| Mini's fixed |
[Feb. 9th, 2010|03:09 pm] |
Well, just got a VM from the service manager -- the fan that fell off was, indeed, their fault, and they're not charging me anything. Also, since they're closed for the day, and probably won't be open tomorrow, I can keep the loaner (only a 2008 mini, but still newer than the 2003 I drive) until Thurs. I'd rather this hadn't happed, but at least they're doing the right thing.
In other news, Dragon Age: Origins is quite a good game. It seems to be helping keep me from getting cabin fever since I've been stuck in the house so much with all the nasty weather we've been having.
Speaking of which, working from home today. Gotta love VPNs and the ability to work remotely. The 3g modem is working great, so I just canceled the satellite service. Now I really do need to figure out what to do with the dish and satellite router. Once I've confirmed that service is canceled, Ebay, I guess.
I decided to thaw out one of the ducks in the freezer, and will be trying to do something new with that later. Also, duck fat for potatoes, pie crusts, and general cooking. Mmmmm. |
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| mini eit |
[Feb. 8th, 2010|01:13 pm] |
The Mini Cooper S, which is over 7 years old now, went into the shop for some . . . issues. Among other things, as part of a hefty bill, I had to get the radiator cooling fan replaced. I got the mini back on Wed.
On Friday, while heading home, I heard a loud "thump," followed by a couple of lesser noises, as if something had fallen off and was now bouncing between the car and the road.
Checking my rear-view mirror, sure enough, a substantial chunk of the mini had fallen off and was currently being run over by a tailgating SUV. I pulled over and picked up a fairly substantial electric fan assembly, the plastic bits broken by the SUV, but the bolt-holes that hold it on pristine, as if they'd never seen a bolt, let alone been ripped off or otherwise been abused.
After shoveling out all weekend, I was able to get into work today, and at about 11:00 am got a call from the service rep, who I had emailed on Friday. The good news: getting a replacement covered vice any evidence that I'm responsible for messing it up so quickly. The better news: I've gotten a loaner (a 2009 mini cooper). The not-so-great news? Only one of their service techs showed up today, and given the weather for the next couple of days this may take a while.
At least the loaner is free.
I'm a bit disappointed that the work wasn't, if I'm right, done correctly the first time, but at least they are apparently doing the right thing. |
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| snow |
[Feb. 7th, 2010|11:08 am] |
Well, the snow here in Berryville is over 3', the mini is literally just a mound of snow, with no body visible. I'm about half-dug-out now, I've got a walking path to the car, which I parked near the end of the driveway. The county finally plowed the road a few minutes ago, so I'm going to go finish the job shortly.
The task is made harder as my new snow shovel turned out to be a piece of crap, and the blade cracked and fell apart after a couple of hours yesterday. Fortunately, I still have the electric snow blower, but swinging that thing to remove snow in layers is harder work than just shoveling in snow this deep.
Next season, I'm definitely getting a real snowblower. While we don't get snow like this every year, since I moved here 10 years ago, we've had at least 6 snows over 2', two of then this year. |
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| replacing the satellite uplink |
[Jan. 17th, 2010|12:13 pm] |
I've never really been happy with the satellite link. It's high latency, slow, and has a small bandwidth cap.
On the other hand, I've been quite happy with the 3g modem.
Solution: replace the current satellite link and wireless router with a 3g wireless router.
I'll set up the existing wireless router as an repeater, assuming I can get it to reach, out in the workshop.
Just ordered the 3g wireless router, so once that's here I'll get it set up and, assuming all is good, shut down and terminate the contract on the satellite.
Now, what to do with a perfectly good satellite dish and router? Ebay, I guess. |
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| Cleaning out the tool pile in the basement |
[Jan. 13th, 2010|06:16 pm] |
I want to clean out the pile of old tools in the basement. Part of me says, "It's been there, practically untouched, for years. Just throw it out." Another part says "Hey, some of those tools are really old and may be valuable." A compromise may be necessary.
I paid a small sum for the lot from a blacksmith who moved from NJ out west. I pulled out of it what I wanted to use, and then sold a few pieces off, enough to pay back my investment and then some. It took two overly full pickup loads and then some to haul it, and I'd say at least half is still left.
What's there is a mix: some obvious trash, some useful tools, probably some antiques, and a good deal of usable scrap. Hand tools, bits of scrap, some electronics and machinery, some tooling, and of course trash.
I'm thinking of picking a weekend, letting the local machinists club and blacksmithing lists know that if they come and help clean it out, they can take what they want. Sure, I may lose some valuable items I don't know I have, but that's kind of the point. I don't really want it anymore, someone else might.
Thoughts? |
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| Foot Status |
[Jan. 5th, 2010|06:40 pm] |
I had what was supposed to be the final Dr's visit about the foot today. The pin that holds the bones together, I was told, was permanent, and shouldn't cause any problems, and while there's a lot of scar tissue, it should just heal up. Hey, no fewer than three doctors have told me it was the cleanest cut through bone they'd ever seen.
I've been having some pain and swelling, though, and after the exam, the Dr. said that while the pin needs to stay in for another couple of months to make sure everything really is healed, unless that clears up, the pin may need to come out.
The pain is less every week, though, and the swelling is down to where I can put the insoles back into my shoes. I'm continuing to be more active, about an hour of exercise in some form or another every day now, and can walk up to about half a mile before the foot says stop.
A thank you again, to all my friends, for your support and well wishes during this pothole in the road of life. |
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| snow |
[Dec. 20th, 2009|05:40 pm] |
Well, as anyone on the East coast is aware, it snowed over the weekend.
On Tuesday, the prediction was some snow, some possible accumulation. By Thursday, it was at to 4-6", and by Friday, 12". Extrapolating from that ever-increasing prediction set, I'd say the 22" I measured wasn't completely reasonable.
Overall, I like the snow. I ski, I slog around in the woods, and don't really mind shoveling. A good thing, as it took about 3 hours to clear the driveway enough for the mini to get to the road, or at least to within 5' of the end of the driveway, where it sits now. I expect I'll have to remove snow boulders from the end of the driveway after the plows come through -- as of now, they did one pass halfway through the storm, but haven't been back. Enough vehicles have been driving on it that it's pretty much packed down now, I could make it out if I had to, but I hope the roads are at least somewhat cleared off in the morning.
So, how was the snow out where you are? |
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| improving |
[Dec. 15th, 2009|04:55 pm] |
While I can't say the foot is pain-free, I'm a lot more able to get around now, and am finally catching up on some of the things that need doing around the house that I've been putting off.
For example, last night I finally fixed the rather broken garage door. It's been sticking, jamming, making a lot of noise, and not-quite-sealing at the bottom for some time now, and it's only gotten worse over the last few weeks.
So, I got up on a ladder, lubed everything, then tried the garage door opener again. Nope, it's better, but still getting stuck and not moving smoothly. Back up on the ladder, I checked out all the various mechanisms and the like, and finally found the problem.
On these doors, there's a heavy-duty spring that acts as a counterweight for the door, which in turn is attached to a wire rope that goes over a pulley and down to the door. On one side, the pulley had somehow gotten canted over and stuck, causing a lot of friction. Lube, test, whack it with a hammer until it's no longer canted, and viola, it works again.
A small victory, but a nice one. I may end up replacing the wire rope and pulley, since it may start failing again, but that can wait until the day.
Also, finally found my can of spray foam and filled in some of the gaps between garage and the house. It may not last, but at least for now there's no longer a howling breeze going through there, and it may do something to keep the mice out.
Yay mobility. |
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| I can walk again! |
[Dec. 1st, 2009|12:22 pm] |
Just got back from the Dr's. The bone's pretty much healed, though they want to do one final check in 4 weeks. I got the goahead to start walking, the only restriction is hard soled shoes (sneakers will do) for a while. No specific physical therapy is needed, but I can tell I will be hitting the wii fit for a while rebuilding flexability, tone and strength. I won't be running marathons for a while, but a steady approach should have me back to normal shorly.
Unsurprisingly, it's painful, the joints and muscles are complaining that they've not been asked to do much for so long, but it's mobility. Yay!
Unsurprisingly, the Mini's battery is dead after so long without use, but I've got the booster pack charging. I've got a few errands to run once it's going again. |
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| Cor, I'm on my own again |
[Nov. 15th, 2009|06:38 pm] |
Well Mom drove back home this morning, I've got a lot of meals frozen in tupperware in the freezer, plans for handling things like laundry and cleaning, and AFAICT I'm all set for the next few weeks.
On 12/1, assuming all goes well, I should be walking again.
Thanks again for all the help.
--d |
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| yay! tv is fixed |
[Nov. 10th, 2009|04:33 pm] |
Well, after waiting a week for parts, the new tv is working. It had both a bad IR-controller board, and as it turns out a bad remote.
Now if only there was something decent to watch. . .
--d |
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| A beautiful day |
[Nov. 8th, 2009|04:51 pm] |
The weather was very nice, so I spent some time outside. The leaves have mostly fallen, though the cherry tree is still in full leaf, a dark purplish-red this time of year. The yellowjackets were out in force, and I could hear deer and squirrels in the woods, stirring up leaves.
It was good to feel the sun and the warm breeze. |
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| Birthday Thoughts |
[Nov. 4th, 2009|10:54 am] |
Well, last year was pretty bad. Depression, illness, and to top it off a major injury.
But, I have a new, less stressful job, affirmation that I have a large number of wonderful friends, and at least I'm starting it off with a clean house.
Here's to hoping the upcoming year is a better one.
--doug |
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| last night in the hospital |
[Oct. 28th, 2009|06:37 pm] |
It's been quite a stay. Tomorrow 8am the Dr. will do his final checks, and then I can start to process out.
Between the pain pump, multiple meds, and overall stress, my body's taken quite a beating. Right now it feels like I'm sweating ice, which most likely means one of the drugs is wearing off. I still have a couple of antibiotic infusions to go, and will be on some prescriptions for a while, I'm sure, but my mind is getting clearer and I'm starting to feel more normal.
The wound hurts, but not as much as I'd feared it would. It'll probably hurt for quite a while, it's a deep, deep cut and of course bone's involved. Nothing to do but wait it out and heal as best I can.
I've still got exercises and things I have to do to keep the risk of complications down -- hourly streatches and flexes to keep the blood flowing, a device I breathe into to keep the risk of lung problems. Then there will be the practicing with crutches and the walker, to build up skill and strength so I can get around.
Mom will be leaving in about 3 weeks, she has her own life to get back to. I'll probably need someone to help out until I'm done healing, at least three more weeks after she leaves, just someone in the evening to help with dinner and getting ready for the next day. I enjoy being as self-sufficient as possible, but I'm aware that just won't be possible for a while.
Thank you again to everyone who visited, and all the well wishes. And thank you to those who've volunteered to come over on the weekend to get the house ready.
I'm really looking forward to a real bed, a quiet room, not getting woken up every couple of hours for tests and injections, and a real shower. Ok, so my leg will be outside the shower and I'll be using a shower chair and a hand-held showerhead, but it will beat the pants off of a sponge bath. |
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| Call for help this Saturday (10/31/09) |
[Oct. 27th, 2009|11:16 am] |
As my house is really a mess, and I can't do it on my own with this injury, if anyone is available to help trash out the place on Saturday, I would greatly appreciate it.
Everthing from some heavy lifting to light cleaning to moral support would be welcome. The main request is for Saturday, anytime after 9am, but if you'd rather come by Friday or Sunday, we'll be at home working on the place, and you'd be more than welcome.
This is the big push to get the house habitable for parties/workshops/gaming, as well as safe for me to get around on crutches and a walker for the next several weeks.
Even if you can't help out, please know that I greatly appreciated the support, well wishes, and help in this time of need. Thank you all.
Directions below the cut.
( Read more... ) |
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| surgery is done |
[Oct. 26th, 2009|08:24 pm] |
Well, got a couple of pins in the foot now, and everthing's closed up and hopefully healing.
I've got 72 hours of observation/antibiotic drip, and 6 weeks until I can put pressure on the leg.
Got my pump going, a dextrose/lactated ringers IV with an antibiotic feed, and water and ice chips handy.
What the hell is a "Lactated Ringer's Injection" IV anyway?
Many thanks to Fritz, a friend and coworker, for dropping by and chatting while the worst of the post-op pain was hitting. It was a great distraction, just what I needed.
I'll be online off and on for most of the evening/night, if anyone has questions or comments. |
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| Update |
[Oct. 26th, 2009|09:37 am] |
Surgery has been moved up to early afternoon due to a cancellation, and then the Dr. wants at least 72 hrs of observation and antibiotics.
Mom arrived safely from South Carolina last night. |
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| Update |
[Oct. 25th, 2009|02:30 pm] |
So, tomorrow afternoon is the 2nd surgery. The plan is for a general anethetic, do some more cleaning an checking, then attempt to screw the bones so they'll hold together and heal. Then another day at least in the hospital for recovery and antibiotics.
The first surgery confirmed bones sliced through, and the Dr is concerned primarily about infection.
Many thanks to Spam and Andrea for a wonderful visit yesterday and a bunch of books.
Mom is coming up from South Carolina to "take care of me" today, arriving late or possibly tomorrow am if she gets tired driving.
The pain has diminished, and since I'm using the pump less often I'm more lucid (I can only imagine the ravings I subjected my guests to yesterday -- oops). I expect this to change after surgery tomorrow, so if you have any questions, please ask away.
--doug
Edit: BTW, no ssh access here at the hospital, so if you want to email me, please use my gmail account. |
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