Shai's Virtual Pen

--> There are always challenges when you take on the task of homeschooling your own children. Today we had several random interruptions. 1) Feisty kittens. We recently adopted a couple of kittens, each from different homes. At first we had only one; a lovely calico with a very sweet disposition, playful and easy going around my high energy children. I don't really care for cat boxes, shredded curtains, or fur in my tea, so indoor cats are not my choice. But she is such a sweet, delicate thing only weighing in at about 1.5 pounds, so I really didn't want to put her in the garage all alone to face the rodents when they nearly outweigh her. I am exaggerating, but the point is, I didn't like the thought of a sweet precious potential lap cat getting tossed into a dark, lonely, cold, garage. Yes, I realize she's a cat and that cats can see in the dark and have fur to keep them warm, but she loves our company so... I decided to surprise my children with a

The commute to our classes today was along back roads rather than via the freeway we usually take. There is a section of road along our usual route that is being worked on and they have completely cut off traffic asking everyone to choose alternate routes. The section of road being reconstructed is specifically regarding the railroad crossing at an intersection with a particularly rough surface. I am thankful they are fixing it, though I detest the back road because there is quite often, coincidentally, a train that comes through just as we need to cross. The train has made us late to our classes countless times because it travels so painfully slowly that sometimes ten minutes will pass. If we have the unfortunate incident of leaving last minute, we are 'toast', so to speak. And so on this rainy Bellingham morning, we left ten minutes early just in case the train that crosses the back roads is snickering along the rails like a vindictive snail. As we progressed on our back ro

The instructions seem simple enough. Step one: Disconnect the battery.  Use an 18mm combination wrench to loosen the negative battery terminal so nothing zorches while you try to solve your mechanical puzzle in the rain. Got it. Now, where is the 18mm wrench? Not in the toolbox. Not on the workbench, either. In the van? No. Truck? Nuh-uh. Vice grips will have to do. At this point my precious hubby, driven by guilt in watching his wife tackle the pickup in the rain without appropriate tools, steps in to help. He successfully loosens the bolt on the battery and finds that a lovely light show ensues when you accidentally turn the nut too far, thus connecting with the positive battery terminal with the negative. It's pretty on many levels - pretty uncomfortable, pretty irritating, pretty embarrassing... Step two: Remove the air intake and filter. This is easy. A thumb screw, two electrical connectors, and air filter to remove. No tools needed here. I feet like a prof

Disclaimer: no foul language was used or harmed in the making of this blog excerpt. The wind has picked up and temperatures have dropped here in the shaded part of the United States, otherwise known as the Pacific Northwest. Rain is looming. Therefore, fate deems it the appropriate time to begin replacement of my truck cap and rotor. My husband would do this if he hadn't sprained his hip last week. I realize, as I peer into the engine cavity, why a sprained hip might dull the mechanical enthusiasm in the replacement of these particular parts. The cap and rotor are located pretty close to dead center between the wheel wells and up close to the firewall. Mechanics under 6 feet tall would nearly need to be dangled mid air to avoid leaning on a potentially breakable engine part while attempting to access the cap. Considering I am not 6 feet tall, nor a mechanic, my task this morning has me scratching my head a bit. Sprained hip? I attempt feeble repentance at questioning my husband&#