a few minutes and I was told no supervisors were available. I hung up. Tracy then happened to drop over. I called back and spoke to a different person. I was told the same thing. Our conversation took us to the point where I considered canceling my plan and reconnecting if I could have the same number. This would allow me to get the new plan. I was transferred to a person knowing about cancellation. I told her what I wanted to do. She changed my plan (without having to cancel) and said she would speak to her supervisor about the problem of being told it could not be done without a service addition. Success!

Then, Spouse tried to get ice in her cup from the refrigerator. Well, guess what? No ice and no future ice in the slots. So I'll be calling the appliance store upon my return home and perhaps buy a new refrigerator instead of spending a couple hundred dollars on a 10-year-old unit. Stay tuned!

Hopefully Spouse will be out of the office soon and we can return home.

Then I'll order KFC and all will be well. Soooo....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

 

A Secret Hiding Place: Part 2

Boxes for packing up discarded items:

 

Looking a little closer:

 

No worries.... Kurt will NOT be discarded! :)

 

BUBBA!

"BUBBA!"

This was yesterday afternoon's battle cry as we watched the Masters tournament.

I yelled out the battle cry whenever Bubba Watson appeared on the television screen.

As the tournament progressed -- and it became evident that Bubba was going to win -- Lew joined me in the cry.

And Bubba did not disappoint.

BUBBA!

Smile....

A Secret Hiding Place

I eventually let the cat out of the bag!

It's Gone!

A photo of the last bit of snow on our lawn late this morning:

Big grins all around! :-)

 

Atomic Clock and Weather Station

Lew is planning to get his motorcycle ready for the season. He will probably do this tomorrow. This means that, starting Monday, he will decide each morning on whether to ride it to work. The deciding factors will be precipitation and temperature.

Over the past couple years we have purchased two different atomic clock/weather devices that display the current outdoor temperature. Until today, neither of them were working.

Actually, my father had played around with them a bit. I finally retrieved both devices from him yesterday. He had them in his possession for several weeks, and I figured it was time to bring them back to our side of the house.

The outdoor sensor for the wall clock only works within a few inches of the device, so it is useless for the outdoor temperature. But it still serves as a nice wall clock.

The sensor for the other clock/weather device works quite well. Lew will check its display in the mornings to get the current outdoor temperature.

The project of setting up these devices is finally done, and it only took me a couple years to get around to doing it.

I am feeling very accomplished.

I Finally Take the iOS 7 Plunge

We have three Apple devices in our household: my iPhone, my iPad, and my parents' iPad (which is used exclusively by my mother).

When Apple released the iOS 7 software update, I did not feel comfortable updating any of our devices. I was hearing about and reading too many accounts of difficulties with this update. So I waited.

And I waited.

I waited as Apple released some "fixes" and then I did more reading.

And I waited some more.

With the latest iOS 7.1 update, I decided it was finally time. So on Tuesday I updated my iPhone. Success!

Yesterday morning I updated both of the iPads. Success!

All seems well for now.

And the circled red "1" is no longer on the corner of the Settings icon, which is especially nice. (Simple pleasures are the best!)

Dad 196: The 1941 Pontiac

(I will say it again: I think the loveliest time of the year is the Spring! Enjoy Dad's post. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another great spring day in the Northeast. Methinks spring has arrived. However, we still have some snow on the ground. Here on the coast it is almost gone but inland there is still snow several feet deep. Some ski areas are still open and will be probably until May. Others have closed even though there is still snow covering the hills. The sun shines bright! Hooray!

I should be out sweeping off my lawn and sidewalk where the snow was plowed this winter. But I sit here writing today's blog post. I think I'll start my sweeping tomorrow. Everything is always easier to do tomorrow. Still have to get my power broom down from its perch. I may do that today. Or, maybe tomorrow.

I really have enjoyed watching the college basketball championship games the last two nights. Congratulations to the University of Connecticut for winning both the men's and women's championships. Only the second time a school has won both in the same year. The other time was 2004 and the school was U-Conn! Job well done.

I've watched a lot of Red Sox baseball and hope they put a string of wins together soon. I'm sure they will.

The other day while watching a court show on television (probably Judge Judy), I was reminded of a story about my dad and a car he owned. The court case was based on a person purchasing a car and selling it a couple years later. The judge did not believe that the car was sold for more than the original purchase price.

Well, back to my dad. I recall my dad owning a 1941 Pontiac. I remember the car. It was in the family for about 7 to 9 years. Then Dad sold the car. The story goes something like this: Dad sold the car for a profit of $200 after running it for all those years. I have no reason to doubt my dad's story. He was, as we all know, a real yankee trader. This was only one of his real-life deals.

I recall one Sunday as we were driving home we had a crash in the car. We were almost home on Elm Street in Springvale when around the curve came a car using the middle of the road. Well, Dad turned towards the ditch and we were hit in the front driver's-side fender. The other driver was attending to his girlfriend passenger and was not too aware of where he was driving. He was a service man home from duty for a brief stay. Not a serious crash and all was well. The year was about 1945.

Strange how the court case brought back this memory. Enough for now, so....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Soda Shop

Our house church group went into Portland tonight for some socializing and eating. We started out at Vena's Fizz House for mixed sodas. Our friends that own Mainely Wraps then provided a delicious meal at their establishment.

The kids in our group had a great time. I took a picture of some of them sitting at the soda shop counter. An artsy photo, don't you think? :)

 

Confession of Forgetfulness

I had a busy day today.

I stopped in at the nursing home to get some information for Verlie's income tax return.

My tenure as church treasurer is coming to an end this month, so I met with my successor to start going over the process.

After I got home, I prepared Verlie's tax returns.

I also sent out several e-mails regarding church business.

I was feeling quite accomplished until I went over to my parents' side of the house to give Pepper her nite-nite goodies. I saw that my father was checking something on his computer and I realized that I HAD FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT MY BLOG!

I post on this blog every day. I can't believe I actually forgot about it. I guess my mind has a daily concentration limit. LOL!

Words from the Good Book

(This is the passage we've been studying in church the past couple weeks.  Take note!)

Luke 12:22-34

New International Version (NIV)

Do Not Worry

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

A Great Snack

I like to snack while watching TV shows and movies.

My preferred snack would have the word "chocolate" in its name at least three times.

But I need to show some self-restraint, so I had to come up with other ideas.

I recently learned about a healthy, great-tasting snack: frozen grapes.

Pop one into your mouth and let it "melt" a bit before finishing it off....

Then repeat!

Another Opening Day

 

Wait for it....

Over a year ago I added a password to our wireless Internet access.  Ever since then I have had trouble scanning documents on my wireless printer.  I get error messages like "printer in use by another device" or "connection to printer is disabled" and/or similar stuff like that.

I needed to scan three documents today.  Make that yesterday; I got too frustrated and gave up.

When I tried again today -- and initially failed -- I decided to do something radical.  After each step of the scanning process I made myself wait at least five seconds before going on to the next step.

It worked like a charm.

I just needed to wait.

Unbelievable.

Dad 195: April Brings Spring Errands

(I think the loveliest time of the year is the Spring! Enjoy Dad's post. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Enjoying another spring-type day in the Northeast. Two nice days in a row. April one and two. We actually reached 50° yesterday. The week looks like more of the 40s, if we are fortunate. Bring on Spring.

I have been busy today and I'm about to take a break from writing this to do a couple errands. I'll pick it up when I return.

{ Interlude }

I'm back.

Spent most of the morning outdoors. First I tried to clean up a little snow by the plow. Must admit that it was frozen solid and didn't move too well. Then I unwrapped my trailer axles and moved the basketball hoop back to the front of the garage. Continued on to take my plow off for the season. If we get more snow, it will have to leave us by melting in the sun.

After removing plow, I hooked up trailer to truck and proceeded to remove hand mower and go-kart from trailer. They are now in the garage. I was able to secure tractor in the trailer and took it for its annual servicing. Hope to have it back within two weeks.

Prior to my trip to drop off the tractor, I had to register the trailer and truck. The trailer plate was good through February. The truck was due this month. In Maine we can register trailers for two years. So it is good until February 2016. While at our town office I was able to secure, for a mere five dollars, permission to have a yard sale May 24-26 (Memorial Day weekend). Lew and Tracy suggested this event. Hope to get rid of stuff. Hope to have other families involved in the sale. The more the merrier!

I am using all of the above to shy away from my usual 30-minute elliptical ride. Anything I can find for an excuse.

I feel like an afternoon nap to prepare myself for the Celtics and Red Sox games that I will watch tonight. I don't plan on accomplishing anything else today so I might as well wrap this up now. Sooo....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Would I Go?

The Red Sox visited the White House today in honor of their 2013 World Series Championship.

I wasn't invited to join them for some reason (lol), but I did think about "what if."

I am not really a fan of our current president.

However, I do respect the office of the President of the United States.

It is an honor to go to the White House, no matter who currently lives there.

So if invited to attend a function at the White House, I would accept.

And that is all I have to say about that.

Carry on.