John's Blog

The last few days have been… interesting.

Mar 26 (Tue) - I was gonna drive the van to coffee because Kim needed the car for a girl’s day out. The van, parked on the street, had a weak battery with juuuust enough juice to start the engine. I drove the van around the block to the alley where I filled the low tires. After that the battery was too weak to crank the engine, just made a bunch of clicks. I almost decided to skip coffee but after a bit I talked myself into going.

I had to jockey our car around inside the garage until the jumper cables would reach. I got the van started and moved out of the way. I repositioned the car, then drove to coffee. After coffee the van again wouldn’t start. I caught a jump in front of Dead Poets from Bob, drove home, and parked it on the street.

Kim and I discussed whether to scrap the van or replace the battery and hope that fixed it. We decided to sleep on the decision.

Mar 27 (Wed) - At breakfast Kim reminded me the dogs had an appt with the dog chiropractor at 3:15 and would we be taking them in the car or the van. Not wanting to deal with the van I said “car”. Right around noon Kim mentioned how much a new battery cost. It was 12:15. Fine and dandy. I used the car to buy a new battery. I collected tools and got to work. It was quite cool out. And windy. That battery is a PITA to remove/install because it’s buried under a structural cross bar that’s under the main fuse panel. I grit my teeth and got it done. Both ends of that six-year old battery were bulging. We made it to the chiro in time in a van full of dogs. Had to deal with rush hour traffic on the way home. :(

Mar 28 (Thu) - I used the van to get to coffee, returned home at 10:30 to big news. While I was gone some Sherriff Deputies, Davenport police, an ambulance and two SWAT trucks raided the newly-occupied house three doors down from us. I was told it took three very loud wacks with a battering ram to bop their way into the detached garage. A female was led off the premises and half a block away into the ambulance. We believe those brand new neighbors and their loud motorcycles and pickup truck are going to be a fine addition to the neighborhood.

The picture to the left is my makeshift workshop at a neighbor’s house. She had called over, asking if someone could trim the bottom of an interior door because it doesn’t swing open far enough for her to get through the door because the floor is tilted. I finished that job about an hour ago.

Right now I’m trying to relax (trying to stay awake, actually). I’m working on a few of the computer-related items on the ole’ todo list. Cheers.

Oh. Kim is still prototyping socks. Here you see the latest version. Smooth sides and a better heel. She says the ribbing around the foot opening can use some work.